THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 108, 25 April 1908, Page 5

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

MB. U. TISCH BEFORE THE gtheretl in tie Theatre Koyal ii,t ™hy *»ear M,. G. Tinh/a candi<Ute for the Mayoralty, e M> ouud his fc. Dockn 1, presided, and in introducing tbejcandidate Welly referred to his «r i°J! "J*" o ™*'!' <-»umil aud Hospital Board. His experience of Mr.Tisch led nun to believe that confidence in »um would not be misplaced. Mr. Tisvh said that in the last three ywrs he had frequently been asked to contest the Mayoralty, but he had detained. This year, however, he had been waited upon by a deputation who presented a requisition representing practically every interest in the borough. He considered that wa* an honor which he was bound to aivept. Mr. Tisch aid he was a native of New \ land. (Applause.) His parent? were I German, and he was proud of it. (Ap- ' plause.} But be was prouder still of the fact that he was born a New Zealander. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Stratford in 1878, and hai resided in Xew Plymouth since 1882 About seven years ago he wa, elected to represent the West W«id ou the One of hi* first duties wasi to assist in the selection of the S!&A »* Cot "* H before the ratepayers loan proposals to borrow xmm for loan-redemption, drainage .water, saltwater baths, and «reet». He had been among those who ctomproned the gravitation water and electric right schemes "gainst considerable opposition. The latter, whilst costing more than had been at first anticipated, had geen a great lever in compelling the Gas Company to extend its Metulness and its mains and reduce the price of gas. He had strongly eupported the establishment of the saltwater baths. Continuing as a member of the. Council till he lett for England in I'JW on lug return he was re-elected. He was Til*" 1 to move to save to the borough *3OO a year by dispensing with the •ernces of Mr. E. Harvey-Gibbon as borough engineer, although he wo* a personal friend of Mr. Gibbon. Mr Colli* tad uken avdit to[ tllis but Mr. Uollis had "waited to see how th>eat jumped." The speaker did not. In 1901 he was elected to the Hospital Board. His experience of hotelkeeping ■bowed him how greater efficiency could be obtained at less expense, and he managed to obtain many very neciw■ary improvements. In December, 1903, be wai elected chairman of the Board, taking office with a debit balance of £4IOO. During his first year he had the hospital renovated and nianv reforms effected for the comfort of the patients and of the staff. He it was who had the old men from the Henui refuge to the Old Men's Home and after wards engineered the exchange with the Borough Council of the old hospital site for the sections now used as a recreation ground by the hospital patienU. He was also the means of having the orphan children under the control of th,, Board placed in a borne on the Veale road, following this up by giving them an annual treat and securing good homes for them when the time came for them to leave the home. I'nder hk direction the old system of tipping the dead bodies of Old People's Home inmates from a two-wheeled trap to a bole in the cemetery had been replaced by a decent system of burial, with hearse and mourning carriages. Mr. Tisch went on to refer to his work on the Education Board and as chairman of the Technical School committee, ft waa he who arranged the ceremony at the opening of the school, started the beaubfication of toe grounds, and he wag also the moving spirit in having new officeis erected for the Education Board. Forecasting the future of Xew Plymouth, he said he would favor getting a report on the cost of asphalting the main streets, so as to do away with the dust nuisance. He had aeen' asphalted (treats during his travels, and was favorably impressed with them. With the large supply of gravel at the Waiwakaibo depot the work of asphalting should be inexpensive. He favored a general extension of concrete kerbing and channelling, the present system being costly, unsightly, and insanitary. The time was ripe for the formation of a beautifying association. The Scenery Preservation Society, which had done good work in the country, was doing nothing for Xew Plymouth. The town bad natuml beauties and advantages, and the modern residences were among the finest in the Dominion. Vet uo effort wasjuude to induce tourists to viat the/Jown. He referred to Xew Plymouth s recreation and sports ground-, and considered »ouic public recognition should be nude of the ?ervkjee of Mr. Humphries. There »n nothing like young blood. At the same time, the inauguration of the Western Park scheme was the real lever in compelling the Recreation Grounds Committee to adopt that more progressive policy which had brought about the formation of a magnificent sports ground. He believed Xew Plymouth should be the watering-place of the North Island. (Applause.) To make New Plymouth what it should he there thoukl be, first of all, an esplanade or drive along the -*a front from the Henui to the sandy beach at Moturoa. At present portions of it were dumpinggrounds for rubbish—a state of affairs that should not be tolerated for another day. Kawaron Park, too, should Ik greatly improved, and he was sure he would be able to raise the funds for this and other beautifying works from the people, either by subscriptions or by entertainments. He was not in favor of further borrowing. The time was coming for the formation of a greater Xew Plymouth, and if elected he would endeavor to obtain a conference of the borough and aubarbttn authorities with a view ol bringing that about. He would favor incrfEMpig the borough subsidy to the Recreation Grounds and to the bands tor open-air evening concerts. A voice: What about the Western Park!

Continuing, Mr. Tisch said he would Use common-seree in dealing with the buaineaa of the borough. He didn't believe in further extension of the electriclight beyond the borough boundaries. The suburban people could get this convenience by joining the borough. Concluding, Mr. Tfcch said he had done, and would do, no canvassing in any war, but he assured the meeting that he would, if elected Mayor, give to the burgesses the best of hie energies and ability. QUESTIONS. Mr. Stanley Smrth aeked it Mr. Ti-eli would favor the' Council acquiring the old railway line so as to provide an alternative route for stock anil other heavy traffic which now had to pass along DevoMtwet and across the ffenui bridge. The answer was in the »ft'Mr. *'. W. Brooking mou thanks to Mr. Tisch for his addm*. Mr. J. H. Parker seconded. Both sneaker* referred to the fact that they had been colleague* of the candidate on various Local bodio. JUr. Parker said that to hie mind any i»-r-n «h<> would siKvivsfully carry out t lf duti f Mayo- -1 a fwn lik- SlMvniuiilli niu-t have nM onlv .'""I" ■ but pkiity of time ~t hi- di-p-al. "•' was sorry to raise lus voice again-' ' >'•• other candidates, for they had l-oth -" rifieed themeelvre a good deal m the miblk interest. But, allowing the threecandidate* equal ability, he considered Mr. Tisch had a great advantage over the other two rn that his time was lu> own ami he would be able to devote it freely to the business connected with the office of Mayor. The vote of thanks was unanimously, accorded, and a idmikr compliment to the chaimiau terminated tlk- proceed* ings.