The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1908. THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2177, 29 April 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1908. THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES.

Dr. AVilliams mado such ah excellent impression, upon his second address to local'electors delivered last night that one is impelled to congratulate him upon the marked improvement shown in tho art of ■ public speaking. When outlining his municipal policy in the Thoatre a week ago tho Doctor detailed the various planks with clearness and straightforwardness, but ho was obviously affected by the novelty, to him, of the surroundings, and failed to do himself justice. This defect was certainly removed last night, when the candidate spoke with the utmost confidence and dealt forcibly and well with tho various matters that are agitating the public mind at the present time. His views are already well known, and do not need recapitulation. A point that was very properly emphasised was the candidate’s views on tho outer harbor question. On this matter his opponents liavp so wilfully - misrepresented the position that it is only fair that his attitudo should be clearly set forth. Dr. Williams assured his audience that he was entirely in favor of such a harbor being constructed, and that, if elected, he would use his best endeavors to have all possible information on the subject made available and then to have the project submitted to tho ratepayers. Wliero the Doctor considered it necessary to reply to the attacks of Mr. Lysnar he did so very effectively and with the utmost good taste, making a particularly strong point where he completely demolished the figures which had been quoted by his opponent in regard, to the draikago scheme in Palmerston North. Dr. Williams had an excellent hearing from a large audieiice, which was obviously very favorably impressed with the clear .and businesslike way. in whioli the candidate traversed’ the items of his speech.

Simultaneously, but;in exceedingly diverse fashion,'. Mr,"-Lysnar was haranguing a crowd in Gladstone Road. In characteristic manner he alternately pleaded,, threatened, and cajoled in a wild endeavor to catch the elusive vote. In one breath ho related how all the good things, from the tuneful chimes of the post office .clock to the Te Arai water supply, ha'd resulted from his efforts, and in the next he stormed at his hearers that they were going to lose from £30,000. .to £40,000 over the waterpipes, and "servo you right.” Auon he warned tine electors menacingly of the dire things' which would happen to the town if the electors should be so misguided as to vote for other than himself.. In his usual guileless fashion, he invited his audience to "compare what Dr. Williams lias done with what I have done” and blushed with overweening modesty as ho awaited a reply. His. candid admission, "I have dono the dirty work of this town for a long time” appears to constitute a curious claim for support on the part of a Mayoral candidate. Taking entire credit for the present position of the harbor scheme, he made an entirely unwarrantable attack upon members of the Harbor Board, whoso sincerity in working for a new harbor he so coolly' questioned. It only requires to be mentioned that the Board is at present by unanimous consent making the fullest enquiries with a view of submitting’ a scheme to the ratepayers in as complete a form as possiblo. Neither Dr. Williams nor Mr. Lysnar can do more than this. Evidently Mr. Lysnar does not relish the criticism to which he has been subjected since the present contest was commenced, but he surely recognises that in standing for such a position a candidate must he prepared to hare both his public aud private record serutinised even though the process be unpleasing. Some persons welcome such scrutiny, but apparnetly Mr. Lysnar .does not. "With the utmost diffidence the candidate referred to the marked improvement, in his own financial position since 1892, j aud suggested that what lie had been; able to do for hipisclf lie could also; do for the town. It is just possiblo, j however, that the lines of progress'

which wero so eminently satisfactory to Mr. Lysnur in his private capacity might not bo acceptable to tho townspeople of Gisborne in connection with their public affairs. From start to finish tho candidate’s speech was interspersed with ceaseless variations upon tho themo oi .“.Wlmt I have dono” and “Wliafc 1 will do” until they boenmo absolutely nauseating. Tho ’samo 'old impractical 6chomos wore trotted forth again, tho samo unlimited and wild promises of all things from a bi'lco track to an outer harbor and numborlesa cricket pitches woro made to curry favor. It is, of courso, for the elctors to cast their votes in tho manner that to themselves scorns proper, but to our miiict, when tho choico lies botwoen a thoroughly respected gentleman of undoubted integrity possessing progressive views and sane methods, as against an irresponsible, windy demagogue, tlio issue should provo to bo a vory simple ono.