Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 253, 25 April 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

I Stratford, Wednesday. MAYORAL ELECTIONS The Mayoral election was held to-day under most uncomfortable weather conditions, rain falling nearly all day. From an early hour the supporters of Messrs. Kirkwood and McAllister were astir in the interests of their respective candidates, and cabs, motor-cars and gigs were rapidly at work. The polling in the morning was slow, but it livened up in the afternoon, and by four 'o'clock over four hundred electors had exercised their privileges. At this stage the workers on eitheT side gave Mr. Kirkwood a big majority, and in conversation I with the retiring Mayor, Mr. J. Masters, he informed me that in his opinion Mr. McAllister would go down by about two to one. He also gave his opinion that the total number of votes secured would be about a couple of hundred less than the nine hundred usually polled. In both these estimates he was very close to the mark, for when Mr. P. Skoglund, the returning officer (whose arrangements for the poll, I might say, were very complete) announced the result, the figures were: Kirkwood 473, ; McAllister 223, informal 7. The poll was declared in the Town Hall, and the candidates were with the returning of- ( > ficer on the stage. Mr. Kirkwood, amidst continuous cheering, returned his thanks first and foremost to the ladies' and gentlemen's committees who had worked for him, and said that he felt sure that not one of the men would be jealous if he specially mentioned the ladies, than whom he could not wish for better workers. He thanked all those who had worked for him without being on his committee, and all who had voted for him. As for his opponent, he recognised that only one of them could win. He complained, however, that Mr. McAllister had taken an advantage of him by having hie praises sung in the public press by the poet laureate of Stratford (laughter), but he knew that Mr. Mc-J Allister would take his defeat as a man should. Having been elected by such a handsome majority, for it was a handsome victory, he took it that his election was a mandate from the electors to carry out the policy he had enunciated on the previous evening, and he assured them that he would, at all times, fully consider for their good any proposals for expenditure before submitting them. { Mr. McAllister briefly returned thanks to his voters and to the workers in his behalf, and he assured those who had! worked or voted against him that he j would retain no il'l-feeling or bitterness against them, but hoped to be as good friends as ever. He credited them with believing honestly that they voted and worked for the better man, and went on to assure Mr. Kirkwood of his hearty support in any proposals emanating from the mayoral chair in the best interests of the borough. He called for cheers for Mr. Kirkwood and the returning officer.; FUN ON THE PLATFORM. j MESSRS. MORISON, MASTERS AND I KINO. I I TICKLE THE RISIBLE FACULTIES, j There was joy unmistakable on the faces of most of Tuesday night's audience at the Town Hall when several leaders in local politics came to grips. No serious damage was done. Mr. R. McK. Morison set the ball I rolling when, by arrangement made witli > Mr. Kirkwood, he mounted the platform and reiterated his complaint that he had hgen misled by Mr. McAllister, who had, he said, encouraged him to stand for the Mayoralty and then come out as an opponent. He contrasted Mr. McAllister's attitude with that of another rrian he had approached, and who had said to him, "No, Morison, I'm not going to support you, because you did not support me some years ago." Mr. Morison said, "I know where to find that ' man," and the crowd cheered. "I would far rather meet that man any day. ' (Laughter). I wasn't begging for the position. I asked them to say straight out from the shoulder what they thought of my chances. I was not dying to •«• cure the position." He had done his level best for Stratford, but (hesitatingly) he wasn't considered a boon to McAllister, his King, or his Master. This play upon the names of some of Mr. McAllister's supporters caused a furore of hilarity, and Mr. Nat. King called out: "Don't you get poetical, he- , cause you're no good at it!" , Mr. Morison repeated that his attitude over the electric light question was not considered a Boon to McAllister, his King, or his Masters, so they commenced pulling the strings to endeavor to get someone, else as a candidate, whom they could twist about a little more. No

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man, he declared, could move him from what he thought to be right, and amidst applause and laughter he referred to Mr. McAllister as "a good little fellow," and promised to say nothing against him. Having thus delivered himself, Mr. Morison intimated that if at any future time he were wanted he would be founcr at the Nursery. The Mayor started to rsply to Mr. Morison's personal references to himself, and Mr. Morison, who had left by one of the stage exits, returned to the scene and kept up a fire of comment and contradiction. Mr. Masters said Mr. Morison had come to him with the same j story as he had told to Mr. McAllister, i and in reply to his question as to whether lie had not a right to the position of Mayor he told the aspiring candidate his opinion, without putting "any jam on." ■Mr. Morison: I did not ask 3'ou that question, sir. Mr. Masters: You did. Mr. Morison: I did not. The crowd was revelling, and loudly rejoicing in the fun. Mr. Masters went on; At the same time that he asked me that question-—-Mr. Morison: 'But I did not (with emphasis on the last word). 1 Mr. Masters went on, not heeding the interruption: Be distinctly asked me if I would stand for his place on the Council, and I told him I might. (In- j terjeetion from Mr. Morison.) The Mayor went on: But a few days later I found that Mr. Morison had waited on Mr. Kirkwbod. (Laughter.) Mr. Morison: Absolutely incorrect, ab--1 solutely. j Mr. Masters, continuing: "and asked him to stand down and do his best in Mr. Morison's interests. (Applause.) ) 'When 1 saw that, I thought it was best to look round for another candidate; so I supported Mr. McAllister. Mr. Morison: I thought so. That is what I said. Amidst further laughter and applause, j His Worship continued: And I should! support him a hundred times over] against Mr. Morison. Mr. N. .1. King rose from his seat, and asked to be allowed to reply to Mr. Morison's reference to him. He said that Mr. Morison had also approached him. (The crowd Toared.) But he told him that he would not touch him with a twenty-foot pole, because he did not consider him a fit and proper person to represent the electors. - Here, with commendable tact and promptitude, Mr. Kirkwood advanced to J the front of the platform and moved a ' very hearty vote of thanks to the chair,- \ man, which closed the meeting and j stopped the fun. ( (But for this brief. interlude, the May- { oral election was un-Stratford-like in j its quiet montony. ; RIFLE SHOOTING. \ The following will represent the Strat- S ford Rifle Club on Thursday in a match against the Kaponga Rifle Club at Stratford, the conditions being ten men a-side, I at 300 yards, 500 yards, and COO yards: C. Jackson, C. Speck, A. Speck, H. Gol-! lop, A. Wickham, Ferguson, Ritchie, W. Brocklebank, E. Brocklebank, J. McMahon, F. Arden. GENERAL NEWS The annual meeting of parishionera of the Holy Trinity Church will be held next Tuesday evening. A number of the young people, of the congregation) have held a meeting, and, with the hearty approval of the Vicar, decided to hold a eeries of socials in aid of the Parish Hall furnishing fund. The Boy Scouts had a most practical lecture m the curing and tanning of leather last night, and on Saturday will visit Mr. James' tannery to gain further insight. Fall In at Victoria Park at 2 p.m. sharp. To-morrow (Thursday) a meeting of the Scouts will be held for examinations for badges. Patrol leader Campbell and Corporal King are Stratford's first first-class. Scouts. There are others climbing fast. The Stratford Acclimatisation Society has imported sixty-seven pheasants, and Mr. A. W. Budge is caring for them at his residence. Game promises to be fairly plentiful this season in the district. Mr. J. 11. Thompson, who has filled the position 'of secretary to the Stratford Electrical Supply Company for a number of years, has resigned. Latterly the land agency department of Mr. Thompson's business has grown to such dimensions that he finds' it necessary to devote more time and personal attention to it, hence his decision. Mr. Thompson mentioned to me to-day that quite a number of land transactions'have been satisfactorily completed through his agency in the past few weeks, and that there is a keen demand for good properties.