Mayoral Election

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 25 April 1914, Page 5

Mayoral Election

MR. J. E. WILSON'S CANDIDATURE,

THE PARTING. SHOT.

AGAIN THE "NEWS."

Mr. J. E. Wilson put in a fairly tusy time last evening, addressing a meeting at Moturoa at.7 p.m. and one at 8.15 in the Good Templar Hall, where he firi'd his parting shot. Alter a preliminary reference to the spirit in which his criticism of past administration had been offered, Mr. Wi). Bon again set himself to combat the stand taken by the Daily News on the subject of his candidature, and remarked: "You electors are quite able to decide as to the value of my arguments, and whether they are hollow and weak, or my criticism plausible, vain and feeble, f am quoting from the Daily News' leader of this morning. The News takes up the cudgels for Mr. Browne, and so far has made the only attempt to reply to my criticisms. The article this morning is curious, coming from the same source as the article of Saturday, morning last. One cannot /recognise the Mr. Wilson who was referred to in such flattering terms in Saturday's article (written, by the way, after my first address was given), the mat who 'had rendered good service to the town in several capacities,' who 'took tt firm stand on a certain critical occasion,' who 'as a councillor had undoubtedly made good,' the 'man of public spirit and abiHty'—l say I cannot recognise him as 'the weak and unconvincing* person that the News, in an interval of less than a week, would have you believe 1 am. I certainly am not aware of su:h a sweeping change in my character. It was unfortunate for Mr. Browne that the News' article of Saturday last has been generally accepted as an apjology rather than a vindication, and that In acting the role of candid friend of Mr. Browne, the News has helped me a great'deal. The argument in reply to my criticism of the waterworks intake purchase seems to lack point. No doubt the damage is done, and if my argument is sound, the money irrevocably wasted. The \ews says that this being so, it is of no use to bring the matter up. I will not agree to that proposition.' I think it is of the utmost importance that the electors should know that one of £lie candidates advopated a certain course which involved loss of public money. lam blamed for not having challenged the resolution when it came before the Council for confirmation. The view I take of such questions is thu-t when the Works Committee decides ou a resolution, it is only wasting time to call a vote on it, and divide the Council when it comes up for confirmation., ft is impressed oil you that the Mayor could not carry this resolution unless he had a majority of the Council with him. Quite so, but if he has made it mistake, does the fact that others have a mistake too absolve him from critioism? 1 say he should know better than to make Such mistakes. Then I am held up to scorn because I have pointed out a little mattor of the Girrington road widening. It is said that the Council turned the proposal down, and the matter should ha\'e ended there. But I.insist that I have a right to let the electors know about this proposal, for you know Mr. Browne well enough to understand that he was fully conversant with the extra expenditure the adopting of the plans wouldi involve. It is claimed for Mr. Browne that he has stable ground on which to rest his candidature and claim for a renewal of support, namely, performance and results. Those are just the grounds I want the electors to consider. If you consider these two matters only and consider that Mr. Browne is entitled to your support, I shall be quite satisfied to see Mr. Browne returned, because I shall know that my views are not acceptable to the majority of the electors, and I have no right to represent you unlets you think I am the tetter man. But . please, in your own interests, look at those questions only. I have been urging the electors not to allow any questiqn of sympathy to sway theni, because that was the plea, in effect, of the Daily News for Mr. Browne's tpelection. Now the News has taken a bolder stand and is trying to repair the damage. Well, lam content to let every elector put the News' articles of Saturday last and this morning side by sidri and see whether my case has been weakened."

Mr. Ewing asked whether Mr. Wilson did not think too much Counail work was done in committee.

Mr. Wilson replied that he would fa.vor more work being done in committee. The burgesses had always a right to attend meetings of the Council A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Wilson anl appreciation of his enterprise in addressing electors was carried unanimously.