ONEWHERO.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 322, 30 October 1917, Page 3

ONEWHERO.

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION. MR WALTER'S CANDIDATURE There was a fairly large gathering of settlers at the Onewhero Public Hall on Saturday evening last to listen to an address by Mr Chap. Walter, a candidate for the repiesentation of the Onewhero Riding on the Raglan County Council. Mr Cole-Baker presided. The chairman briefly announced that Mr Walter was well-known in the district and asked that he should be given a fair and impaitial hearing.

Mr Walter at the outset of his address desired to assure those present that whatever he might say in criticising ex-Cr Crawford would be free from malice. He (the speaker) had always taken a keen interest in pqfclic affairs, more especially with regard to roads. Mr Walter then related the circumstances which led to the grant of £3OOO for ae'alling the OnewheroWairamarama Road. The application for ±*3ooo for metalling the road from Onewhero to Wairnmarama wa-granted-and was always referrel t > as a " grant" and not as a subsidy as had been suggested from time to time Mr Walter alleged that a petition was circulated by Mr Crawford to try to get the £3OOO grant turned into a subsidy. With regard to Ponganue Boad Mr Walter rc- • farred to a statement by Mr Crawford that more money had been spent on that road from Opuatia to Tuakau than on any other. Ho (Mr Walter) thought that the Fonganuo Road was acknowledged to be the worst road in the County Eight years ago metal had been blasted to form a road but nothing was done until last year when Mr Moore had the metal broken and the road improved. _ Alluding to Hamilton's deviation Mr Walter said he was now in favour of the deviation being carried out but did not recommend the expenditure which it would enta 1 whilst the war was on. He had seen Mr Hamilton before he decided to stand as a candidate and if he was elected to the Council Mr Hamilton had promised to allow the road to go through his land provided compensation was made by arbitration. He (Mr Walter) was not in favour of having the road made now but would first get it legalised and the work could then be done as soon as labour was available. Mr Walter added that he favoured raising local loans for work on byroads. He would do his best if elected to see that the roads received attention. QUESTIONS. Mr Crawford asked Mr Walter how he would carry out his various road proposals on a three-farthing rate. Mr Crawford explained that material and labour were difficult" matt°rs and with the five bridges requiring repairs there would be nothing left out of £BOO which a three-farthing rate would bring in. Mr Walter replied that he had not the experience of others yet but would do his best to economise "If you are not satisfied with me don't vote for me," said Mr Walter, " I have no axe to grind and am out for the benefit of the whole riding." A good deal of questioning followed in regard to the Hamilton deviation petition and Mr Walter finally stated that he had been misinformed as to its contents and he apologised to Mr Crawford for his error.

Mr Crawford pointed out that capital had been made out of the petition by Mr Walter and such was calculated to do him (Mr Crawford) harm. Mr Allan asked the candidate if he still considered that the £3OOO spent on the main road was a subsidy or a grant, to which Mr Walter replied that it was a "straight-out grant." Mr Allan claimed that Mr Qrawford should be credited with getting the money and produced a copy of a telegram making enquiries on the subject sent to Mr Campbell Johnston (chairman of the Raglan County Council), the reply being, " Crawford supplied estimate for particulars and Onewhero ratepayers can thank him and no one else for £3000." Mr Allen added that no one appreciated Mr Walter more than he did, but he could not agree with him on public questions and did not see his way to support him Mr Attewell asked tbe candidate to give his reasons for changing his mind on the eve of the election in regard to tflamilton's deviation and Mr Walter replied that lie would leave the mflttor to the ratepayers as they thought best. Ho added that he would vote against any expenditure during the war. (Applause.)

An enquiry by Mr Glasgow if the cost of taking the road under the Publi) Works Act would have to be paid for out of rat< : s was replied to by Mr Walters in the I affirmative. Mr AttweU questioned Mr Walter's qualifications for 'he posi;ion of Councillor as he had not held anypublic office.—Mr Walter replied that he had had a good deal of experience in connection with contract work. VOTE or COXFIDEXO'E Mr Collier moved a vote of confidence in Mr Walter with a pledge of support for his election. Mr Glasgow seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Walter then thanked the meeting for their promised support and assured them tha', if elated, would do his best for the district. Clt MO >RK's SI'F.ECIt Cr Moore then d<,alt with rumours which had been current in the district as to what he had done. He admitted that Mr Crawford had worked hard to get the subsidy. As to the subsidy, about which so much had beer, said, ho had never known it to be referred to as a "subsidy" until after two polls were taken. Dealing with finances Cr Moore read a letter from tlin Clerk to tlie County Council which was as follows : "The overdraft, on Ist October, 1917, was £GS7. This included £254 which was added to the Riding's overdraft as its share of the cost of plant, buildings taken over by various Ridings from the General Account. The present overdraft of the Riding is over 50 per cent less than at October, 1914, and by the

Ist October, 1918, should be about £136 and by the 31st March, 1919, absolutely wiped out under the system adopted the last three years by reducing the Riding's overdraft by 25 per cent each year." A VOTE OF THANKS A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman (Mr Cole Baker) for the able manner in which he had presided over the meeting, and the gathering broke up about 11 p.m.