ELECTION OF MEMBER FOR TIMARU

Globe, Volume II, Issue 176, 31 December 1874, Page 3

ELECTION OF MEMBER FOR TIMARU

(From the Timaru Herald.) The election of a person to represent the town of Timaru in the Provincial Council, took place at the Resident Magistrate's Court office, on Monday, at noon. After Mr Woollcombe, the returning officer, had read the writ, he called upon an eleccor to nominate a candidate. Mr Cliff said that he had great pleasure in proposing Mr John William White as a fit and proper person to represent the borough jn the Provincial Council. It was unnecessary for him to say anything in his favor, for it was very well known that his abilities were euch that he could not fail if he exerted them properly, to become a good member for South Canterbury. The electors were no doubt aware that the present election was caused by the death of their late much lamented member, Mr Healey. South Canterbury had sustained a severe loss in the late member for Seadown, Mr Kennaway, and in Mr Healey, and he trusted that the two young and promising members who were to occupy the seats in the Provincial Council would do their duty in the manner their predecessors did. It was absolutely necessary that Timaru, and indeed the whole of South Canterbury should be well represented in the ensuing session of the Provincial Council, for several important matters, notably the allocation of provincial revenues, would then be discussed. He was of opinion that it would be greatly to the public advantage if Provincial Councils were abolished, preventing, as it would, the amount of red-tapeism that at present prevailed. As things now existed, the Board of Works was a mere myth, owing to the treatment it received from the Provincial Government, which treatment materially affected its usefulness. In the transactions of the Government with the Board there was too much reirtapeism. So strongly did he wish for an alteration of the present system of Government that he hoped the present would be the last occasion qn which the electors would be called together to elect a member for Timaru in the Provincial Council. Mr Sutter seconded the nomination. No other candidate was proposed, and Mr White was therefore declared duly elected, Mr White tendered his thanks for the honor conferred upon him, and said that the pleasure he felt at being elected was greatly enhanced by the knowledge that he had been returned unopposed. Being elected in this manner showed that the act was the spontaneous feeling of the district. He believed y/ith Mr Cliff, that in the coming session of the Provincial Council important questions would be deliberated, and said that so long as the province would not be likely to suffer by so doing, he should most assiduously look after the interests of the particular district for which he was representative. A vote of thanks to the returning officer brought the proceedings to a close.