THE MAYORALTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1390, 24 April 1915, Page 3

THE MAYORALTY.

CR. CHRTSTALL’S CANDI DATURE.

There was not a very large attendance at the Coronation Hall last evening, when Cr Chrystali, a candidate lor the Mayoralty, addressed the electors in connection with his candidature. The Mayor (Mr G. H. Stiles) presided and a number of the candidates for seats on the Borough Council occupied seats on the stage and afterwards delivered short speeches. Cr Chrystali, in opening, said be was pleased to see the electors taking au interest in municipal matters and expressed the hope that such interest would not be spasmodic, but would continue. He believed that Foxton had a bright future before it and should in the near future double its population. The growth and prosperity of the town and district however, depended, in the speaker’s opinion, almost entirely on the closer settlement of the nearby lauds and the development of the port. Dealing with the question of closer settlement Cr Chrystali said the ultimate success of all municipal enterprises could only be brought about by the closer settlement of the large estates in the vicinity. The speaker quoted from a letter from Mr Field M.P. in connection with a proposal that the Government should acquire the Moutoa Estate and said that the people of Foxton were going to push on with this matter. He had prepared a petition for signature urging the Government to acquire this property and other large estates in the district and had already obtained between 300 and 400 signatures, and he was sure that before many days were past he would have double this number. In connection with this matter a certain amount of opposition would naturally be met with, but no great reform had yet been carried out but what opposition had been encountered. He wanted to point out that iu this matter there was no suggestion of confiscation or anything of that kind. They only wanted a lair thing and the Government in acquiring the estate would do so at a fair and reasonable valuations. This, country could not afford to create millionaires and in the interests of the district closer settlement was absolutely essential. Foxton's stagnation in the past was due to a large extent to the fact that there were too many large holdings in the vicinity. Touching on finance, Cr Chrystall said the Council had finished the year with a credit balance of circumstances were taken into consideration, was a very satisfactory position. The maintenance of roads, streets and footpaths was a fairly big item of expenditure and when it was pointed out that the general rate was threepence in the £ it would be readily seen that after making provision for this work there was not much left for new undertakings. He would like to see more footpaths formed and asphalted, but" at present this was out of the question. When the money market was normal however, he would be prepared to advocate the raising of a small loan for roads, streets and footpaths. He did not think the general rale should be Increased to do this work as it was only fair that posterity should bear its fair proportion of the outlay and the raising of a small loan repayable in a certain number of years was the best method to adopt. He thought that in the past too much concrete kerbing had been put down and he would not favour any further work of this description until the footpaths had been properly constructed where the kerbing had been done. If elected he would give close attention to the matter of roads, streets and footpaths. Touching on the gas works, the speaker said the past year was the best they had yet experienced, the profit on the working account amounting to £67s, which was within of paying interest and sinking fund on the loan. Unfortunately some £193 of this sum had to be expended on extensions, making a debit on the account of He was glad to be able to announce that this year they would be able to reduce the gas rate from a penny to a half-penny. The only thing necessary to make the works a good paying proposition was more consumers. In the present manager be believed they had a good man. He (the speaker) bad been wrongly accused of doing his utmost to get the previous manager “the sack.’’ This was absolutely untrue. What he did do, and what he would do again, was to see that the best work possible should be got from employees of the Council, and it would always be bis endeavour to consider the interests ot the ratepayers in every way. In reference to water and drainage, Cr Chrystali said he was strongly in favour of a gravitation scheme as soon as the town could afford it.

He touched on the Coronation Hall, pointing out that in the years the hall had been built the average profit per annum had been

X2OS. The borough was very fortunate in having such a good staff of employees, who were all doing their best. In Mr Kent-Johuston, the Town Clerk, they had a very capable officer, and be also paid a tribute to the Borough Band. In conclusion, the speaker said he had served the ratepayers for four years, and during that time had found the work very interesting. He had gained the confidence of his fellow councillors, and he hoped the ratepayers would send them back, as they bad done

their best to further the interests of the borough. He was very sorry that their “skipper” (Mr Stiles) was leaving them, but he thought they could not do belter than elect the “first mate” in his place. As far as his opponent was concerned he had the greatest respect for him, but the methods adopted by some of his supporters were peculiar. Personally he considered a Mayor should first serve an apprenticeship as councillor. If his opponent was elected there would either be mutiny on board the ship or he would run the vessel against the mud hank of stagnation, and it would be no use afterwards for the ratepayers to come crying to him about the occurrence. The first time he offered his services in Foxton was at a by-election, there being three candidates, and he only polled -18 votes. On the next occasion he was the iast of the successful candidates, polling 237, and last election he was elected at the head of the poll with a vote of 557 out of a possible 725. This was evidence that be bad the co.itl dence of the electors, and if elected as Mayor he would continue to do bis best to further the interests of the town and district.

COUNCIL CANDIDATES SPEECHES.

Cr Henderson said he was there to answer for his stewardship during the past two years, and he could say without fear of contradiction that he had faithfully carried oat all the promises he had made prior to the last election. He was extremely sorry that the water and drainage loan was not carried, and was satisfied the town would not progress as it should until a water and drainage scheme was ui operation. Another matter of vital interest to the welfare of the town and district was the acquisition of the Foxton wharf by the Harbour Board. During the last two years the money at the disposal ol the Council had been spent to the best possible advantage. If again returned, he would continue to do his best iu the interests of the borough. Cr Whibley said, in reference to the past term, that better work could have been done in one respect, that was committee work. The present committees were too large, and when same were appointed be had moved that no committee should consist ot more than four members, and should furnish a report to the Council at least once every three months. This, however, had been deleated, and large committees appointed, with the result that very little committee work was done. Had the committees been smaller and regular reports furnished, he claimed that the Council would have worked better and smoother. He considered it was the duty of the Mayor, not Councillors, to bring forward a policy, and he had no hesitation in pledging himself to the policy laid down by Cr Chrystali. The Mayor and Councillors could work to push the town ahead, but unless they were backed up by the people as a whole their efforts would be unavailing, and he urged the electors to back up and assist the efforts of their representatives on the Council. If he were elected with Cr Chrystali as Mayor he would, to the best of his ability, assist him in carrying out the policy laid down, and if Cr Chrystalfs opponent was elected he would work just as hard to push him in order that that samepolicy should be followed.

Cr Read considered that sellinterest had retarded to some extent the progressive policy of some Councillors. Members were not elected to safeguard their own interests, but to work in the interests of the borough as a whole, and during his term of office he had always done this. He was quite prepared to sacrifice his own interests in order to lurther the welfare of the electors as a whole. He was looking forward to the time when a water and drainage scheme would again be placed before the ratepayers, as he was satisfied that the installation of same would assist the prosperity of the town. He would support Cr Chryslall’s policy, and if returned, would do his best to see that the roads and footpaths are improved. He advocated public swimming baths, and the erection ot a gymnasium. Cr Kempster said this was the first opportunity he had hud of contesting a seat, as at the byelection he was elected unopposed. During his term of office he had endeavoured to do his best. He did not agree with Cr Whibley’s remarks re committees. He had only been on one committee, the Works Committee, and this bad done good work. If returned, he would continue to do his best in the interests cf the electors.

Mr J. W. Stevenson said he was offering his services at the forthcoming poll, to which the electors were very welcome. He was interested in the welfare of the district, and if not returned on this occasion, would again offer his services at the first opportunity. He considered the younger men should come forword. He had no axe to grind, and it elected would do his best in the interests of all.

Mr R. J. Thompson said he was offering his services, and if elected would do all possible for the future welfare of the borough. The matter of closer settlement was of vital interest to the country, and upon it depended the prosperity of our towns. If the land in tbe vicinity of Foxton was properly utilised there was no reason why the population of the borough should not be three times what it is at present. He was out to make the best progress possible.

Mr Charles Simmons sai l he regretted that he had no past services to recommend, him for a seat on the Council, but he bad a good idea of what was required and what was not required •in Foxton, and if elected would do his best to further the interests of the town and district. The electors would have to lake him a good deal on trust, but if returned and they were not satisfied with bis work at the end of the term, they could then vote him out.

Mr John McColl said that, being the last to speak, there was very little left for him to say, but he assured them that if elected he would do his best to further the interests of the borough. The Chairman said that, as this would no doubt be his last appearance before them as Mayor, at least for some time, he would lake the opportunity of thanking them for the honour done E ■■ ' ■ electing him during the past luurteen years. He was pleased to say that when he first offered his services he was returned at the head ol the poll, and had been returned at every subsequent election. As far as the present contest for the Mayoralty was concerned, he could conscientiously say that either candidate would make a good Mayor. It was probable that after a spell he would like to again come forward. Cr Chrystali said he was sure he was expressing the opinion of every person iu the building in saying that they deeply appreciated Mr Stiles’ efforts during the past fourteen years in furthering the interests of the town, and he moved ; “That this meeting records its hearty appreciation of Mr and Mrs Stiles’ services as Mayor and Mayoress,” This was seconded by Dr Maudl, and carried by acclamation.