THE MAYORALTY ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 2938, 19 July 1872, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY ELECTION.

Mr Fish addressed a crowded meeting of the ratepayers at the Masonic Hall last evening ; Mr J. Black occupying the chair. Mr Fish premised his remarks by alluding to the principal matters that had occupied attention during his past year of office. It would be admitted on all hands that a large amount of useful work, principally the formation and asphalting of footpaths, had been done. During the year something like L 7,000 had been expended outside the ordinary works in works of that kind. A Northern Cemetery Bill had been prepared, and would be re-introduced this session of the Assembly ; the base line survey of the City had been completed; a large reduction, equal to about LOGO, had been made in the cost of the public lighting ; a cattle market had been opened at the head of Maclaggan street ; between L3OO and L4OO had been spent in improving the Octagon market, the fees from which were now considerably more than the cost of looking after the building, and considerably more than paid the interest upon the cost of its erection ; the Cargill monument had been removed, and the ''road carried straight through; a new bell tower erected ; and the Corporation banking account removed from the Bank of Otago to the Union Bank, by which a saving of 2 per cent, upon between L6OOO and L7OOO, or an annual saving of between L 250 and L3OO, was obtained; there had been a conference of mayors, the result of which was that municipalities received the various fees, such as hotel, auctioneers’ licenses, dog and goat taxes, collected within their bounds, on condition of maintaining the main roads through towns. The results to Dunedin would be somewhat as follows : The amount receivable from taxes was some-

thing like L 3700 or L3BOO per annum, and out of that they had to maintain the main road. From a return from the Provincial Engineer, it appeared that the cost of keeping the main road of the City in repair for the last live years was an average of L 1073 2s lid per annum, exclusive of four daymen, who would cost L3OO, and the profit to the citizens by this arrangement could not be less than L 1,500. What would give the

City an increased revenue during this, and particularly during next year, would be the falling in of the Corporation leases. Ho thought the increase this year from that source would be at least LIOOO ; and he had no hesitation in saying that when the whole of the leases about to expire had fallen into the Corporation, the result would be something like L2OOO or L 2500 in favor of the Corporation. He ffiad no doubt it would interest them to know exactly the

present financial position of the Corporation. The total indebtedness ‘of the Corporation Avas L 62.600, made up in this Avay ’.—Corporation debentures issued to the extent of L 56,600: Bank overdraft, somewhere about L6OOO. The ordinary receipts of the Corporation amounted to L 12,345. Then there Avould be an additional sum received as a saving out of the Government subsidy, Llsoo—and he considered it very loav at that; extra revenue from increased rents of municipal property, LIOOO ; making a total revenue of L 14,845. The fixed charges of the Corporation—the expenditure for office, gas, and daymen—amounted to L12.41G, leaving a credit balance to be expended upon works not included in that performed by the daymen to the extent of L242D. Noav he thsmght himself that as the Corporation had within the last two years laid out a very considerable sura of money in making improvements in various parts of the town, the citizens should rest content for a little Avhile Avith out any large expenditure for the next tAVO or throe years. He

thought the efforts of the Councillors should be directed to keeping the expenditure upon the streets of the City as closely as possible Avithin the work that their eight daymen Avith their horses and carts could perform. He thought there Avas another question which should be taken up in connection with this, Avhicli they Avould be avoll able to deal with ; and he Avas sure it Avasone that would meet with the entire approval of the citizens. He referred to the reduction of rates. There Avas no difficulty at all, he thought in the Avay of the Council reducing the rates for the next year by 3d in the £.—(Applause.) They had an overplus of L 2,429. Now, a reduction in the rates of 3d in the £ would amount to Ll,soo—th t would leave them L 929 to expend outside ordinary expenditure. If he were returned as Mayor, this would be one of the questions he Avould bring before the Council, and he had little doubt that if it were possible to be done, after going into figures, they would do it. Referring to the proposed purchase of the

waterworks, he said, their cost to the City would amount to L0G,655. —(Oh, oh ! prolonged whistling and laughter.) The annual charge to the Corporation upon this outlay of money, would be as follows r—There would be an issue of L75,G55 of 6 per cent, debentures. The interest upon that would be L 4,539 6s. There would be 8 per cenl to be paid upon L 15.000 worth of debentures issued by the Company, having three years to run. At the end of that time the Corporation would issue a further number of loan debentures to take up this amount, so that at the end of three years the interest payable upon that amount would be reduced by 2 per cent. That item would amount to LI2OO. Tn addition to these two items, there would be the extra cost of management to the Corporation—L6Bo. Those were items which altogether amounted to L 6419 6s. It remained for him to show what chance there was of the revenue arising from the sale of water meeting this "large annual expenditure. Me found from the Company’s balance-sheet published in December, 1871, that their recdpts for the previous year amounted to L 6365 12s 6d. Now', it was well-known to him, and perhaps to many others, that since the time he referred to —December, 1871 the amount receivable by the Company was considerably over that amount. He believed he would he within the mark if he said that the revenue for this year, taking mi.in flm nnlpnln.f.ion nf what had b’eu

received, would be L6OO or L7OO more than in 1871. However, if they took it as it appeared on the last balancesheet, they would be perfectly safe, and that amount was LG3GS 12s Gd. That would leave an annual deficiency of L 43 14s 6d only. Now some of them might think that this was not a desirable position to occupy in purchasing the works (hear) —but they must bear in mind that the reproductiveness of those works increased every year, while only a very trifling amount had to be expended upon them. (Hear, hear.) He did not think it was speculative on his part, or ou the part of the Council, to imagine that in lessgthan three years from the present time the works would pay a very considerable profit per annum something which could emble the Corporation within that time to reduce the water rates by at least 3d or 4d in the £.—( Applause.) If they could show that in three years, what would they be doing for posterity ? They must be aware that whilst they were going on receiving revenue from the works, they were also paying up a sum per annum iu the shape of sinking fund, which went to extinguish the debt in tbe course of time, so that by a little self-abnegation upon the part of the present generation, they would have in fifty years’ time—(laughter, and oh, oh !)—a very good property, entirely free from debt. They would have no interest to pay upon any large amount as at present, aud the water rate by that time would be reduced to a. ruiuimum. r l'lieva were one or two little hitches to be got over ; but he had uo doubt that in three or four months the fact of the water supply of Dunedin being iu the hands of the Corporation would bo accomplished. Alluding to the question of the supply of gas, he said many no doubt thought it was time that subject was done away with. Whilst he hj. Id the same opinion to a certain extent, he did not think that because the subject was getting tiresome, it was right or proper they shnjjld give up all agitation on the question until they got it properly and finally settled. —(Applause.) Some people said that agitation was not energy—that agitation was subversive of the dignity which people occupying certain positions should maintain. But Ji o would say that agitation on this question had accomplished a reform which few of them were sanguine enough to imagine when it was first commenced.—(Loud applause.) The agitation had been directed and raised in the interests of the people ; and the object they had attained had only been attained through agitation. If it was

bad to agitate, then he was bad ; because would always agitate social questions of that nature. The Council had nearly settled the gas question. There was a slight difference of opinion between Mr Larnach and the Corporation. He believed it had reached such a stage now as would render its ultimate solution no very difficult matter. He de* sired to see it settled, and he beieved that in a few days it would not be heard of until the question of the actual purchase of those works cropped up. As showing that he had not neglected his duties, he mentioned that the total number of Council and committee meetings called during the year had been 154, of which number he had attended 149; in addition to those meetings were daily attendances at the Mayor’s Court, and numerous deputations, &c. He wished to say a word or two as to the future. With regard to the Town Belt, he would very much like to see it ornamented to such a degree that it would represent what it ought to be—a beautiful park. To ensure that end, he would advocate that the Council should call for competitive designs for systematically laying it out with ornamental trees, making carriage drives, &c. He would advocate further, that the Council should vote an annual sum of L2OO or L3OO to be expended in gradually carrying out this plan. There was another measure which he would like to see carried out. The necessity for it was not so much apparent at present as it would be at a later period. If the Council acquired the gas and water works it was easy to see that the patronage belonging to the Council, and indeed the importance of all matters connected with its monetary discretion, would be very much enhanced. He therefore thought that when that time arrived, it would be necessary that the citizens should consider whether the number of Councillors should

not be increased. He believed by doing that [ they would be taking a step in the right t direction, because it would prevent the for* motion of cliques,.which might take place at present. He did not say that such things took place at present, because he knew they did nob—(laughter)—but they were possible ; and when they had large affairs to manage, the formation of a clique of that kind would be disastrous to the citizens. He would like to see the number of Councillors increased, and Aldermen established—the same as in larger cities and from those Aldermen he thought their future Mayors should be chosen. After alluding to the subject of the Mayor’s salary, the retention of which at L4OO he strongly defended, he proceeded to speak as follows lam now going to refer to a ticklish subject, but I have no intention of shirking anything that requires explanation, or about which people may hold strong opinions in opposition to my own. I refer to the “rolling office.” A short time ago I was accused of making a word, and was “ casualised ” ; I really think I made another phrase, for the “rolling office” has now become as familiar in your mouths as household words. In the discharge of my duties I may have made enemies; I might have fined a man in Court—(applause)—and possibly only gave him justice. That man meets a fellow-ratepayer in the street, and says, “Who are you going to vote for?” The reply is, perhaps, “I am going to vote for Fish; he’s the best man.” The other says, “I am not going to vote for him. The office should be a rolling one. Mr Pish having said it should be a ‘rolling office,’ it would be wrong—absolutely wrong—for him to have it again.” In nine cases out of ten the man who says this does so from personal grudge, ill-will, or spite against myself. I admit again, for the third time, that the office should be a rolling one ; but before it rolls away from a good man—(prolonged cheers)—l was not referring to myself, but to my predecessor, Mr Birch I say, before the office rolls away from a good man, you should find a good one to

fill his place. I was of the same mind three years ago when I opposed Mr Birch. I carae before the citizens and said, “Mr Birch has occupied the position for two years. 1 have got the temerity to think that I can fill it as well as he can, and I say distinctly the office shonld be a rolling one.” The question was put to the citizens, and they said, as they had the undoubted right to say, “ We don’t object to your pnnciple, but we must be perfectly sure before it rolls to you that you are worthy of it ” ; and they put in Mr Birch for the third time. That is my excuse—if an excuse be needed—for coming forward a third time. There is only one member of the Council—a gentleman who has just been elected—to oppose me on this occasion. I don’t say he has not the right to oppose me; for he has the undoubted right to do so, and you have the equally undoubted right to say to him “ you shall not have the office just yet.” Ido not think—at any rate Ido not know that I hj ;ve done anything during my municipal career which can form the ground of very serious objection. I have no doubt committed faults ; but who does not ? But to far as I could I have endeavored tq administer the duties of the office in a fair

and impartial manner. . . It has been said that I stated last year that I would not contest the election this year. Such a statement is like many other statements made in Dunedin -it is founded on an untruth. No such statement was made by me ; no such question was ever asked of me ; and if 1 had been asked to give such a pledge, I should have refused to do so, because I can easily imagine this to happen. If the principle of a rolling office is to be carried out in its integrity this might occur. There might be a man occupying the chair, whom all admitted to be a good man ; for the sake of conserving this principle he determines not to stand again ; and a man who may be a perfeet insult to the citizens might be elected in his place. After commenting upon certain statements contained in Mr Rossbotham’s printed address to the ratepayers, Mr Fish concluded by reading the following paragraph from it:—“ln conclusion, Gentlemen, I feel that I am only doing ray duty in affording you an opportunity to check unscrupulous ambition and unbearable egotism.” Now the ambition I admit, but I cannot sea the justice or force of the remark about uuscrupulousuess. I counot see wherg there is any more egotism in a man who has served the public for five or six years—and during that period been twice elected to the Chief Magistracy—asking the suffrages of the citizens than is displayed by a gentleman coming forward who is utterly unknown, so far as public works are concerned. The candidate having submitted himself for questioning, Mr Spedding attempted to ask a question, but for some time was unable to be heard. When silence was restored, he questioned Mr Fish about a “rolling office,” and received a reply in effect the same as is given above. The notorious John M‘Larea afterwards obtained

possession of the platform, and succeeded rn putting some questions, though fully twenty minutes were occupied in obtaining the meeting’s opinion whether he should be hoard or not. During his occupancy of the platform a disgraceful scene occurred. Councillor Barnes, feeling aggrieved at some observation M'Laren made, rushed at and seizing him by the coat struggled with him, but did not succeed in removing him from the platform, which was his evident object. M'Larcn, finding himself master of the situation, took off his coat and rolling up his sleeves, as though he meant mischief, proceeded to address Mr Fish, but making personal allusions, the patience of the audience became exhausted, and there ensued such a violent yelling and hooting that it was impossible to hear a word. The chairman, again put it to the meeting whether or not M‘Laren should be heard, but the verdict was uuraistakeably iathe negative ; and that individual retired. Several questions were then put to the candidate, after which a vote of confidence in him was proposed by Mr John Hamaau, and carried.