MAYORAL CONTEST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2570, 21 April 1923, Page 2

MAYORAL CONTEST.

MR ROLLINGS OPENS THE CAMPAIGN. :S ACCORDED A PATIENT AND APPRECIATIVE HEARING. Mr P. 1.. Hollins's, who is eontostng the Mayoralty with (lie sitting Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) opened the campaign in the Royal Theatre in Thursday night. There was a fair attendance, and the speaker was aeeorded a very patient hearing punctuated with hearty applause.. The Rev. Prank McDonald occupied the chair and in doing so explained that it was not in any spirit of partisanship. Tie referred to Mr Rollings’ successful public and professional career and said in ottering his services to the town in which he had come to reside, Mr Hollings was actuated by the highest motives as service was the lies! ipialiliea (ion of a good citizen (applause). Mr Hollings, who was greeted

vitli a round of applause on rising o speak, said although he may He a “oniparative stranger to the town ie was not a stranger to munieipa i dniinisl ra I ion, having served at

apprenticeship as Councillor and subsequently as Mayor of Masterton-. He traced the development and gave the history of that town during his administrative years of office. He occupied the civic chair at the age of 25 years and sat with men on the Council, some of whom were old enough to be his grandfather. What had been accomplished «it Mnsterfon could he done in Foxton. He said his reasons for entering into Ihe present contest were: (1) To push the town along and promote business prosperity; (2) to make the place attractive to visitors and encourage settlement, as its natural attractions and seaside resort should at tract a large population; (2) selfish reason. 1o assist to make the place attractive for bis family; (4) he was a young man with hope of a long life ahead and a desire to accomplish something useful for the people with whom he lived. His policy would not be destructive but constructive. His poliey would mean increased rates but if this meant increased values and general prosperity, what would it matter if the rates were doubled. Posterity would benefit and I hose who came after and enjoyed the benefits should boar their share of the burden. He was satisfied Foxton had a bright future, with such a climate and natural attractions. He had pitched his tent here and desired to he of use to his fellows as no man lived to himself. That was a reply to those who asked: What is his game? His platform consisted of seven planks which he dealt with as follows:THE PORT.

The port of Foxton was one of the town's greatest assets and the Council could co-operate with the Harbour Board and River Board in keeping the port open by Imaging pressure to bear on the Government. The congestion and restrictions at the wharf could be overcome by the construction of a road to the wharf from the Lady's Mile and thus obviate double handling and extra charges on goods. It would allow the board to lease land for the construction of warehouses on the waterfront. The principal cause of silting in the river was drifting sand on the western side and the Council could co-operate with the River Board to prevent this. What was the use of a- dredge sucking up sand by the spoonful when millions of tons were being blown in higher up? (Applause). He advocated co-operation between the three bodies and the employment of the best engineer procurable. An alternate place for the wharf was at .the Heads to be served by a branch railwy line. *

The Mayor had had six years in office and what had he done? It Palmerston or Levin had a port like this there would be trade with all parts of the world. He instanced Wanganui purl and said Poston had lost opportunities in not pushing the port ahead. 'The bodies should gel together and co-operate. ROADS AND FOOTPATHS.

Dealing with ibis plank of his platform he paid a tribute to the main thoroughfare. But what of the back streets? The people who resided in the back paid rates as well as those in the Main Street but yon had planked all your money in Main Street. Like Sandy’s new kilt, the Trout was alright, but there was not much underneath (laughter). Some of the streets were grazing paddocks and were shockingly lighted. These improvements could not be done out of the general rate, but Ihe whole thing wanted looking into and placed before the ratepayers and a loan raised for the purpose. It was useless to expect roads and footpaths to be constructed out of the general rate which should only ho used for maintennee. Posterity would bear its share of the loan and get the benefit and these improvements would add to the value of property. MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, BEADING BOOM, LIBBABY AND REST BOOM.

Mr Hollings said the Municipal buildings should have included public library and reading room and a rest room for women, and a building that would be an ornament and a credit to the town. He questioned whether the Council’s action in spending the insurance money from the building destroyed by lire which included a library and reading room was legal. That was a matter for the Auditor-General to say. Even if found to be legal, it was morally wrong and the Council should have taken the ratepayers into their conlidence and submitted a

complete scheme, the insurance money to he supplemented with a loan. In this mailer the Council had broken faith with the people. A tin shed had been good enough

for a time and then the Mayor suddenly woke up and rushed this building up with money that belonged equally to the other buildings. (Applause). WATER AND DRAINAGE. In discussing this plunk he said the scheme should he completed as quickly as possible. lie questioned the safety .if the water tower in the event of an earthquake. r l he town should have gone in for a gravitation scheme from Shannon which could have been carried <>uf veilr> ago and would have irrigated land en route and helped to pay the eo'-t. The present scheme was carried ollt when inalerial was at treble II normal value and labour double. The Council 111 ltd- mil Iter had not looked (ar eoough ahead. lie suggested llint tin- -ohcnio should |,a vc provided tor ihe seplie lank at III!- Mead.' ill older io provide for building- in I la* future along this route. The -elienie, when completed should he placed under capable and efficient supervision. SWIMMING BATHS.

lie suggested that swimming mills should he constructed near the school for the benefit of the children as well as the general public. He understood lhat the Council had a section in t|i© 1 locality and if it had not, one should be purchased. If the baths were conducted on right lines they would be self-supporting (applause). LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

He advocated the encouragement of local industries. The freezing works should have been here instead of Longlmrn, but Foxton had lost its opportunity. The locality was ideal for woollen mill purposes with power from Mangahao. Trade was drifting to other towns, such as Palmerston and Levin and the live-blood was being drained from Foxton because we were lacking in progressive ideas. A dairy factory should he started here. There was plenty of land for settlement nearby to support it. Yet the Mayor of the town was a director of the Shannon factory.

A voice: A good director too. Why had the Mayor not advocated a dairy factory for Foxton? The Mayor: I’ll tell you on Monday night. Mr Hollings said if Shannon was to he boosted ahead let the Mayor of Shannon do it, not the Mayor of Foxton (applause). It was time this sort of trading outside was stopped and something done to stimulate local interest and industry, otherwise Foxlon would disappear oft the map (applause). If his coming out had stirred the Mayor up after his six years of office he had accomplished something. DISTRICT DIGIT SCHOOL.

Mr Ifollings advocated the establishment of a District High School for Foxlou. Tie paid a tribute to Ihe local school building hut said it was not fair that children should have to go out of the town and away from home influences to obtain secondary education. Besides it imposed a hardship on people who could not afford to send their children away for this purpose. The Mayor spoke on this matter at the householders meeting recently lmt had done nothing for the previous six years. The facilities for a High School should he demanded from I he Government. CONCLUSION. Li concluding the candidate said he had endeavoured to place his views briefly before them and if elected would endeavour to carry them out. Tie did not wish the people to have to drag things out of the Mayor and Council as at present. Tf elected he hoped to have progressive men associated with him, so that they could get a move on and do something. Like the man on the bicycle, Poxlon must either go forward or olf. Which was it to be? Forward or backward? That was Ilia question they had to decide at the poll and if they did not want progress then it was useless to vote for him.

la answer to a question he said as an old bandsman, he would heartily support that institution and considered that (lie hand had not been eiven sufficient encouragement in the past. In reply to a written question from the Rugby Football Club, he said, if elected, he would not take a wav their right to play on Easton Park, lull would assist and encourage all sports clubs. The candidate before resuming his seal invited any candidates to express their views.

Mr W. Adams, who was received with applause, briefly referred to his candidature and said his only desire was to see Foxton progress, ns it couldn’t get any worse (applause). He referred to the river and port and said these were better assets to the town if developed than the hemp industry. Up to the present they had only been tinkering with the port. He endorsed the policy expounded by Air Hollings. He then gave an idea, of the impressions one would gel upon entering the. town other than through the main thoroughfare. Their impressions would he those of an old whaling station or Maori village. He said that while the road in Main Street was good, it had never been formed and the concrete kerbing was a danger. So far as the roads were concerned they would be better under the Manawatu County Council. They were paying rates and got very little in return. He compared the cost of the water and drainage scheme materials with those of ten years ago, when the

scheme should have been installed. He dealt with one or two other subjects and said if returned he would have something to say at the Coun- (.\\ —“pi] give you my word they’ll hear from me.” (laughter). The usual votes of thanks to candidates and chairman _ > the meeting. In returning thanks, Mr Hollings said he would reply to the Mayor’s speech on Tuesday evening. He desired to thank the proprietors of the Royal for placing the building at his disposal free of cost.