AUCKLAND CITY WEST ELECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1199, 26 November 1873, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY WEST ELECTION.

NOMINATION DAY

The nomination of five (5) members to serve in the Provincial Council for the electoral district of Auckland City West took place at noon to-day at the Young Men's Christian Association rooms, Wellesley-street. There was a large attendance. Colonel Balneavis, the Returning Officer, having read the writ and election notice, called upon any duly qualified person to name a candidate.

[A request that the proposers and seconders should not make speeches was agreed to, aa m Oity East.] Mr W. Marks proposed Mr W. Swanson. Mr Maseßeld-seconded. Mr T. L. White proposed Mr Boy lan. Mr Asher seconded.

Captain Casey proposed Mr Patrick Dignan. Mr Jerome Cadman seconded. Mr P. Darby proposed Mr T. Macrcady. MrDingwall seconded. Mr Stannus Jones proposed Mr F. L. "rime. Mr Grey seconded. I Mr King proposed Mr Burn. Mr Carr seconded.

Mr Black proposed Mr D. Go] die. Mr ■f robert seconded.

Mr Allan O'Neill proposed Mr W. Kirby. Mr Staines seconded. Mr Bartlett proposed Mr Coupland. Mr tousens seconded. Mr Swanson said ifc was quite true that he nad not intended to stand as a candidate, but being pressed he had consented after some hesitation. He should ask no one for a Vote. He had no committee, and should wave it to his friends. It had been proPosed by 300 electors that the five old members should stand again, but if better men came forward he would resign, and they would get a better marf^and he would have ,<\^ re me- In reference to Education \oS£erß he 3aid the question must be grappled j*ai. If the money could be got from en<wttvments so much the better, but the money «ÜBttegot. He was not in favour of the cnurches interfering with secular education. « the churches had done their duty in il} o Ea(rt the present cry would noi; be raised, vAUflronhaa been left subject to loathsome

diseases, and had to be washed like .sheep buck was not a proper state of things. As to u he police there were only 31 o f them, and s ur ei y the Superintendent and province could manage them They must be a set of cripples if they could not. He had employed more men himself and had no difficulty, lhere might have been some mistakes f v ,\u Th£ mes ' but that was the tault of the officers. He was quite willing to let matters stand as they were, but if Mr Williamson applied to have the police handed over he would get them. As to immigration lie was favourable to the encouragement of settlement in the country, but it was absurd to settle penniless men on land. He was in iavor of giving away land to those already here on condition that they occupied it. M to waterworks, he would like to see some definite plan adopted. Mr Seccombe offered to give a supply for a certain sum. Why not try this V It was worth £1000 to find , out whether the supply was there. The i great object in the Council was to assist the Superintendent to make the little money they had to go as far as possible. He did not think Provincial Institutions were going to die out as soon as some other people said, and if they did the province would still have to bear their bur- , clens. The work would be worse and more expensively done. If returned he would do his best for them. There was one asset trom the old Supreme Court House site which could be devoted to education and ■ some £20,000 could bo raised on it, and there were other odds and ends. The matter of utilizing the Three Kings and some other endowments rcste 1 with the Goneral Government. He was in favor of the Permissive i -Bill, which had the support of most of the moderate drinkers. Respectable- houses would not be touched by it, only the bad °nes- Jt was bad policy to try to go the whole hog" against all publicans, many of whom, were good citizens. Mr Boylan said he wa3 one of the "bunch of fives." Their conduct for the past four years was before the public, and the electors would choose with their eyes open. All public questions had been fully discussed and decided upon by them in the face of the public. The relief of the city debt and the Harbour Board had been dealt with by them. As to the Education Act, it ; could not be worked in the bush. Schools already in operation should bo open to inspection and receive assistance. He did not approve of the Education tax. The proposer made the mistake of copyin" an old .Nelson Act which had been condemned. The Act was bad and unworkable. Some means must bo found to raise money for education, and a rate could only be subsidiary. As to the police, he was in favour of their being under provincial control. As it was now, if you wanted to make a complaint against the Inspector, where could you go to ? The force was efficient, which was no doubt owing to their having a good Inspector. He did not remember what action he took on the Permissive Bill, but whatever it was it was conscientiously done, and he should do the same again. He could not express an opinion on the Improvement Commissioners powers until he thoroughly understood the question. Mr Dignan said he took the requisition which had been presented to him as an expression of the opinion of the electors. As new members had been found, the electors could elect them if they thought proper, but all who were satisfied with his past conduct and chose to re-elect him, he should be proud to serve. The Three Kings, Parnell, and other endowments were not under the power of the Provincial Council, being in the hands of the General Government.

& Mr Macready said he should not have come forward but for the largely-signed requisition which had been presented to him. His past couduct was known to them all. He had endeavoured to serve the city and province to the best of his ability, and if elected again would do the same. He had always been diligent in attending the Council, and did not, like the Mayor, go home to bed sometimes and leave them to fight out the battle, which relieved the city of £33,C00 of debt. He was in favour of an education rate by a sliding scale.. He wa3 opposed to denominational education. He would assist City East to get a site near the barracks for a public school on lease at a nominal rent for ninety-nine years. They had not the power to give tho land.

Mr Prime said he could not speak of his past deeds for so long a time as those who had preceded him, but he had endeavoured to do his duty, and would do so again if elected. He had supported Mr Dignan's motion to provide for education by taking five per cent of j the general estimates. If a sliding scale were adopted the expense of valuation and collection would be too great. The £1 tax was iusufficent; means must be got elswhere. He was not in favour of denominational schools, but did not see why existing schools should be shut up. As to the water question he believed water could be got without going very far for it, and. that next session a bill would be passed on the subject. He was not in favour of opening public houses on Sunday. If elected again he should esteem it an honour, and would do his duty without fear, favour, or affection. Mr Goldie said he was a new man, but there was no reason why that should be an objection. It was honest, possessed common bense and independence of character. Ho was in favour of secular education. Religion was too sacred to be taught in school; it should be taught at the family altar. If there must be a household tax it ought to be very small, payable by instalments. He was in favour of the police control remaining as it was. He was not opposed to Mr Williamson. He should act independently. If elected he would do his best, and if called upon would resign.

Mr. Buhns said he was opposed to the Education tax, and to the police being.under local control. He had been tried, and proved that local control did not work well. The police was efficient as it was, and should not be disturbed. If elected he would give attention to everything before voting, and would attend to his duty. He would gain nothing by going into the Council. He would not go there to seek for place or pay. He was in favour of secular education. He did not approve of the tax, but if the. money could be raised no other way it must be enforced. If elected he would do his duty to the best of his ability.

Mr Kirby said he hoped he should get a better hearing than he got last night. He was opposed to the Education Act, and Mr Boylan was the only old member who ought to be returned again on that question. He (Mr B.) ought to be at the head of the poll. He was in favour of the national system of education as in Ireland. He had always paid 20s in the £, and had as much right as any psalm singer in Auckland to come forward as a free and independent member. He had had the nightmare last night (laughter) in consequence of the row and uproar, but now he got a fair hearing. He was in favor of the police remaining as they were. He was not in favour of the Permissive Bill. Nobody had a right to say " Kirby you shan't have your glass of beer " if Kirby liked to have it and could pay for it. He did not approve of a drunkard and. would not trust him with a cwt. of coals. (Laughter.)

Mr Grace said other members bad opposed tho education rate besides Mr Boylan, and

Boylanby WaS nOt C°mCt in s ™glinSout Mr Inl reply to questions Mr Kirby said he was bpW YOUr 4. -° f men of Property and means being sent mto the Council. The poor man (Oh™ ? S tt t0 Set I'l'* beer on Sunday, orwn™ -Si n6VCr sent away a poor man money Wlthout coals because they had no

Mr Coupland said he could not refer back to h ls political conduct as he was a new man, but he had been asked by a large number of persons to stand, and had done so. He did not care for political honors, and would nuke no promises, but if elected would do tJie best he could for the interests of the constituency. He was in favor oLiTn pd!\ Cati<??' but ™ul(l not exatL A% { n ? Was i^roduced as the word of God, apart from all sectarianism. He was opposed to opening public-houses because of God's law, not on" account of any Good Templar movement He was in favor of utilising all school endowment land, of a property tax, and of economy the collection of rates could be done by Road .boards at a small expense. On a show of hands being called for there were teld up for— Mr Swanson ~, ... ~_ 71 Mi Boylan ... ~, go, Mr Dignan . '" (J4 MrMacready ]\\ r )8 MrCouplaud * 45 MrvJoldie ... ,„ " 44 MrlirW '" "" ';q Mr I'rnne 37 Mrßirns ' on ' • • • • 1 t«| **V f Theshov of hands was declared in favor of Messrs Swanson, Boylan, Dignan, Macready, and Coupland. A poll wis demanded on behalf of the mo,row U ' Whioh WiU t;ik° l jlaCo to"

A vote of flunks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.