MAYORAL ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2058, 19 April 1907, Page 3

MAYORAL ELECTION.

TO THE BURGESSES OF GISBORNE. I'N again acceding to the request ' to contest tile .Mayoralty. I do •so with feelings of great respect to the presetn occupant of the position (Mr. Townley), realising, however,at the same time, that our progress has been retarded in the past, and will continue to he retarded in the future, b.v his attitude, thus making it very hard and difficult for progressive works and changes to be made on sound and prudent lines. Shortly, I am strongly in favor of an Outer Harbor, and consider that no time should be lost in getting an Enabling Hill passed, and then, having Mr. Merchant's scheme placed before the people for their final approval or disapproval, so soon as it has been approved of, or modified, by the Consulting Engineer. In the meantime, I consider that the expenditure upon the River works should he curtailed as much as possible, and that only absolutely necessary works should bo done, in order to keep the river open and enable full use of It to be made. I consider that, with water, some economical and prudent scheme of Sewage must follow, for the health and convenience of the public. A site, should be selected' and secured for Municipal buildings, and a start made by erecting offices suitable for our present requirements, the offices now occupied being entirely inadequate,and without a fixed tenure. Better arrangements arc urgently needed for Metalling our streets and footpaths. Generally, my policy would be to see that the Borough and Harbor Board get good value for their money, which, I regret to say, I do not consider they have always got in the past. It cannot he denied that Gisborne is far behind all other places of equal importance in the colony of New Zealand in its improvements, and that it needs fresh and vigorous administration in order to bring it to a level even with places of less importance. I am, Yours faithfully, •\V. DOUGLAS LYSNAR.