THE MAYORALTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2172, 23 April 1908, Page 3

THE MAYORALTY.

MR. W. D. 'LYSNAR BEFORE THE ELECTORS. 'Air. AA r . D. Lysnar, who is contesting tlie office of Mayor, delivered a puolic address in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. The Mayor (Air. J. Townley) occupied tho chair, and tho building was crowded. The Chairman, in introducing tho candidate, said that the time when Gisborne was called upon to again choose a Mayor had como around. They lind heard Air. Lysnar beloro oil tho same subject, and he had served tlit ratepayers as a councillor for many years. Ho had been a most energetic worker, and would try to convince those present that lie would be just as energetic if returned as Mayor. The Borough was increasing in size, and required more attention than it did in the past, and presented many opportunities for whoever was chosen to occupy the position of Alayor of tho town. AIR, LYSNAIt’S ADDRESS.

Air. Lysnar, on rising to speak, was greeted with prolonged applause, and was accorded a most enthusiastic hearing. He said that ho had great pleasure in coming forward to fulfil Ins pledges given last year. He fully recognised the responsibilities of the duties attached to tho office he was seeking to fill, and was glad that ho was not standing in opposition to Air. Townley. (Applause.) He was pleased to have the Mayor present as chairman, for when he contested tho seat against him last year, he did so, not on personal grounds, but for public reasons. Air. Townley had served the ratepayers faithfully and well, without any reward, and ho (Air. Lysnar) thought that something should bo done by the people ol tho town to mark their respect for and their appreciation of his services, before Air. Townley went out of office. Not only should some public memorial be obtained, but Air. Townley’s family should have something in their home which they could always look upon with pride. It had been decided that in the future the Alayor should receive a honorarium of £l5O, but . Air. Townley had for eighteen years given his services without any recompense. (Applause.) AIR. LYSNAIt’S PAST WORK. Continuing, Air. Lysnar said he first came into local politics in 1892, when lie set to work to oppose the AVaihirere water scheme, and to force the amalgamation of the suburbs with the borough. The suburbs were growing districts that required roads, bridges, and other improvements, which could only bo obtained by amalgamation. He had been twitted about the Roebuck-road bridge, and was told he had opposed it. That was not so, as the bridge could not have been built oxcept under amalgamation, and there was still the KaitiAVliataupoko bridge over tho AVainiata to get. (Applauso.) AVlieii the commission was sitting to consider the amalgamation scheme, he had battled for five days in advocating the proposal. As regards the AVaihirere water scheme, he always opposed it, because lie knew there would not be a sufficient supply for the suburbs, and it would require a rate of Is lOd in tho £, as against the Te Arai scheme with a rate of Is sd. Under tho AA T aihirere scheme there would have been no water for garden purposes, and all must have appreciated the supply that was avail- 1 able from Te Arai for all purposes last summer. Although Gisborne stood between the third and fifth place in tho Dominion for export of meat, it was still far behind in general borough administration, and lie felt there was room for great improvement, and at the same time great economy. ROADS.

The saving that could be made on a proper road construction scheme was a large one. Ho admitted that metal was expensive, and hard to obtain, but,,with a proper system of traction lie was certain it could be more cheaply obtained. The principle of constructing roads out of revenue was a wrong one. Revenue should only be usecl for street maintenance and sinking fund, and the construction paid for by loan money, so that posterity should have to pay a fair share. The borough could borrow money at 4 per cent., or a half per cent, cheaper than a private person, which, by allowing 4 per ceut as sinking fund, would only be £45 on every £IOOO expended. There was a certain amount of prejudice against borrowing, but most business 'was run on credit. (Laughter.) If a man bought a farm or built a house lie had to borrow a portion of the money, and tlie timepayment system was the 6ame. (Renewed laughter.) “AVhy,” explained Air. Lysnar, trying to make his meaning clear, “when a man wanted to get married he often had to get credit for his. furniture, for, if he could not, he would not get married at all.’’ (Uproarious laughter.) Continuing, the speaker said that Air. Gibbon had informed him that it would need £36,450 to put the whole of the streets in good order, and by borrowing the money, the Council could pay interest and all maintenance and effect a saving of £2OOO a year on the present expenditure. The saving that could be mado on a proper system of road finance would pay for the drainage, a drainage that would serve the town for many years to come without the ratepayers being asked for ,a copper more an rates. If he was returned he would promise to give them good roads and a satisfactory drainage system •without any increase in rates. Tho principal roads of tho town could be put in good order for £20,000, and to do that a loan would be needed. He would not advocate a loan for the whole £36,500 at one time, but even if that were undertaken the interest and sinking fund would only amount to £1620. Last year the borough spent £5040 in maintenance, and the money went in patchwork and dribblets, and the people did not get ten shillings’ worth in value. If tlie roads were properly made and rolled, they should not need any attention for eight or ten years, and he thought the people should give the Council power to form the roads as they should be, and the money could be paid back by degrees. He had been told by tho borough overseer that the whole of the streets could be maintained for £ISOO a year, which, with interest, made £3120, or nearly £2OOO less than at present. Crawford road and other streets badly needed metalling— A voice; AVliat about Abattoir Road ?

Mr. Lysnar: Yes, and Abattoir Road also. I agree that Abattoir Road should havo been metalled years ago. DRAINAGE. Referring to a drainage scheme, Mr. Lysnar said that he had told them that drainage could bo providedout of the money saved on roads, and ho thought no scheme should be accepted unless the whole of the •"borough was served. (Applause.) That was the position he took up on the wator question, and it could also be applied to drainage. Mr. Mestayer's scheme was out of the reach bf v a town tho size of Gisborne, and the people could not afford to touch it at the estimated cost, £125,000, for The interest and working expenses (estimated at £2OOO a year) won Id make a total of £7725, or more than double the- general rate. The scheme was far too expensive. The “Shone” system was even making Wellington groan, and he did not want to see Gisborne over-burdened by expense. Some members of the Council proposed that £83,000 should be spent to 6;erve certain portions of the town and leave other areas in their old position. He would never agree to that. Gisborne should look at wliat other towns were doing, and not- try experiments. Personally he was against experiments, and always left them for the other man. (Laughter.) IJoth New Plymouth and Palmerston North had drainage systems with sep tic tan'ks that were working well, and ho quoted a report from Mr. Jeykell, engineer at Palmerston North, to show that no more satisfactory system of drainage was needed. They had been told ther.e was no natural fall in Gisborne, and that a pumping system was required, but ho knew, from reports he had obUu'icd. there

was ample fall for drainage into a soptic tank'. ’Ho would ndvocato that a report .bo obtained upon a septic tank system and tho cilluont winch was harmless could run into the river, or, if a nuisance, two miles out to sea Ho was suro that a sum ol £30,0()U would cover tho cost of sorvico for the whole borough, which was a great saving on £83,000. (Applause.) Jlo had ofton boon ridiculed by lus opponents for making radical statements, but his predictions carno out true in tho ond. AVATER SUPPLY. Ho had gravo misgivings about the mains at tho To Arai waterworks, and was certain that it would be only a low years when it would bo lound that the cost and upkeep of the spiral pipes would ho so great that a new pipe line would have to be laid, lie was sorry to havo to make such a statement, but a look at the pipelino had filled him with sadness, and. he saw his predictions wore likely to como true. Mr. Lysnar then read newspaper reports showing tho position lie took up in 1904, when a councillor, in opposing the use of spiral stool pipes, ns being not so suitable, nor so strongly recommended by Air Hay as cast-iron pipes. Continuing, lie said tho work would prove a white elephant, which lie had tried to prevent being landed against tho town. The contract was already a year overtime, and was not yet near completion. No practical man could expect the stool pipes to last, as they wore resting on a soft porous soil, and would sagg whenever the ground softened. Cast-iron pipes would have been found much more suitable, as they had stronger joints. Ho had even gono to the trouble to geqy,tho opinion of a qualified engineer ill AVollington on the suitability of the pipes, and that opinion was adverse to tho spiral steel pipes. “It cost me three guineas,” said Air .Lysnar, “which I paid out of my own pocket.” Tho original scheme also provided for a reservoir, but the money had all been spent and no reservoir provided. There should have been a reservoir this side of Te Arai to ensure a permanent pressure, and the town would wake up somo night, find a big fire raging, and. have no water to cope with it. Koiti was without any pressure, and AA’hataupoko has a liressuro far too low. AIISCELLANEOUS. Air. Lysnar said lie favox-ed tho municipalising of tho gasworks, or, in the alternative, the borough going in for an electric supply schemo for light and power purposes. More recreation reserves wore wanted, and he would like to see reserves at Kaiti and AYhataupoko. AVlieii ho was in tho Council lie opposed leasing reserves and a portion of the river banks, and thought theso should always bo kept for tho use-of the people. Ho thought the question of unimproved values should receive attention. There was a lot of ground lying idle that was only held for speculative purposes. The owners would not 6pend sixpence upon it, but were waiting for a rise in values. If a man built a house liis rates were at once raised, and he did not think there should bo a tax on industry. HARBOR AIATTERS.

Ho maintained that ho had been instrumental in bringing about a change of policy at the Harbor Board, and in shifting the burden of finance from tho people on to the shipowners. There had been terrible howls at the time, but so far there had been no increase in freights, whereas the Board now received £2500 from the Union S.S. Company alone than under the old system. If the Board was administered on sound lines there would never again bo a harbor rate, blit the whole £350,000 for an outer harbor could bo found without any cost to the people. Tho burden could bo placed upon tho shipping companies, and they would have to pay dues similar to those charged in Oamaru and Timaru, which were higher than Gisborne for the same shipping facilities that would be provided. ...The new wharfage was another benefit to the public, and he was glad Air. Harris, and not Mr. Bright, was returned as a member of the Board, for Air. Bright intended to stop the tariff going through. Air. Witty had informed him that tho balance-sheet showed that no harbor rato would be needed next year, and unless money was wasted by blasting rocks out of the river, upon which £12,600 had been wasted, there would be no need of a rate. He would also claim some little credit for the passing of the Harbor Board Enabling Bill. In connection with that Bill, he had taken four trips to AVellington at a cost of £IOO to his private pocket, and he advised those present that if they knew another man who would spend that sum in the public interest to vote for him. The AA'illiams family had been strong opponents of the Bill. (Laughter.) The worst the opposition could say of him was that he was an obstructionist, and wished to run the place into debt, but if lie thought the town was not getting value for its money lie would also oppose extravagant expenditure. If returned, lie would not be a party to any proposal to increase rates, but thought that economic administration would provide money for all drainage water for somo years to come. He would do his duty without fear. He had no fear of the present Council. (Laughter.) They had had their “goes” in the past, but were all good friends, and tlie fact that Air. Townley was on tlie platform was proof of the good feeling towards him. (Applause.) QUESTIONS. A large number of written questions were handed in, some of them of a humorous and personal nature, the latter chiefly referring to the opposing candidate, Dr. 'AA'illiams. “Seeing that you propose to provide drainage out of what you can save on the upkeep of the streets, could you not further provide electric lighting out of what you save on the drainage, and at tlie same time run the dynamos with the effluent of tho septic tank?”

In reply, Mr. Lysnar said electric lighting could be provided out of the money saved by not adopting Mr. Mestayer’s scheme. “Was it for the public good that you contrived to get your brother’s sections on Reid’s Quay excluded from the brick area until the plans of a wooden building were approved ?” Mr. Lysnar said lie did not do any such thing, but that the matter was arranged as a compromise. Mr. J. F. Sheridan asked why, when lie (Mr. Sheridan) brought a proposal to erect the Iloebuck-road bridge before the Council, he (Mr. Lysnar) opposed it. Air. Lysnar replied that, as lie had already stated, lie was in favor of the bridge. Mr. Sheridan : “You joined it with the Waimata bridge so that the proposal would be defeated.” Mr. Lysnar: Not at all. I,advocated it. Mr. Sheridan: “You attempted to defeat it, and I can prove it by the minute book of the Borough Council. In answer to other questions, Mr. Lysnar said that the matter of nolicense did not enter into the contest, but he would, if elected, be willing to take the chair at any meeting m an impartial position. He thought the site recommended by Sir John Coode’s engineer might be a better site than the one recommended by Mr. Marcliant, as it would give more room for wharves, but tho depth of the water would need to bo correctly ascertained. Mr. TV. L. Rees moved that Mr. Lysnar was the best person to return as -Mayor of Gisba-ne. anil Mr. A. F. j Matthews secondi d =!-•: motion, which was carried. Mr. Lysnar briefly returned thanks, and a vote of thanks' to the Mayor for presiding brought the meeting to a close.

ELECTIONS ELSEWHERE. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 22. The annual nominations for the office of Mayor in connection with the city and adjoining boroughs took place to-day, For the city of Christchurch, the present- Mayor (Mr. Geo. Payling) and Councillor Charles Allison were nominated.

For tho borough of AVoolston, Air. John Richardson, tho retiring Mayor, was tho only candidate nominated, and ho was declared duly elected. Air. S. R. AVobb (the present Alayor) and Air. Colincook, a member ol tlm Borough Council, have been nominated lor the office of Alayor at Lyttelton. . , Air. Blackwell lias boon olcctcd Alayor of Kniapoi unopposed. Councillor Kiel) is tho only nomination for the Rangiora Mayoralty. AVELLIrsUTON, April 22. The Hon. T. AV Hislop, the present Afayor,' ami Air. J. G. AV. Ailkcn, ALP. and cx-Alayor, are the only candidates lor tlm city Mayoralty. AVANGANUI, April 22. Mr. C. E. Alac'kay was re-elected unopposed as Alayor of AVangnnui. INGLEWOOD, April 22. Air. H. B. Curtis has been re-elect-ed unopposed as Alayor of Inglewood for a second term. ELTHAAI, April 22. Mayoral nominations: G. AV. Taylor anti T. S. Stunners. Air. Taylor is tlie present Alayor. OAAIARU, April 22. AD. R. Milligan lias been elected Afayor unopposed for the 1 mirth _ consecutive term of oilico, and Air. Nicholson unopposed for Hampden. DUNEDIN, April 22. Councillors AlcDonnld and Walker were tho only nominations lor the City of Dunedin Mayoralty. . TIMARU, April 22. Two candidates were nominated lor tho Alayoralty, Alessrs Craigie and 1. Hawkey. The formers is the present Alayor, and the latter has been a member of the Borough Council lor 14 years. , HOKITIKA, April 22. Air. H. L. Michel was re-elected unopposed. PALAIERSTON N., April 22. _ Three candidates have been nominated for tho Alayoralty, Richard Essex (tho present Mayor), Henry Haydon, and J. A. Nash, both of whom aro members-of the present Council.