MAYORAL ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1929, Page 3

MAYORAL ELECTION

ADDRESSES HY CANDIDATES

LARGE GATHERING AT TOWN HALL.

There was a large attendance at the Town Hall last evening to bear the views of two of the candidates for -Mayoral honours. Alessrs H. AI. t'oulson and AV. Jeffries being the speakers. The chair was occupied by Dr Teicholniaiin.

J)r Teiclielmann said it was not necessary to introduce the two candidates who were to address them that evening. It was now about 21 years since the Borough electors had had -the opportunity of saying who should be their .Mayor. He thought that it was as well that there should he competition for that honourable position. It arouses general interest in municipal affairs and that interest, has the effect of increasing the feeling of responsibility among the Councillors generally and thus can he beneficial. He would ask -Mr Con Ison to address them. .MB. 11. 11. COULSON. Mr IT. M. Coulson was the first candidate to address the meeting. He said it was gratifying and encouraging to see so many present, taking an interest in their own affairs. It was 21 years since they had had the opportunity of casting a vote for the election of a Mayor for the town. The public men of a town are olten what the electors of the town make them. Unless the electors take an interest then the representatives would no rise to the occasions needed. He came to Hokitika with his parents about 40 years ago. With the exception of a break of about ten yoarfj he had lived here ever since. Twentytwo years ago. they had elected him to the Borough Council, and they had continued to honour him by re-electing him. on several occasions at the top of the poll. Two years ago lie had retired as ho was going out of the district for a while, and ho had hoped to have been able to take it easy. However, he had boon asked by a nunibei of electors to stand, and in the desire to serve be bad agreed.

Tlis opponents were two gentlemen of honour and esteem, and to win this contest wruld make it an additional honour as a result.

Dealing with the finances be said t>c Borough’s finances were indeed in a very satisfactory position. At the end of 1927-28 there was a credit balance of £I4OO. He took the occasion to express his appreciation of the services rendered bv -the late Afr A. A. Anil rewos as Town Clerk lor the Borough. Referring to the finances again he said he was against spending out on the rates large sums of money for permanent work. He thought the proper course was to borrow the amount necessary and nay interest and sinlcnc fund annually and extend the payments over fifty or sixty years.

Some time ago the Borough Council carried a loan of £6OOO. of which £5090 had been raised and spent and be thought they would approve of the works carried out. with that sum. There was still another £IOOO vhieh they could raise when money was cheaper, and this would have his hearty support. Dealing with the water simple nnostion. he said it was one of Hokitika’s greatest assets. For a considerable time it had caused the Council a considerable amount of trouble. The time had come when something of a definite nature would have to ho done.

Reference was in a do to the voport ol .Mr Holmes, of Wellington. He mentioned the suggested shorter route for a new pipe line which wmdd redye the distance by nearly a mile, which was a matter that deserved very careful consideration. If ho were elo'tod he would see that everv care and attention would he given the subject,with a view to securing a stable water supply. Dealing with the .train Highways in the Borough he mentioned the subsidies granted of £2 lor Cl on improvement to mam roads. It was a very satisfactory arrangement and the Council should go ahead and do everything possible to have the work carried out 'and the road improved in evenpossible manner. He thought it would he a great investment ii the Council procured a combined grader, roller and tractor on the lines of that of the County Council, which with a cost ol about £GoO could he spread over several years. • Dealing with the drains of the town, reference was made to Sewell Street for which he understood the pipes were made. He thought that work should lie carried out at once. Another drain was the Brittan Street drain, which should he carried out. There was also the drain on the east side of Sale Street which should he properly constructed as soon as it was possible to do so. As far as kerhing and channeling was concerned there was a large amount of that class of work that should he done, especially in the outskirts of the town. He strongly favoured when a footpath was kerbed and levelled, that it should be tar-sealed and finished once and for all. In reference to the Beserves. the revenue earning reserves bad been put on a more satisfactory looting. With regard to Maeandrew Square and Cass Square, lie thought the money spent on these reserves was an asset and not an expenditure. This expenditure was well worth what it cost and these reserves were of great value to the town, much credit for which was due to Mr I?vans who was Chairman of the Beserves Committee. He had always encouraged sport because lie liked it and also because sport helped to make clean minds and bodies. Referring to the cemetery, he

thought the community should keep that reserve as clean and hoautil ill as they could. There was something to be done there And that was the tarsealing of the paths. T here was also the extension of the water supply in the cemetery tnat lie would recommend.

Public conveniences were also rolerred to and the necessity of increasing the number in the town. lie also thought the time bad come when they should have a ladies’ rest room in a central position. The time had come for it to le given serious consideration. He had also been the mover in the erection of silent policemen in the main street, though at first his proposal had not been taken seriously.

He also thought that the time had come for consideration of the removal of the Town Clock memorial at the junction of AA’eld and Sewell Streets t" a more suitable spot. The Borough, street lighting was another matter that also required attention and an endeavour should he made to improve the service given at the present time. Referring to the .Mayor’s honorarium if elected the honour would lie quite sufficient without the “ arium.” Much had been said that the present Mayor had saved many hundreds of pounds by not accepting the honorarium hut that had not been voted by the Council. inuring his soi'vice with the Council he had acted as Chairman of Finair-e for 17 or 18 years and had been Do-put.v-Alayor for 14 years. He had been active in the move to place before tlm ratepayers proposals fora loan ot £'>oo ' which the ratepayers had given wholehearted support to. On polling day he asked them lor their vote and interest. Hokitika would he on the map for a long tim 1 whoever was elected. They knew his past services and he hoped they vai ranted support on Wednesday.. .. H elected he would do his best to uplio *! the honour and dignity of the dfh< <• and to advance, the best interests < the town. " . ? " ,

If elected be would; -endeavour to show that slowness was not an ndjunto sureness, and that -progress we - al so needed.

He thanked them for the very attentive hearing given him and he hoped to be able to thank them again on Wednesday evening for placing him at the top of the poll, an honour that ho would keenly appreciate. (Applause.)

There was no questions. Air AI. Houston moved that Air Coulson be thanked for his very able address and that the meeting express confidence in his candidature. Second od bv Mr A. Lawn.

The Chairman asked that the motion be one of thanks only. Confidence •m id he expressed at the ballot box on Wednesday.

The Chairman’s suggestion was agreed to and tbc vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.

MR AV. JEFFRIES. Air A\ T . Jeffries was the next speaker. lie said lie felt very diffident in following the able address d livered by Air Coulson. Dealing with the coming election he said,..when ho entered the contest lie did so without any personal feelings against the pres'.fit occupant of the Mayoral chair. They had been well represented in the past by Mr Perry during the many years that he had been Mayor, but it had been pointed out to._.liim that the time had come for a change to enable the town to progress as they all desired that it should. He had the greatest regard for the sitting Mayor, but lie felt that the position was one to which they should all aspire. He felt that he had every right to come before them and ask for their support. He had a big stake in the town and,as a ratepayer would have to pay into the Borough this year nearly £IOO. and that was a substantial stake. Tt had he n stated that if they returned either Air Coulson or himself that it w aid mean an increased rate. That was not correct and there would he no increase in the rates if lie (Air Jeffries) were elected. Air C iiikson had stated that Air Perry was slow and sure, but if you wanted to progress they should take the opportunity of electing the candidate who would help to push the town along. He had been elected to the Bhrough Council. to the Harbour Board, to the Hospital Board, to the County Council, of which he had been Chairman for two years, and he had as Chairman of the County inaugurated a scheme which had been carried on by the following Chairmen that had resulted in the placing of the County Council in a very sound financial position, so much so that they now had a credit balance. it had been a subject for discussion in the Council, the condition of their footpaths which were a disgrace, especially those in the outskirts of the town which required a great deal of early attention. The water system of the Borough was not giving the satisfaction and service that was desired, but that was not all the fault of the Council, who had given much consideration to proposals for its improvement. AVith regard to the lighting of the Borough it was not as perfect as it might be, hut ho understood that the Knnieri Electric I Ad. were making proposals for its improvement. and if these did not have the desired effect then other avenues for improvement could he investigated.

Referring to the necessity of installing a proper sewerage system Mr deffries stated that the Health Department of his (ountrv have extended powers for ensuring a sewerage system for Hokitika. Tie had proposals to pul; he for o them which would give relief and ultimately could be extended to embrace the whole area of the town. The time had arrived when something definite should he done in regard to the leases of the reserves of the town. Those reserves should he put to hotter advantage. He urged that those smaller reserves he freeholded. IT elected on Wednesday he would urge the setting up of a commission to

decide what reserves .should he treoholded and which should ho set aside. Ihe carrying out of this proposal would have a very substantial eliect in aiding progress, and would give increased rating values. The public works programme set out last year by the Chairman (Air Armstrong) was dealt with and approved, hut they had found there was not sufficient money at hand to carry them out.

Some of the properties in Bevoll St. were over-rated. He instanced one valued at £-6 X) unimproved value, but tnere was no chance of obtaining £6OO for that property and they were paying rates on that amount. The condition of the town was net satisfactory and it was going hack. They had the opportunity on Wednesday of saying they were going to give the vote to a candidate who was progressive and who was pr pared to advance the town to the greatest extent possible.

Revel I Street for many years had had no sewerage, though that portion of the town paid the highest rates. •Something should he done at once to improve this condition of affairs. If elected on Wednesday he would bring down a .scheme at a cost of £IO,OOO for briaging a sewerage scheme lor Revell, Tancred and Sewell Streets, which latcc could he linked up to the other parts of the town. Last year £4BO had been collected for the abominable pan system. A scheme could he brought in, that for a period of 861 years for a cost of £(i .0 a year a loan could Ik* raised that would enable a eompivhonsivo sewerage system to he inaugurated. public health was a matter of vital interest. If they did not do it soon they would have the Public Health Dvpnp’tnijnt coming down on them and forcing, them to carry out a proper a; we rage system at a very substantial cost. It would lie better to make a start on their own.

Referring to the Borough reserves lie said that while not belittling the work of the Reserves Committee and Beautifying Association, lie pointed out that they had a finer asset in their loroshore which could he made one ol the finest assets in Now Zealand. Tintune had come for a move to he mad. to push on the town and prevent it trade from going elsewhere. Good roads had boon made to enable the town to be reached but the trade was passing them by aml going further afield. Had any attempt been made by Vie Borough to improve the shipping conditions. The harbor at present was not an assot. Until something was done to improve tiie harbor they would have to pay their rates to the Harbor Boaru without any benefit.

The buttle of the AVedncsday lialfhoiida.v or otherwise was in the hands of the electors. He behoved them to g./e careful consideration to the question when casting their vote, so that i o harm was done to their trade as a result of their vote. There had boon a piebald holiday observance in tbe town. There was no reason why the whole business community should not come into line and arrange definitely what holidays and half-holidays should be observed. ’• *

They had the chance on Wednesday ; -)f electing a Mayor for the next two vears. The policy of Hokitika rested on the policy of the Mayor which generally was followed. They needed a -ouiid progressive policy that would ussist to push the town ahead. In the past though we have nut made much r glass there had not been much drill, but the time had come wht i they must make a progressive effort. Jn view ol Ihe representations made to him he bud no option but. to offer his services, and lie trusted to have their support at the poll. He wanted to say in c'-nclusion that the opportunity iv mid be vivea on Wednesday lor tliem to give their support, ff they gave

care!ill consideration to tbe needs ol the town and the necessity of a progressive policy such as he had out lined then he felt he could safely leave the result in their hands. ( Applause). WESTLAND' HOSPITAL.

After concluding his election .address Air Jeffries said he wished to take thy opportunity of referring to the general administration of the Westland Hospital Board. He felt that much ol toe criticism of the Board was not tail ,'iihi was not warranted, and lie pro . ceded at some length to place fact, and figures in connection with Hospital administration before the meeting. Albiiougii there was a small increase in the hospital levy, there would be m increase in the hospital rate in the Borough or in the County. In the course of his del once ol the past work of the Board, Air Jeffries tribulcd the work of the Surgeon-Superintendent. .Matron and Staff, and gave a general outline of what had been done, pointing out that of a property of 98 acres, the; bad now 58 acres cleared and nuclei cultivation which was providing all their requirements in regard to milk eggs, vegetables pork, bacon etc. mentioning that last year 1,115 dozen eggs were obtained, the farming operations showing a clear profit ol £l5O lor the year. The necessity of the purchase of the maternity home was stressed and a well deserved reference was mad< to the work of the President (Air J. J. Breeze) in the last 50 years, and ol the work of Air G. Davidson at the hospital, who had saved the Board several thousand pounds in labor given,

and the work of all the other Board members was eulogised. In concluding his interesting explanation Afr Jeffrie.*--asked, were they prepared to see their hospital lose its prestige for the sake of a small increase. He thought nol and felt that the work of the Board was deserving of every praise. Air Coulson then moved a vote ol thanks to the Chairman for presiding which was carried by acclamation and an interesting meeting concluded.