THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3556, 16 July 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

The following is the continuation of Mr Bftmsay’s address in the Masonic Hall THE CORPORATION’S FINANCIAL POSITION. I find from the report of Mr Walter’s speech that he entered very fully into the financial position of tho Corporation, and as the figures supplied to h : ra are the same that I intended to give you, I do not think it necessary for me to refer to them. They were supplied both to him and to me by the Town Clerk. But to show the'progress of the City for the last three years, 1 will lay before you some returns I obtained from the Town Clerk (Mr Massey) three years ago. At that time the yearly income was Ll2 630. From the statement furnished me the other day the income is now 1.22,220, so that actually in three years the income has increased by L 9 500. —(Hear, hear.) Of course, in considering this, you must take into consideration L 3.009 given by the Government for the license fees, which will reduce the increase to L6,5P0. For this we are in a great measure indebted to the falling out of leases for the reserves, and to the large prices received for them. I must point out to you that three years ago the rates for the City were L 9,100, and that at that time the rates were one shilling and sixpence in the LI per annum. This year the total amount received from rates is L 9.400, which shows an actual increase, though there has been a reduction in the rates of threepence in the LI. 1 simply mention those figures in order to show you the satisfactory state the Corporation is in at the present time. When the total receipts were L 12.530, after the other payments were made only L2OO was left for

public works ; hut now, after paying for all these things, including the day labor, we have a balance of 14,61)5 available.—(Hear, hear.) With such a balance as this after paying all reasonable outlay, I say that the best thing the Corporation can do is to go largely into the borrowing market. Ido not see why the City of Dunedin should not borrow (for the next five years) at the rate of LIO.OOO per annum. *‘ M oney makes money” is an expression that applies equally well to Governments and Corporations as to private individuals. I hold that money spent upon the permanent improvement of the City is money well spent.—(Hear, h<*ar.) I have a great objection to frittering away the citizens’ money on temporary repairs when these can be avoided, although there are, of course, instances where footpaths and streets should ba_ temporarily repaired. Ido not object to this so much as to the expenditure of L2OO or L3OO on the representation of some Councillor, and when the expenditure is mere wasted money through the re-forming of the streets afterwards. The next matter I shall speak of is

THE INCREASED REPRESENTATION, You are aware that this year the ratepayers of each Ward will have the opportunity of electing two Councillors instead of one. I have favoured this change all along, and have tried to carry it through, and one of my reasons was this ;—At present any Committee consists of four Councillors and the Mayor—a majority of the Council—and when they have large sums of money passing through their hands, as was the case in connection with the Waterworks, I do not approve of a Committee being able to rule the Council. Asa ease in point, I will refer to the gas agitation. The Gas Committee consisted of the Mayor and four Councillors, and had under their consideration the question of the erection of new works. Had it not been for Mr Livingston changing his opinion on the matter, the plan would have been carried out, and would have been a disaster to the City by the erection of those new works. With the increased representation the Com mittee will still consist of five members, but there will be eight members lefc in the Council able to give any Committee’s report the

fullest consideration, and able to object or amend if necessary.—(Hear, hear.) When the matter was last before the Council the members were very unanimous, and the only one who objected was Mr Fish, the Mayor. This objection was so very strong that he told us that in his place in the Provincial Council he would oppose the matter. I did not say anything at the time, but I made np my mind that if he was determined to oppose it, I was determined to carry it through.— (Applause) One night, therefore, when Mr Fish was enlightening his constituents in South Ward, I was busy endeavoring to get those members of the Council and of the Goyemment whom I knew to try to push the matter through the House that very night. They undertook to do so, the Bill was passed through all its stages, and Mr Fish awoke next morning to find it law.—(Great laughter and applause.) The last general matter to which I will refer is the rolling nature of

THE OFFICE OF MATQK. If I should be returned as Mayor, I will give you my pledge that upon no consideration will I allow myself to he nominated for the office next year.—(Hear, hear.) I consider that the office should he a rolling one under any circumstances, and no man, however great his services may have been, should hold the office for more than one year in succession. If one man is to everlastingly hold this hmor, the effect will be to keep good men out of the Council.—(Hear, hear.) I was glad when Mr Mercer showed a good example by retiring from office ; and I think that the citizens will hereafter sea that their Mayor follows an example so well set. If this is done, I believe the very best men will

aspire to the office of councillor in the expectation of having, at some time at least, the opportunity of occupying the chair.- (Applause. ) PRIVATE REASONS. I will now briefly refer to the reasons why I contest this election. In the first place, I have been three years in office in the Council in succession. There is a difference of opinion between Mr Walter and myself as to which is entitled to claim to he the senior member. Had Mr Walter, when he came forward, claimed the honor of being the senior member from the fact of having been one year more in office than myself, I should not have troubled so much about

the matter ; but when he states that he entered into the Council five years ago, and claims to be ray senior by two years, by taking into account thp year he was not in office, I think it timo that I should undeceive the ratepayers he has deceived on this point.—(Hear, hear.) No doubt, a good deal of sympathy has been shown my opponent and support promised him on the ground that he stated so plainly that he was two years my senior in the Council, whep he knew he was only so by one year ep far as service wag concerned. I consider that I am entitled to place my three years’ consecutive service and my reelection last year without opposition against what Mr Walter claims, and to consider myself as much the senior member of the Council as he can possibly be. During the time I have been in office 1 have attended faithfully to the duties of my position. I have only been absent from ene Council meeting, and have taken an active part in •very matter brought before us. With reference to what 1 have done, I may state that I think I have done good service to the citizens in connection with the abolition of the Mayor’s Court. I also got the rate of interest on the overdraft reduced from eight to six per cent. What was done on the gas question was due to a great extent to my exertions and Mr Livingston’s, and in the Waterworks question I have done more than any other member of the Council. jHear, hear.)' I have only t one word to say

about ™ opponent, and it is this. I regret “ e has seen fit to indulge in personalities, and I believe I shall consult the wishes of my supporters, the citizens generally, in declining to follow his example.— (Applause.) I believe lam entitled to refer to my conduct outside the Council as a citizen in an election such as this. During the last ten years I have taken an active part in many matters which had for their object the benefiting of my fellow citizens. For some years I acted as an earnest worker in the cause of Oddfellowship, and at the present lime I hold an office of trust in connection with that body. I have been an active member of the Volunteer force, and vou know my connection with the Caledonian Society. I have endeavored to forward the objects of the Society, and with some success. Last, but not least, I have done my share of work on the M arbor Improvement Sub-Committee, which has resulted in the creation of the Otago Harbor Board.— (Hear, hear.) There is another matter to which I have given some attention of late, and that is this—the establishment of a Mechanics’ and Working Men’s Club ; and I am happy to announce to-night that I am in a position to offer a very liberal endowment for snch an institution. To save further comment on this question, I will read a letter from Mr Larnach, dated yesterday, and addressed to myself ; . Dunedin, 14th July, 1874. Keith Ramsay, Esq., Jetty street. Dear Sir—Referring to the conversation wo had some months ago on the desirability of establishing a Mechanics’ and Working Men’s Club in this City, I am glad to inform you that Mr Joseph Clarke, of Victoria and Moa Flat, who recently visited us, thoroughly sympathises with our views in that direction, and has agreed to join me in offering an inducement to those most interested to gather sufficient funds from among themselves to ensure tho proposed undertaking becoming a success. The difficulty in finding a gentleman willing to take the trouble of initiating the working of the proposed Club, is my excuse for addressing you these hues; and as I feel that an Institution of the kind referred to would prove a lasting benefit to the most important portion of our community, I need scarcely offer an apology in asking your assistance in favor of the Club, and this I do from my observance of the interest you have always taken in City and public affairs.

To make a beginning, I enclose you Mr Clarke’s cheque for LIOO, and my cheque for LSO for the benefit of the mechanics and working classes—to bo used upon the following conditions, vis :—lst. That, as soon as an equal amount say Llso—shall have been subscribed, Mr Clarke’s cheque and mine may be made use of. 2nd. That immediately L3OO are in hand, trustees shall be appointed to control the funds. . In making the endowment, the only conditions sought to be imposed by Mr Clarke and myself are—--Ist. That tho L3OO be applied towards the purchase of a suitable freehold site for the Club, and that the same be neither sold nor mortgaged. 2nd. That neither wines nor spirits shall ever be used or admitted to the Club. In conclusion, I will refer to the great advantages Jsimilar clubs have [conferred upon their members in many large cities in other parts of the world.

A few hundred miles over the water—in Melbourne—there is to be found one working, not only most usefully to its immediate members, but whole families are thriving under its good influences. You may readily obtain the rules, &c., of that club, and similar institutions in the sister Colonies.

Comfortable lodging [rooms for many members could easily be attached to the club. My time is much occupied, and I confidently leave the matter in your hands to be fairly dealt with.—l am, &c.,

W. J, M. Larnach. —(Loud applanse.) Gentlemen, it is needless for me to comment upon the advantages •f such an Institution as this. Many of you are. no doubt, acquainted with similar institutions at Home, and are familiar with the working of them there. Whether lam returned, or whether the citizens elect that I shall remain in my present position, this movement will receive my very hearty support. I look upon it as a movement which, if properly carried out, as no doubt it will be, will prtfve a great boon to the citizens of Dunedin. - (Gre»t applause.) I shall now, gentlemen, be happy to answer any questions you may have to submit. QUESTIONS. Questions were then asked and answered by the candidate as follows : Mr Sherwin, jun.: Is not this L 2,000 borrowed to extend over a period of thirty

years ?

Mr Ramsay : Of course it is. Mr iSherwin ; Are we to understand that you are favorable to the same opinion to all you gave expression to about twelve months ago, to the effect that the Mayor should be elected by the Council, and not by the citizens ?

Mr Ramsay : I may state that on that occasion I pledged myself not to support any change. I have kept that pledge, and always will.—(Applause.) And, now that 1 am dealing with this matter, I may perhaps be allowed to . refer to an interpretation which has been placed upon some remarks I made on a previous occasion regarding candidates for the Mayoralty. The remarks to which I allude as having been made oa the occasion are these :—“ Ifja man had spent a considerable time in the Council in watching the interests of the ratepayers, it was surely too much to expect that before he could attain the position of Mayor he must go through the mire of a public election and stand the badgering and stupid questions of a certain disreputable class. A man who had served the citizens in the Council ought not to be subjected to such an ordeal to gain a position he had already attained.”—(Applause.) Now, gentlemen, I think it is almost needless for me to inform you that, when I made these remarks, the disreputable class to which I alluded

was aot those ratepayers really desirous of being informed respecting matters which affect their interests, but those mountebanks who (for some time, were in the habit of attending meetings held in different parts of the City, and were in the habit of putting irrelevant, insolent, personal questions to candidates. These were the people to whom I referred as a disreputable class. Will any one suppose that my intention was to speak in such a manner of my coestituents in High Ward—in terms such as Mr Walter, for instance, seems desirous of conveying that I did—that they were, in fact, a disreputable class ? I am really astonished that any man, pretending to have common sense, should endeavor to make the ratepayers believe such trash.— (Laughter and applause.) Mr Sherwin ; What was that you said about the drain from Joel’s brewery draining the lower part of the City ?—Mr Ramsay : No ; I said that probably in the course of a few years the drains to be laid down there would have that effect.

Other questions were then put, and answered as follows

How did Councillor Walter vote on the occasion referred to ; I mean as to how the Mayor should be elected ?—ln the same way that I did ; namely, that the Mayor should be elected from and by the Council. The only difference was this—l took the opportunity of giving explanations to my constituents regarding the matter; Councillor Walter did not.—(Applause.) Are you in favor of faggot voting ?—No ; decidedly not.

Do yon approve of the system by which Mr Fish, and in which matter Mr Waltrr was interested, managed to record seven votes out of a Corporation section ?—No, certainly not. I think that of all things connected with plurality of votes, that sys.

tern is most abominable, and 1 am surprised that people who were interested in such a matter should raise a howl of virtuous indignation against plurality of voting.— (Ap. plause.) r

Are we to understand that, if you are elected Mayor, you will not be in favor of borrowing money to be expended on the Town Belt, without the efforts of the Corporation are subsidised out of Provincial revenue ?—That is my intention. Will you please to inform the meeting how Councillor Walter voted on the motion to abolish the Mayor’s Court?— Why, he seconded my motion for abolishing the Mayor s Court; so that if there was any iniquity in the matter, we are equal in that respect.

Seeing that the Corporation has increased the salaries of the whole of the salaried officers, do you not think it was only fair that the wages of the daymen should also have been taken into consideration ?—Well, the daymen receive 8s per day, which, [ believe, is the current rate of wages for laborers outside.

But don’t you think it wr s right, seeing that the salaries of the permanent officers were increased twenty-five per oonfc. per annum, that the wages of the daymen should also be increased, because generally wh ui there are reductions the daymen are the first persons to suffer ?—I hardly think that the daymen should be better paid than those ratepayers similarly engaged outside the Council. Then again, during last year the Government officials received an advance in their salaries, and perhaps you will say it is only fair that the Corporation officers should be similarly dealt with. When the matter was brought forward, my opponent moved that only the salaries of the Town Clerk and City Surveyor should be raised. I however, being in the chair at the time, suggested that the whole question of salaries should be taken into consideration, and not merely those of two of the officers. However, if it is proved that the wages of the daymen are less than those received by persons who are somewhat similarly engaged outside the Corporation employment, I shall ba willing to use what influence I may possess to get them raised. Arc you in favor of the new pound in St. David street ?—Decidedly not, as 1 consider the erection of a pound in the middle of a main street would not only be objectionable but positively dangerous. When, therefore, the matter was brought forward I endeavored to get it remedied. At the next meeting i was surprised to find that the erection of tbe pound was still being proceeded with, aud on the motion of Mr Prosser, seconded by myself, instructions were given to the parties to desist from carrying it on. The result will, I believe, be that it will be placed outside tbe City boundary, where all pounds ought to be.—(Hear, hear.) Seeing that when the Corporation get the Waterworks into their own hands there will be such an increase of revenue, will you be in favor of appointing a Corporation Treasurer?— That is a matter which has been brought under my notice several times ; and now that we have got the Waterworks, I think it would be advisable to make such an

appointment. I think it is only right that, as such large sums of money will now pass through the hands of the Corporation, some one besides the Town Clerk should be responsible. 1 also behove, from the conversation I have had with that gentleman, that it would be a relief to him to have somebody to share the responsibility with him.— {Hear, hear.) Does the Corporation allow the Inspector of Contracts to discharge Corporation laborers at his pleasure, and against the wirh of thj permanent inspector, Mr M'Kenz e? >o; I believe no power is given to Mr Barnes to discharge, anyone. He may recommend to the Surveyor that so many men

should be discharged, and the surveyor thinking, no doubt, that Mr Barnes was the best judge, might agree to their dismissal, it seems that there is some dispute between the Inspector of Contracts and Mr M‘Kenzie; and I think it will be far better for all parties, and also for the interests of the citizens, if their respective duties were clearly denned : Mr MVKenz'e having the control of the daymen and their labor, and Mr Barnes the supervision of the contracts. Will you reserve that line piece of ground exchanged for the quarter-acre for a fish market ?—N o ; most certainly not. • j ll ? DSvrer to an °ther question, Mr Ramsay said that the Fire Brigade site was to be left open for the purposes of traffic. ■Did you use your influence to keep Mr Mercer from coming forward as Mayor ? - No, certainly not; but my opponent used every influence to get him xo come out. 7" (Dh 0 1 don’t think it is necessary to inform you why.—(Hear and laughter.) Mr W. Asher then moved, and Mr Andrew Lees seconded— ‘ • That Mr Ramsay is the most fib and proper person to occupy the position of Mayor of Dunedin during the ensuing year.” ’ The motion was unanimously carried, amidst loud applause. The meeting then separated.