TUAKAU TOWN BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 231, 18 September 1914, Page 2

TUAKAU TOWN BOARD.

First Commissioners Elected. The election of Commissioners for first Tuakau Town Hoard created considerable interest. The roll contained 2GI nam.s, cf whom 190 voted. It is understood that there wa? not a single informal vote. Mr A. H. Tapntr was returning officer, with Messrs F. Lauer, W. Young, C. McGihan, T. Dromgool, H. Acton and J. English acting as scrutineers. The poll opened at 9 o'clock and cl ;scd at i"> p. m Returns were not co-npLtcd until 9 pm. Scrutineers throughout the lout,' clay's work acted in perfect harmony and good feeling throughout. The following i 0 the result of the poll:SUCCESSFEE CANDIDATES. Dynes Fulton 132 ,1. Pirret I2t> W. Strahan 125 Captain Ryder 118 J. H. Craig 115 H. B. Free lUu \V. Glasgow 96 UNSUCCESSFUL. H. McGuire 91 F. Hyde (i? B. G. "eraghty 68 •I. J. Dromgcol 52 T. B. McGahan 43 F. E. Johnson .')5 T. McGahan :]4 fhe poll shows that tha Frogressive League "ticket" received solid support, 6 out ot 7 members being elected, while the seventh man, Mr Hugh McGuire, only lost his place by 3 votes. About To or SO electors awaited tho result of tli>' pull. Insistent calls for speeches from the successful candidates were readily complied with. Mr Dynes Fulton thanked electors heartily tor placing him at the head of the po'l. lie took it that the policy that In l had adopted with regard to our district hail tlin approval of ratepayers. He assured those present that he would continue to work for the good id' the district to the host of his ability. Other members, all of whom were well received, contented themselves with brief speeches of thanks. Mr ilugh McGuiro said quite frankly that he was disappointed at losing the contest, although it was only by a few votes. He thanked the League and his supporters generally for voting for him, and was prepared to accept defeat without ill-feeling to anyone. He hoped that when opportunity offered again he would be on the winning side. A call for cheers for Mr McGuire was responded to heartily. A Public Meeting. PROGRESSIVES ON THE FLATFORM. On Monday evening there were about 80 residents present at the Tuakau public hall at a meeting convened by the progressive candidates who were contesting the seats on the Town Board. Mr E. Allan, of Bucklaod, was in tie chair and the seven progressive candidatesMessrs Dynes Fulton, H. McGuire, H. B. Free, J. Pirret, H. Craig, W. Strahan and Captain Ryderwere also on the platform. Mr Allan said that the candidates in the progressive interests for the Town Board were there to place their views before the ratepayers. But they wished first to give any of the ether candidates an opportunity of speaking from the plat form. There was no response to this invitation, and Mr Allan went on to say that Tuakau was advancing by leaps and bounds, and it was only right that the candidates should be given the right of unfettered expression to their views. Mr Dyneß Fulton spoke on behalf of the "ticket," saying they thought it their duty to place their views befoie the electors. He referred to the town district area, which contained about 1280 acres of a capital value of £41,596. These figures were approximate, as accurate data was not available. At present they were paying a three-farthing general rate and a farthing special rate on two loans raised some years ago which brought the rate up to Id. Another farthing was being paid on VVhangarata; they found an eighth of a penny was not sufficient so it was made a furthng. Now thev paid a farthing one year and nothing the next. The general rate brought in £173 6s 4d, the farthing rate on the two loans £43 Os Yd and the one-sixteenth penny hospital rate £2B 17s Bd. With a rate of 1 l-16d they would only have £173 (>s 4d for the general rate fund ; the special rate was, of course, to pay for something which they had received. They knew well enough it would be impossible to carry on with a revenue of £l7.'i r>s Id. It was over I years since the valuation, and the progressives would do nothing until th" new valuation was made, which niust be shortly, It was possible their next valuation would be nearly double. As somas tho new valuation was known they would decide what to do. They would probably get an engineer in to estimate the cost of cuttings, etc, and lind out exactly what would bo re i|iiired to be borrowed. Then the money for the different works could be allocate]. If they were unable to raise loans to advantage they would have to go on as at present. They had not a great many roads to maintain, which was fortunate. The road in front of the hall would be one id' the tirst to be cut down Mr Fulton went on to refer to other work which would be required. The streets, he said, were in a filthy condition throughout the year; there was no proper drainage, no footpaths, ar.d no lighting. A stranger ' alighting from the train did not know whii li way to turn. All those problems helto be I 1 in.l :lie work done in the imisi e, .iuomi< ,il manner. A i leil< would require, sav, X •" .i year, and there would lie an uttirc and lurnituro to secure which would redm e the spending power mi the roads ioiisidornldy. If a loan uete raised that would have to be gone into earofulh. Mr j Fulton, referring t" tho abuse re- j i ei\i d as the result of giving public I s, i vi> e, -aid that In had given about I !\vii-thii'l- "I hi- time 10 public work, \\ hat his , olleague.s would lo wo ild be to put local affairs on a i sound basis, and if elected would ; mdeavoiir at nil times to deserve heir i onlidence. H,» ~included by ' «a\ ini'' tint he li ul no intention of ' infesting tin -it on |||,i ('oiinfv Ahum il .it the tie\t elc. (ions,

Mr W J. Deeblo asked Mr Fulton 1 to give his views on the overhead bridge for Tuakau. I Mr Fulton said he had once signed a petition for an overhead bridge on I the existing road, but the Department would not favour it, saying it i was impracticable. In reply to Mr C. Fern, Mr Fulton said a promise had been given to put a bridge on the south .side of tho : station, but up to the present nothI ing had been done. Mr Deeblo asked if Mr Fulton would be in favour of buying private lands to secure approaches. Mr Fulton : No, decidedly not. Mr Henderson wanted to know about the class of roads require 1 when cutting up sections, Mr Fulton slid this wa- a big i|UPStioii. Some Councils and Town Boards insisted upon tho roads being metalled and the footpaths formed To ask a man to | metal tho roads and put chips on the paths might cause a serious l delay in cutting up. He thought I that the vendor might be roijtiirol to pay a certain amount as each section was sold into a fun 1 so that I as soon as the sections were sold the I money would bo available to give tho metalled road. Mr Bruce Scott said that suggestion was impracticable and people who had been led into schemes that Road Boards would form streets had been badly had. Cr Fulton said uu lor his seliamo no portion of the money could be taken out of tho fund except to metal the road. Further iiuestious by Mr Deeblo I and Mr English were answered. Mr Allan proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Fulton for his address. Mr Fulton had come forward in a straightforward manner and evidently had met with the meeting's approval. Ho trusted that the Town Board would be one of progress and that the representatives would seo that it did not lag behind as in tho past, (Applause). Mr Deeblo seconded the resolution which was declared to be carried '' by an overwhelming majority." Mr Graham also rose to second tho resolution and complimented Mr Fulton upon tho good work ho had done for the district. Mr Fulton thanked tho mooting and a vote of thanks to the chair, proposed by Mr A. Madill, closod the proceedings. It was expected that the mooting would have been lively but it passed oil very ijuiotly.