MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2572, 26 April 1923, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

THE FINAL SHOT. The Royal Theatre held the larget attendance during the present Municipal campaign on Tuesday evening last when it. was announced that certain candidates would address the electors and Cr. Martin promised to deal with Municipal matters “with the gloves off.” Prior to the addresses, Mr .W. Hamer said he desired to make an explanation in reference to a question addressed to the Mayor by his ■son at a meeting held in the Town Hall the night previous. He said the Mayor had stated that he did not know what revenue in excess of the £ls would have been, earned by the Council if the hall had .been let to the highest tenderer. The profit to the ratepayers in that ease would have eben £2OO instead of £ls and he did not think that the Mayor was speaking the truth when he made that statement. He also stated that owing to indisposition, Mr Hollings was unable to address them as the doctor forbade his going out. Mr Hollings was progressing satisfactorily and hoped to be about on election dav.

Cr. Martin then proceeded to the platform and invited the audience to appoint a chairman. After a little bandinage, the Mayor was proposed and accepted the position amid applause. The Mayor inferred to Mr Hollings’ indisposition and moved a vote of sympathy which was carried unanimously. He then briefly introduced and asked for a patient hearing for Cr. "Martin and other candidates who would address them.

Cr. Martin stated that opposition to the Mayoralty and Councillors bad stirred up public interest and this was the first time for a number of years that the public had been addressed on Municipal matters by a Councillor. He held that many of the present Councillors were not progressive and the time was opportune for a change. The recent rally by the Mayor in the Town Hall was worked up by a clique and everything was “cut and dried.” The same sort of thing happened at the Council meetings. He then referred to the action of the Council in connection with Whyte Street extension, which had cost the ratepayers £IOO. This would not have happened if they had met Mr Easton fairly and in a spirit of progress. In connection with this matter certain correspondence had been withheld and he moved that all correspondence should be filed, which motion had been defeated. He criticised at some length the policy of Cr. Coley and Cr. Thompson, and referred to

Jfe. them as being out of date. These men preferred the priee of gas to be increased rather than pay an increased rate. The only way to make the gas works pay was by increased consumption, which these men were blocking by increasing the rate. Referring to the water and drainage he said that if the loan had not been carried for this work the Health Department would have compelled the Council to carry it out. If these people who held land did not want to pay rates they should Cut the land up or else' it should be rated and rated until they let it go. There was a demand for houses in Foxton and some people had to live in tents yet these landholders were not sufficiently enterprising to erect houses on their land. He favoured a poll for the construction of streets and footpaths. He favoured a loan proposal for Municipal buildings to include library and reading room and said the action of the Council in only providing for a Municipal Chamber was wrong. The people outside of Main Street were not getting a fair deal and some of the back streets were a disgrace and were dangerous at night, yet these progressive Councillors had done nothing.

In reply to nn interjection by the Mayor the speaker said : “Your past record won’t stand for the future, as you have been too conservative and in had company.” He said the men employed on the water and drainage works had not received the wages they were entitled to and it was a good thing that publicity was not given to the so-called rise in wages, which the Mayor had referred to. He referred to certain happenings in the Council when lie had brought down motions for the advancement of the borough which had been turned down time and again. He charged tlie Mayor with unfairness in refusing to accept an amendment to the by-laws when he, the Mayor, at the same meeting had put through an amendment without notice. This was in reference to the employment of uneertificated hut qualified men to carry out water connections. The Mayor’s amendment to the by-law made it.possible for anyone without experience to do this work under the supervision of a licensed plumber. He knew of one case where a man was charged 8/6 an hour for three days for a. man to look on. Personally, lie, the speaker, was as capable as anyone of carrying on this class of work. A great deal had been made of the progress and work done during the past five years but it was a very poor record. Referring to the water tower, he said this work had been taken over too soon by the Council and there was a leak 25 feet from the ground. The Mayor’s cry about - the rates of wages was only a sop votes as the men were underpaid for the work they did and the Council would yet have to pay these men what they were entitled to. He prophesised trouble with the sewerage pipes in Johnston St. He objected to the right given to owners of adjoining houses rented to tenants being allowed to be con-

needed up by the one sewerage connection pipe while individual owners were not given this right. The Mayor and Cr. Coley supported this. A good deal of the Council business was done without the knowledge of the Councillors. It was strange that Mi- Chrystall could come down with a policy and planks at an election time and neglected this in the past. His planks were his omissions of the past. New blood was required on the Council. People should record their votes without being chased for in a motor car and Councillors should not be elected to protect their own interests but several of them were always up against anything when it hit their pockets. It was the arrival of a stranger who caused the little eruption on the part of the Mayor on Monday night. He referred to his record of service. If he was elected he had nothing to loose or nothing to gain and he was quite willing to abide by the decision of the electors. He hoped, however, they would get rid of the shell-backs and stick-in-the-muds on the present Council. He referred to vested interests in connection with shipping and the shipping rings which helped to kill the port. If the Harbour Board had the co-operation of" the Borough Council and other bodies the. port would go ahead but the Council had done nothing in the past in the way of co-operation. If it had not been for a series of fires there would have been the same old buildings in Main Street to this day. He also referred to the vacant sections in Main Street. “I tell you fairly and squarely this town would lie better for a change in the Council.: I have done my bit and fought some hard lights alone. It’s been like butting my head up against a wall.” Cr. Martin resumed his seat amidst applause.

After repeated calls Mr R. MeMurray, a candidate for the Council look the platform and made the best fighting speech of the campaign. In reply to Cr. Martin’s remark re progress and economy, which he (the speaker) advocated, he said lie had advocated a loan of £3,000 for the laying down of permanent roads at a. cost to the ratepayers of from £IBO to £2OO per annum, instead of which road maintenance was costing them £l,lOO per year and Main Street was absorbing about threefourths of this. The same thing applied to footpaths, yet people paid more for goloshes each year than would meet interest and sinking fund on a loan. The gas works should have been made to pay but the managers in the past had not been given a fair chance. He did not wish to say anything derogatory" of the present manager, hut. they had just as good managers in the past (applause). The trouble was that the Council had no. vision. If tlie policy they were following in connection with roads and footpaths was continued it would be lt)88 before (bey completed their work, judging hv 300 yards in twelve years. He referred to the motor service on the roads which had come to stay. In reference to shipping, lie said it would have been a good thing if those who had put money into the “Kennedy” had not done so, as this vessel had done more harm than good to the port as she was not suitable for the work. The Council should also take steps In demand an enquiry as to the causes of the vessel stranding, or the pilot should report. He adversely criticised the Council’s action in reducing the proposed electric street lamps from fit) to 45, as they should take advantage of the power offering. He the Town Hall lease, he said the Council, in the interests of the ratepayers, should have accepted the best priee offered for the lease, which meant increased revenue. It was a straight-out business proposition (applause). -Dealing with the water and drainage connections, these were costing householders too much and should be carried out at from 25 to 30 per cent, less than the present charges. The usual vote of thanks to the speakers and chairman concluded the meeting.