Mr Hammond's Meeting

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 4, 20 June 1885, Page 2

Mr Hammond's Meeting

Mr W. Hammond, one of the candidates for tilling the vacancy in the Borough Council, addressed a meeting of burgesses in the Foresters' Hall last evening. About 30 persons were present. E. H. Wright, J.P., occupied the chair, and in a few suitable remarks, in which he said he was not there as a partizan, introduced Mr Hammond, who said he had no platform to go upon as regarded Borough matters. He had called the meeting partly on principle, as he thought candidates for municipal honors ought to make known their views to their constituents. He had spoken to the other two candidates, who had both declined to addrt^s any meeting on the matter. It had beou .said there was nothing new to speak upon, and that therefore the best tlnug to do was to hold one's tongue, but Mr Hammond did not believe in such a policy. The next instalment of the loan would soon be epent, and then more money would be wauted. It was a mistake for the burgesses to have refused going in for the £10,000 loan proposed" by Mr Macarthur, and to have voted for £6000 only. The past and present valuations he "considered ver) r unfair, and he looked forward to the proposed Government valuation, which would undoubtedly be much fairer, and would meet the wants of the Borough which the present valuations did not. He did not objeet to extra taxation, so long as it was fair and not excessive. It was light for the burgesses to submit to further taxation if it were found that it was necessary for the welfare of the Borough. Mr Hammond proceeded to point out where he thought the private money that cjituo into Feuding wont to, but he was called to order by the chairman. He concluded by saying that if elected. he would do his duty to the burgesses. The chairman invited questions. Mr P. Thomson asked if Mr Hammond would be in favour $f further borrowing. . Mr Hammond said that as he under-', stood the borrowing powers of the Council they could not borrow any more money at present. Mr Arnott asked if ho would be in favor of asking the E. /and C.A. Corporation for an endowment to the borough; Mr Hammond said .he . would, and* thought they eught to give 1000 acres as. an endowment. • . Many other questions were put but pressure on our space compels us to omit them. Mr Curtis proposed, and Mr P. Thomson seconded a vote of thanks to ' Mr Hammond for coming forward to address the burgesses, which was carried unanimously. . A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.