SHANNON MAYORAL ELECTION.

Shannon News, 20 April 1923, Page 3

SHANNON MAYORAL ELECTION.

MR FARGHER ADDRESSES ELECTORS.

Last evening at the Maorilaud Theatre Mr J. H. Fargher opened his campaign for the Mayoral election, before a large attendance of electors. Mr L. Randall occupied the chair and in introducing the candidate asked that he be given an impartial hearing and at the conclusion of his- address Mr Fargher would be pleased to answer any* question relating 1o Borough matters. AT HIS FELLOW CITIZENS’ REQUEST.

Mr Fargher stated that lie realised ihe responsibility and importance of the position and it was not in at spirit of presumption that he came forward, but only at the expressed wish of a large number of this fellow citizens, who desired him tor-allow himself to be nominated for the position. It was only* after due consideration that he accepted. He said, lie had no personal feelings against the present Mayor, whom he had worked with on the Council .since its inception; and he trusted (he had been of service to him and the community in efficiently cartying out the various works of the Borough. He considered it only right the electors should hav,ei the choice of a Mayor. No competition showed lack of interest and apathy* which was not in the best interests of the Borough. He said he looked upon the ladies and gentlemen present as a board of directors of the Borough of Shannon, and he and his opponent, came before them to present their qualifications for them to decide. MAYORAL OFFICE SHOULD CIRCULATE. He considered, the office of Mayor of the Borough should not he held by* any one person for an indefinite period. In societies and clubs generally a president was appointed for one or iwo terms and this principle should be applied to borough councils, because by so doing they gave encouragement to members of the Council to study and make: themselves proficient in all departments of municipal affairs. With regard to his personal, qualification he was not going to enlarge. “You have known me for the past twelve years and! your knoAvledge of me during that period should be the basis of your decision. I consider a certain amount is due to electors. I am the; proprietor of a business the success of which materially depends on the welfare 'of your borough; that is in my opinion a good qualification. I may also state that during my career I have endeavoured to study the most improved methods of business, and while on ihe Borough Council have endeavoured to make a study of municipal affairs and make myself, conversant with the various Acts of Parliament affecting local bodies. Since I have been on the Council I have served on the finance, water-: works and housing committees and have devoted a great deal of time and thought in relation to these committees.” OUR TOWN’S FUTURE. "Shannon as a town has good prospects,” continued Mr Fargher. “We have large flax areas around us and the money which is earned at die mills is spent in the town. There is a good lot of dairying land, also the Mangaliao hydro' Avorks at our door from which wfe will have an abundance of power. We also have the water scheme now in sight, Avliioh should be an inducement for industries, as ait efficient water supply lor industries is most necessary*. Shannon at the present time is not taking its proper place among neighbouring towns, because it is not attractive: as a. residential town.” PAST WISE POLICY.

He considered the Council had. acted wisely in the past in not involving in heavy loans, with high cost of material, which would have meant , a loss of thousands of pounds to the Borough when the depletion of prices came. The loan of £BOO for a workman’s cottage and £4500 for workers’ houses .were now both self-supporting. The only other loan raised was £II,OOO for the water supply scheme. The speaker said people would not come here unless the town was made attractive and to. do tills the Council must have the co-operation of the people. He would like to see this spirit shown in the town. HOUSING A FIRST ESSENTIAL. He considered one of the first things to do was to go on with the. housing scheme. The rate of 2-sth, of a penny had Ibeen .struck for thait purpose, which it lias not been necessary to collect. These houses cost £BSO, less £SO deposit, .the interest and principal only costing the; purchasers 18s lOd per week. These houses were built under strict supervision and it was the cheapest scheme of any. He was in favour ,of going forward with the housing scheme in a careful manner, so as not to. over build. STREETS AND FOOTPATHS.

In. regard to street formation and footpaths, the previous Council had done their utmost with the money

available hut was still faced with the

fact that present appearances were detrimental to the attractiveness of-the town. The great grqAvth of grass in some of the streets would have to be health AA*ith. The speaker suggested that both sides of the : roads should be ploughed and levelled so that a moAVing machine can be used on them. By this means the grass \vduld ahvays be short and to a great extent overcome the Avandering stock nuisance. TAR SEALING FAVOURED. He favoured tar sealing the main thoroughfares; it Avas the only method that Avould stand motor traffic. Local policy was greatly* dependent on the policy* of the Government in regard io the high roads of the Dominion and it Avould be. necessary* before anything is done for the Council to know its position under the Main Highways Bill of 1922. If the Highways Board intended to take over the main roads in the near future it Avould be better to wait and see the position. If the mater Avas to he held up- indefinitely it should be- Shannon’s policy to have the streets tar sealed a'fter the water reticulation mains had been laid. In regard to heavy traffic, the question Ava-s a national one and, if the Government could not, deal with it the local bodies would have io. He would be in favour of a conference.of local bodies to grapple with this question. FOOTPATHS. This matter could only be carried out by a loan. The Council should secure: aj good stock of gravel from; the Otauru stream before it is taken over by tbe Public Works Department. WATER, SUPPLY. if elected he Avould see that this- was efficiently* carried out. It had had Its support from the start, and he felt confident it would he! as good water as anywhere in NeAv Zealand. He would do his best, to see the ratepayers got, good A*alue for their money. MUNICIPAL BATHS AND FIRE BRIGADE. These Avould receive his support. He suggested as soon as the water-Av-orks Avere completed the Council should purchase a fire reel, hydrant, and firebell to be in readiness for an outbreak of fire. PUBLIC HEALTH. He would endeavour to have a strong sanitary* eomittee to see that every* attention Avas paid to the health of the community. PUBLIC LIBRARY. He suggested the formation' of ' a Library* Society* to assist the Council in the selection of books. MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS. As the town progresses it Avill be necessary to have.a neAV building, but, at the pi’esent time the requirements are very hard to define. SEWERAGE. The Council can only deal Avith the preliminary work this term. GENERAL, POLICY. “I consider” said the candidate, “that by a policy of attractiveness aiul improving footpaths, streets, and ho us ing, by these means in two years tune you: Avill have attracted people bore and increased the wealth of the tOAvn and be in a position to go forward with a sewerage scheme without- any undue load on the ratepayers.” ELECTRIC LIGHTING. He had every confidence the town would be well lighted Avith the 40 proposed lights. FINANCE. He considered it should be the policy of the Gouncil to get efficiency in the services of the town without unduly inflating rales. His idea Avas to increase the real value ,of the town so that the rates Avould not be a burden on the ratepayers. The income from the main sources of revenue for 1922 Avere: General rate, including penalty* and sundries, £1081; licenses, £IOO 2s 6d; sales, £ll3 6s 9d; rents, £44 12s; expenditure over administration, 1521 16s 7d; miscellaneous, £SO 4s 8d; public work, £829 19s 4d; pound, ranger, rent, reserves, horses and, drav, £133 10s 3d; total £1535 10s lOd, not including several sundries.

MUST FACE A LOAN. He was satisfied the only way to get out of the groove was to raise a loan for the improvement of the lootpaths and streets. If elected he will deal fairly with all classes of the community and carry out Ilie work ol the Council efficiently and see that the responsibility is divided among members of the Council. The' speaker then concluded his address by thanking the electors for the patient, hearing Uiey had given him. Several questions were asked and satisfactorily answered, at, the conclusion of which Mr G. Quarrie moved a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Fargher which was seconded by Mr E. Spencer and carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.

On Tuesday night next Mr Fargher will again: address the .electors at the Maoriland Theatre. Arrangements hav® been made for the retiring Mayor (Mr Murdoch) and retiring councillors to address) the electors before Mr Fargher speaks, after which, the meeting wiU be thrown open for candidates for the Council to address tho electors.