STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(From Our' Own Correspondent.) [All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.] THE MAYORAL CONTEST. MR. BOON IN THE TOWN HALL. At the Town Hall this evoning'M.-. -V •'. King occupied the chair at the meeting called by the Mavor (Mr. T. W. Boon). Mr. King, in opening the proceedings, stated that he was pleased to he present that, evening. He had sat at the Council table .with"Mr. Boon, and always found him a man of stron« ideas and determination, and with the necessary backbone to occupy the chair. Mr. Boon had also accomplished dtirinohis term of Mayoralty more work than any other Mayor, whilst Mrs. Boon, as Mayoress, bad ever given her heat in patriotic and other work.

The. Mayor, who was \yell received, said he had invited the burgesses there that evening to give an account of his (stewardship during >ns icrm, in the Mayoral chair. Ho said the Council had removed a stumbling block in taking over the Electric Supply Company's undertaking which had stopped the progress of Stratford' for ten years. The Borough had had control for only five months and these (summer months) were at tho period when the smallest amount of current iwias consumed. Yet, in spite of this, the light under municipal control showed a credit balance of £9O on the working account. Regarding the vexed question of minimum charges the Mayor proved by figures and business methods that the principal of minimum charge was adopted all over the Dominion not only in lighting matters but in all concerns. For example, the minimum charge on telegrams was Bd. carting Is, etc. Ho was prepared to favorably consider the consumer with three lights or less, with a maximum of 40 c.p. and the minimum two units. Theso were New I'Jymont'hi charges. Regarding Broadway the footpaths had been regraded and tar-sealed snccessfujlly, costing £l7O, and concrete kcrbing and channelling both sides to Victoria Bridge, etc. The sanitation of the borough had been greatly improved, and the vexed question permanently settled. The difficulty of disposing of refuse from pans and rubbish had also been successfully dealt .with and no rates hid been struck. Touching on tho water works, His Worship stated that the danger of the borough being left without water had been removed. A fine concrete weir had been erected, the tunnel cleaned 1 , silt traps with three intakes', at an expenditure of £2\a. Work at. the cemetery had improved! these grounds* and ■* shelter erected for use by clergymen. The clanger to footpaths by floods in Juliet street south had been remedied, and flood troubles at Cordelia street stopped, whilst tho flood gates at Victoria Lake had been put in order. ' Reference was made to the Improvements at the Railway Station, brought about by agitation of the Council and backed up by the Chamber of Commerce. The great assistance rendered by the Beautifying Society was appreciated The introduction of a mower, instead of hand mower, for cutting grass edges ot footpaths £l3 10s had paid for itself the first year. The Council's decision to cut off the street lighting at 1 a.m. by meter had proved a saving of £l4O in one year. ,A new pound and municipal stables had been completed whilst a! machine for crushing oats for borough horses had been installed and worked by hand power. Work at the abattoirs was next reviewed. The Town Hall showed a loss of £lO4 for the year, and ho was against any proposal erect a municipal theatre. The Library and reading rooms were briefly touched on, and figures quoted regarding the borough reserves. As to the lighting of Broadway he dwelt at length on the appearance of the poles, the base, and tho light. As to the road itself he was' in favor of a concrete formation to a tar macadam., and admitted ib was expensive at present to clean Broadway two days a week. Tho crusher and roller hire totalled £2.48. In conclusion the Mayor said the work of the retiring Council | challenged comparison with that done by previous councils. They had had to meet a considerable amount of extraordinary expenditure, yet tho position that night was that the Council-left office £4OO better off than when they were elected. If elected for a further term be hoped to give the same amount of time and energy to borough details as in the past. He was prepared, if returned, to further carry out a progressive pelicy, details of which he had enumerated that evening. Several questions were answered by the Mayer, the meeting concluding with votes of thanks to him and to the chairman.

m. McMLAN AT HIS MAJESTY'S. At the conclusion of the picture programme at Hi 3 Majesty's Theatre this evening, Mr. J. W. McMillan addressed a large audience of ratepayers. Dr. raget occupied the etiair. Mr. McMillan,, who was well received stated that hia reason for offering his services to the burgesses was that it had lieen strongly impressed upon him that if Stratfard was to progress, new blood was desirable, and this applied to the personnel of the Council. Ho commented on the fact that some burgesses might believe it desirable that the Mayor should be one who had previous experience at the Council table, but this iwas not an accepted rule, and he quoted Auckland as an instance where the Mayor, who iprerfcusty Jiad not been at the Council tabley made an excellent representative. In hfc opinion the qualifications necessary were a good 'business training, trustworthiness, energy and a sound and progressive policy. In criticising the work nf the retiring Council he would direct attention to the main street, particularly the south end, to show how neglected it was and this was also more apparent when contrasted with streets in Eltham and Hawera, thoroughfares clean and up-to-the-moment that put Broadway to sham*. Ttyy (possessed plant and staff to make their roads equal to the best, hut where was the wisdom of keeping this if they did not supply the necessary material. Should they honor him by electing him Mayor iis policy would be to borrow a moderate loan of about £15,000, .purely for street improvement. Ho would strong. ly recommend tar-sealing Broadway, and, if possiblq, connecting up with the County tar-sealing north and south, audi mVep normal timesi returned bJ

would like to see all the principal streets in the borough so treated .Experience had proved that this was the cheapest method in the lom>. run They should take su.Tiiceut pride in their wwn to make it second to none in laranaki. They found in every town t.iat tn© main streets were made as attractive as possible. Commenting on the electric power an I lighting system, he said now it \\as their own, every endeavor must be made to make it pay at the lowest possible cost. When pure-basin." too "mail a. loan had been secured and this meant that they "were carrying on a business under-capitalised. ' They allowed nothing for expansion. Already £">00 had been borrowed from the district fund. Regarding the retail part bo believed this should be conducted in one of tho front shops so that gcods might bo properly displayed to the public. He was strongly in favor of every encouragement being given to use heaters, irons, etc, so Iha'fc ineid,ently the sale of cv.rreut might increase, to say nothing of the convenience in the home. This brought him to tho vexed question of the minimum charge. One of the inducements put forward to buy the electric light outfit was that no extra, charge wonll be made when controlled by the Council, and tho cost would probably be. le-,s. fie was opposed to the charge on principle. It was also unjust, and in many cases bad for it not only affected the podr man who never 'used more than two or three Tuit they must consider that in many cases during the winter months consumers would use much more current than this and on an average prove very good customers. The next subject reviewed was tile lighting of Broadway. The present Council decided on lighting the street by means of seven threedight poles along the centre of the road and the design of base for these poles bad been aptly described as that of tombstones. Anyone seeing the sketch must admit that they were like nothing so much as tombstones, and he challenged the Mayor to exhibit a sketch- of the pole selected in a prominent shop window the following morning. So far as lighting results went it was undoubtedly the best method to adopt as far as lighting results went, but as .nermanent fixtures as designed they would not add to the beauty of the town, whilst they might prove a danger at night should tho light suddenly fail, and on this ground lie was opposed to tho poles. ■ Mr. 'McMillan then touched on other matters of interest to the burgesses, . including the question of sanitation. Throughout he received a most sympathetic and attentive hearing, his'remarks -throughc\ttt . being (punctuated with loud applause. After a few questions had been answerec\, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr. McMillan for his address and a similar -compliment to the chairman concluded a very successful meeting. GENERAL

Special mention should be made of the playing of the band at the Anzac services last evening. The selections rendered proved very enjoyable and also served to show that 'the band, under control of Mr. (!. Ford, are making great strides in their work. Public appreciation goes a long way towards working up enthusiasm, and the encouragement meted out to the band should further assist the juveniles in the band in their determination to give their best, The public are being continually re •ninded that they should economise. Good advise this, and to this must b« added that the best way to economise is to purchase where you get the best value. To obtain this desirable end all that requires to be added is that for the best crockerywarc). good stationery, excellent) ''smokes," fashionable trinkets etc., oall at C. E. James', the good value warehouseman.