MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 801, 26 April 1910, Page 6

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

MR. CRAWFORD AT NEWTOWN. Mr. Crawford addressed a well-attended meeting in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last evening. ' Councillor John Smith, who presided, said that it had been stated in tho newspapers that Mr. Crawford was not very well known. He, however, had known him for a great number of years, and he thought him a suitable man to represent the citizens as Mayor. Ho had had a varied experience in municipal affairs and in life both in. the country and the town. In fact, Mr. Crawford's experience was. such as to warrant the electors in choosing him as their Mayor.

The candidate, in the course of his address, stated that he, was in favour of facilities being given to people to have their drainage connections made on the deferred pyment system. He denied a rumour that he would reduce the wages of the tramwav employees, and stated that as an employer of labour for the last 20 years ho had always paid more than award ■wagos. (Applause.) He had for many years been strongly in favour of a direct tramway connection between Newtown and Kilbirnie. ; He had, as-'was generally known, had interests on the other side of tho hill, and had had surveys made some yearj,ago. He had been considering tramway routes for that neighbourhood longer than anybody else, and ho considered that the. Constable Street extension would pay interest and sinking fund on the cost of construction. He wished it to. be distinctly understood that all he had said about various 'projects was subject to his repeated declaration that the rates must not be increased. If he were elected he would use his utmost efforts to get the rates, reduced. (Hear, hear.) At the close of the address, a large number of questions were asked, and tue candidate's answers appeared to give general satisfaction. A voteoosf s thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. ,