THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2146, 11 January 1881, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

A meeting was held in the Academy of Music last evening, when Mr J. P. Oliver, a candidate for a seat in tho City Council, expressed his views on municipal affairs. Tho chair was taken by Mr Binstead, who explained that the Mayor had been expected to act as chairman, but had not kept his appointment. He then introduced the candidate.

Mr Oliver opened his remarks by saying that he had of late been figuring before the public rather notoriously. . [Laughter.] _He said ho had written a letter to the Council re a legal opinion of his letter previously written about Mr Haskins. That letter, like himself and other of bis letters, bad been " sat upon.” [He read the letter containing his solicitors’ opinion, being to the effect that the letter was privileged.] He had long been impressed with the usefulness of candidates addressing the electors when seeking a position of honor. With regard to social position, he admitted that there was something in that argument, but social position was no guarantee against fraud. A man’s brains were the standard by which he should be judged. And it was by meeting them in public that the ratepayers could best judge of the merits of their candidates. Owing to suoh gatherings being too often the resort of larrikins, persons of questionable character were often admitted to their local institutions. Hence they were not properly represented in the City Council. So far with regard to public meetings. As to his candidature for the City Counoil, he hoped to succeed Mr Gapes, now elected Mayor, and to fill that position as creditably as.he had done. And here he might say that he understood Mr Gapes had been stopped on his way to the Hall here by interested parties, and that he did not actually dare to take the chair on this occasion. [Cries of “No, bosh, gammon,” &c.] He hoped for the sake of Mr Gapes’ reputation that this was not true. [Hear, hoar.] Beferring to the business of the Council, he pointed out what he conceived to be certain anomalies in the administration of the affairs of the city, and so long as they continued to be represented by men who revelled in spending public money they would continue to be heavily taxed without getting a fair return for their outlay. He next referred to the administration of city endowments, which he pointed out had been not been used for the publio good. One of those reserves, on the other hand, was allowed to be used for nothing by one who was a friend of a member of the City Council. With regard to the license fees, which formed a portion of the city revenue, he noticed that the tramway was absent from taxation, which was an unfairness to other industries. The cabmen naturally felt this to be a great hardship. Had he been a “ member of the cloth,” a member of the Tramway Company, he would doubtless have had some gentlemen sitting round to support him; but being only an obscure apple-seller, it was beneath their duty to help “poor Joe.” [Laughter,] He next referred to the Resident Magistrate’s Court fees, and pointed out defects in the City by-laws, through which they were unable to recover fines. A matter should not be shunned because it was difficult. The by - laws could be simplified, and the duty of the Council was to do this. The Market Beserve was a subject which nearly concerned him, but he must allude to it. Ho had no doubt that the reserve would in time be a source of considerable revenue to the city, and it might now have given a greater rental had the Councils of the past been wise in their generation, and let the site as at present. But the Town Hall Beserve was as valuable as that, and it was used as a road metal depot. With regard to sanitary measures, he deprecated dividing the control of the city in this respect between the Board of Health and the Council, the latter body being quite equal to the task. The water supply schemes they had heard so much about did not meet with hie approval. They had plenty of water at present, and if the insurance companies wanted a big water scheme, let them pay for it. He had no doubt, however, the Drainage Board would require a water supply to carry out their scheme, and he could quite forsee that an attempt might be made to “pack” the Council for the purpose of introducing a water scheme at the expense of the ratepayers. City improvements would have his support, but works of necessity were those which should meet with the greatest attention. It too frequently happened that the work was done chiefly in the interests of individual characters. He asserted that the funds of the city had neither been judiciously nor honestly spent. They, the people, should elect men who would go in for spending the money fairly all round. He advocatedappointing a solicitor as town clerk—the time had come for that, and when they came to consider the legal fees paid, they would be able to make up a salary of something like £IOOO a year, to be paid to a professional man as town clerk. Further, he would divide the official staff into three separate offices, each of them having a head officer responsible to the Council. The work of aueing for tho recovery of rates should not devolve on the chief officer, but should be done by authority of the finance committee, and steps should be taken to avoid anything like favoritism, suoh as obtained at present. If he could only secure a seat in tho City Council — as things were at present managed he would be secure from paying his rates. [Laughter.] He trusted to the ratepayers to look after his chances in that respect. He next referred to the audit department, and was astonished to find that the imprest account was not included among the others. With reference to the attitude of the present Counoil in this election, he said a committee had met for the purpose of getting a man to oppose him (Oliver), and after meeting with five refusals they got into a chaff store ! [Laughter.] Yes—a chaff store. [A voice —“ Not so good as apples, old ’un ! ”] No ; there’s not so much virtue in chaff. He hoped they would not pay any attention to the instructions of the “ Globe,” but exercise their judgment in recording their votes. Let them put a man in who was determined to serve them faithfully. [Laughter.] He was an apple-seller, no doubt, but he gave them bis brains as a guarantee of his fitness to be a Councillor. [A Voice—“ Where are the brains ?”] And he had no doubt ho could teach most of tho present City Councillors their duty. At present he was content with municipal honour, but expected in the fulness of time to become Premier. [Laughter.] He would now conclude by thanking those present for their hearing. Mr Adams said he had failed to be convinced by Mr Oliver that he was a fit candidate, What did ho mean by saying that concrete channels had “ induced ” the sick rate ?

Mr Oliver—You are on the Wilson track !

Mr Adams—You have said that people were summoned unfairly. Do you not know that ratepayers were sued alphabetically. Mr Oliver —I cannot say for certain ; but I know that “ O ” was summoned before “ H.” [Laughter.] Mr Adams—Were you not known as “ Holy Joe ” in Lyttelton ? Mr Oliver—That is an irrelevant question. You may think me a rowdy, but I am not. If any man can say anything against my character I challenge him to come forward. Mr Adams—What interest have you in North-West Ward ? Mr Oliver—l have no special qualification for that ward, but I have a general interest in the city. No further questions were asked, Mr Oliver addressed a few more words to the meeting, asking them to poll early next day, and vote for the right man. Mr Hiddleston proposed, and Mr Palmer seconded, a vote of confidence in the candidate. The motion was carried by a large majority. A vote of thanks was then passed in favor of Mr Binetead, the chairman.