Mayoral Election

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 22 April 1914, Page 5

Mayoral Election

MR. J. K. WILSON,

ADDRESS AT FmiiOY

At Fitzroy last night Mr. J. E. Wilso* addressed a fairly well attended meeting of electors on the subject of his candiV ,daturc for the mayoralty. Mr. 0 F. took tile chair. HALL SITE.

At the outset, Mr. Wilson referred to the matter of the Fitzroy hall site, •winch it is proposed to take for a carshed site. He remarked that he Ui hoped the matter would have been geitied at the last Borough Council meeting by the ]<itzroy deputation which had been expected, but as it had been shelved in the meantime he would like t? ?u en !l J6rso n |ll view of the matter. He thought it would be poor finance for the Council to spend now £450 on a site which would not be required for about five years, and would at the end of that T 4 ' Colmti ng interest, about .1W)0. If the Fitzroy people, howefcr, could, agree on a section at a, reasonable price, he was in favor of acquiring it and immediately putting the hall on- it. He was sure that the Council understood the peculiar circumstances surrounding the site, and had no wish to deprive the i> itzroy people of .their rights.

MUNICIPAL GAS-WORKS. Referring to the question of municipal gasworks he expressed the opinio* that if the gas-works could'be bought at a reasonable price, it would be a good proposition, as the ,town would not only acquire a cheaper suppiv of -tar, but would also gain full control of its owb streets, which at present it hti m| got.

STREETS AND WORKS!. In referring to the important nature of the Borough works, Air. Wilson incmtioned the street maintenance qucstioi, the dust question, and the necessity for providing a motor water-waggon. Last year, lie said, 50 nnlfes of streets and roads had. to be maintained.. Ninetyseven chains of new streets were formed to (10 feet in width, and 38 chains to 2» feet, 115 chains of metalling, and 2090 cubic yards of patching were also done. Seventy-two miles of footpaths wert maintained, 230 chains reformed, J2» chains covered with gaol gravel'. 7fi duiins with tar and sand, 17 chains laid down with soltar, 80 chains of ker» and channelling were iormeo, and 28 chains of Icerb only. The amount spent for labor and maintenance was £.OIO, forage £442, plant, materials and repairs £554, asphalting and. tarring £245, kerb and channelling f72. The total revenue was £22,109, which exceeded- the estimate by £909. The expenditure for the year amounted to £20,273. Besides the expenditure on streets already mentioned, street lighting accounted for *, £907, salaries in the Town Clerk's office took £772, and clerical assistance £95. In the Borough Engineer's department the salaries amounted to £335, but part of this was being charged to loans. The -Fitzroy Hall accounted for £4O, subsidies cost £lBlB, ami waterworks expenditure £llßl. He then re.erred to

the increase of the electric light department, and to the new loan, which he said, would be required to meet the position. He also referred briefly to the new intone, to the tramway scheme, ami to the necessity for sewerage extensions.

REPLY TO THE "NEWS.'' Coming to the question of the Mayoral election, he remarked that he thought his views as set out in his initial address liad met with general approval. "It cannot," continued Mr. Wilson, "be controverted that the olliec should be. one of dignity. The present Mayor has lost sight of t'his, as even his advocate, tin; 'Daily News, admits. That this is due to an error ol heart rather than intent I am the first to admit, but this is an error which Uie Mayor should not fall into. I .agree with the News that it is Mr. Browne's immeasurable zeal jind accommodating nature wli.ch has led him to undertake the duties rather of an overseer than of a Mayor, but I cannot see that this is any reason to allow this state of things to continue." .Vir. Wilson admitted Mr. Browne', unselfish energy in the interests of the town, and expressed again his admiration for him. CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE. lie then continued: ' I'here is one paragraph in the News' vindication of Mr. Browne whicii docs not do me justice. It is said that I am disposed- to minimise the credit due to the Mayor in connection with the (Ireatcr New Plymouth and tramways and street improvement schemes. If you will refer to my remarks on this question as reported, you will see that I gav6 Mr. Browne -due credit for taring earned out these matters and having carried them out well. I pointed out—us is the bare truth—that it was the late Mr. j Tiseh who officially initiated the .'imalgamaition and tramway schemes. In my opinion, t'he initiator* is entitled to quite a large portion of the credit, however well one may admit his ideas have been carried into force by someone else. Jf you boil down the New.-,' vindication of Mr. Browne, it amount* to an admission of many faults and a bit ' of special pleading to put liiin back again as a reward for his good ser-' vices." Mr. Wilson again extolled Mr. Browne's merits, sating that lie liked i him too well to criticise him without reason.

AUAIK TIIK NKWS.

"Of myself,' i-oiitinm-.1 ilr.'YVilMin, "flic Daiiy Nov,.-, lias said that I do not lack confidence. If that is to mean that 1 feel confident I can represent tint electors properly and usefully, the News lias got my intention perfectly. .My .0marks were not maile in any boasffu! spirit. Tiolli newspapers have said that I have been of some use to |.|f,. town, ami tliiit 1 have a good grip j>f municipal all'airs. lioth papers are en-

lit led to the t minks of flic comimtu.ty for the puhlicifv they b-ive ;i.«i lo lliis (lection and for their views in Tavor or otherwise of the, eamiidates.'' After referring to fhe importance of die choice, of Mayor, Mr. Wilson -aid; "h the is-iies we'-e uniiiinorfant I smmhi ayrro with the News that Mr. lirowne -houhl he returned- iw an appreciation or his untiring, though at time- misil ; ioetoil /enl. As it is. von must put aside sentiment and decide on the inorls o." (.lie caiirli. kites." At the eomlusion ~f the '"cel'iag n heurle vote of IliuiiU wua aeiMi'ilod Ui ,ur. Wil-en. on llie MX'tii.n of Mr .lames KiMiv.