MR. GRAHAM'S MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 222, 17 September 1881, Page 3

MR. GRAHAM'S MEETING.

In response to Mr Graham's invitation to the ratepayers about 80 or 90 persona assembled in tbe Provincial Hall last night, the chair being taken by the Mayor. Mr Graham commenced by saying tha* much as he wished to tbe contrary he had been compelled by experience to recognise the fact that it was of no use for any one to Contest an election without canvassing. Twice be had tried it and twice he had failed. Once he and bis friends had canvassed, and the result was that he had won by a very large majority. On tbis last occo ion he bad on the polling day, when his opponents wero working hard, heen engaged in his ordinary employment and he was defeated by a majority of three, although tbe owners of 50 votes had since told him that if they had thought there was any doubt as to his return he should have had their votes. On the d»y following the polling day several ratepayer* bad urged him to come forward again and he had consented to do so and that was tbe reason he was before them that evening. He had nothing to say against his opponent, who was an honorable and upright man, excopt that he had resorted to tbe pernicious prac tice of personally canvassing for votes. Mr Graham then referred to what be had done in the Council. He believed be had lost more Bupportera because he had not, aa thoy hoped he would, prove an obstructionist and attempt to turn out tha City Surveyor Thia he bad not done, but he had done tbßt which he had promised, namely, endfavoured to work in harmony witb bis tellow Councillors, and yet speak out his mind when he deemed it necessary. He felt sure that he bad succeeded in gaining the respect of the other Councillors since no less tban six of them had asked him to come forward. He bad been the means of preventing the officials from undertaking any work outside their Corporation duties ; had secured the ap pointment of an Inspector of Nuisances separate from the collector of rates without adding to the charges ; and bad endeavoured to put a stop to the perquisites of gas acd water allowed to some of the staff, although in tbis In bad failed, and having done so it would have been useless for him to attempt any reduction in the regular salaries. Ir was an unfortunate period that be was in the Council, as owing to tbeir being short of funds, he, as a member of the Works Committee* had had to report again^ ssveral van eh needed works, and thereby, he believed, had lost frany supporters. Then income was but £2700, and out of this i.bout £1600 was pledged for the Collingwood bridge. The Council was not to blame for this aa the ratepayers had been consulted, and preferred that the work should be undertaken out of the ordinary revenue to submitting to a special rate for the purpose, so that the only way in which any works could be carried ont waa by obtaining an overdraft at the Bank, in which case their rates would go to pay interest instead of being spent on the streets. He then referred to two anonymous letters which had appeared, one from " Wardsman," which he had at flrst attributed to the proprietors of the Coionitt, but had since found he was wrong. In this be waa accused of selfishness, and of going into the Council for his own benefit, whereas he had never voted or asked for any work on that ground, and the other from " Another Wardsman," in which he was accused of inconsistency in condemning the rent for gas meters and yet voting for it. This was easily explained, as tbe new plant ordered from England would require all the funds that could be raised, and if they took tbe charge off the meters tbey would have to increase it on the g« so tbat the result would be the same. He bad been told thst hia opponent was so receive the Catholic block vote, though he could scarcely bslieve it, as he failed to see what he himself had done to set tbe Catholics against him. AU be knew WB3 tbat be had known and respected tbe head of the Catholics tare for 30 years, and when their church was burnt down had subscribed towards rebuilding it. One reason that bad been given to him for thia statement was that Mr Moorhouse had promised to sucporttbeereetknof abr?r k^aterin the BroofcBtreet stream to prevent it encroaching on the Catholic property, bnt all he could say was that if a petition for this work waa presented to the Council it would receive due attention whether Mr Moorhouse waa a memher or not. He (Mr Graham) had reason to believe that soma of his friends bad been annoyed with him for exersising his own judgment on a certain jecent occasion, but what connection there was between the ex penditure of the rates by the Council and colonial polih'csbe failed to see. He hoped that all tbe ratepayers would exercise tbeir undoubted right on tfae polling day, and record their votes whether for or against him, aDd he would ask all who wished to see him returned to give him tbeir votes, and not to make too sure of bis election. Mr Graham tben read the balance sheet prepared up to 31st March next (which haa already been Snbliehed in 007 columns) io order to show* bw small c mm remained for espenditepgi