BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1853, 9 September 1874, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION.

Last evening, Mr Eowe, Mr Carpenter, and i)r Kilgour, who are candidates for the vacancies in the Borough Council, addressed the electors in the Academy of Music. There was a good attendance.

On the motion of MrPoETEE, seconded by Mr Mcllhone, Mr Speight was called to the chair. «

Mr Kowe commenced by pointing out the necessity which had existed for the constitution of a municipality in this district in place of the highway boards. He then proceeded to consider whether the advantages they had anticipated were in a fair way of being obtained. One great point, he thought, was that of economy. The cost of the highway boards formerly .was about £275. Add another £100 to make up for omissions, made £375, while the municipality costs £1,,074. The result, so far as economy was concerned, had disappointed him greatly. The municipality ought to have been especially careful in the matter of expenditure, and if they erred at all they ought to have erred on the safe side. They employed too many officers, and paid some of tbem too highly. He thought the secretary ought to have filled the position of collector also,.and to have been paid only £250, The present secretary was an excellent man, but if he would not do the work, he knew there were scores of men in the province who would. He thought the Foreman of Works ought also to have been Inspector of JNuiaances. He would not oppose giving a salary to the Mayor, but he thought a salary should not have been given at present, nor did he think it ought to have been accepted. All our efforts were needed to supply our present wants. We were now in a worse position than before as highway boards, as certain sources of income were cut off. The Provincial Government had given £2,200, they expected £3,000 for rates, and £750 from other sources. The amount for collection would be about one-sixth of that sum. Our present position was rather a difficult one. The municipality had expected to get the foreshore as an endowment, but he ventured to affirm that the municipality would never get it, nor would the Provincial Government, and he thought that was perfectly right. (Cheers.) These endowments, which might be a source of great wealth to the whole district, and especially for harbour works, must be entrusted to a body separate from either of these. (Hear, hear.) The municipality might derive some income from them, but the control of them they would never get. Every man in the district was interested in those endowments, and the income from them ought to be devoted to purposes which would 'benefit the whole community.. On concluding his speech, Mr Eowe was loudly cheered. Mr Otto asked if Mr Howe would support the goldfield, outside the borough, having an interest in the foreshore P ■ Mr Eowe said he would. Mr Caepentee then addressed the meeting. He stated that for a long time he had opposed the municipality, the principal reasons being that he thought the municipality would not be worked at a less cost than the highway boards. He had altered his views in consequence of a statement as to the relative cost of highway boards and a municipality. He asked them now whether the pledge's given had been kept, and whether too great an expenditure had not been entered upon., The salaries amounted ts £1,400, and taking all things into account, the workingexpenses of the municipality would not be less for the first year than £2,000. The liabilities of the corporation amounted, he was informed, to about £5,000. A large portion of the year was to come, and he did not know where they ■were to get the money, unless by levying high rates, which they were not able to stand. He would like !o see some of the Councillors who had been so ready in 'voting money come forward and say where they were to get the money. Of the £2,200 voted by the Provincial Council, £750 was for next year, and he was hot sure if they would get the additional £750 next year to make up £1,500, theii external sources of revenue becoming very much narrowed. Like Mr Bowe, he believed that the foreshore endowment should not be in the hands of the municipality, but should be in the hands of men from all the district. He believed that all the money derived from the foreshore would be required for it for a long time to come.

Mr flows said that some posters had appeared coupling his name with others. He had had nothing to do with that.

Mr Cbibb asked what amount of raies Mr Carpenter would have to' pay at 5 per cent. Mr Carpenter said at present he paid £3 ss.

Mr McGowan asked the candidates if they would endeavour to limit the general rate to 3f per cent., and the sewerage rate of ly, and a fire-rate of 2| per cent.

Mr Carpenter said if it could be shown that these amounts would be sufficient, he would endeavour not to exceed them.

Mr Howe said he thought Mr McGowan too high, and if he could he would have the rates much lower. Dr. Kilgouk then addressed the meeting. He wished to address them for three reasons—that they might have an opportunity of ashing him any questions, to give a statement of the position of the municipality, and to give his reasons for coining forward again. From the beginning he (Dr. Kilgour) had done his utmost to obtain endowments, which he could see were necessary. Mr Gillies had promised certain endowments, and Mr Yogel had promised the foreshore. Mr Yogel had stated in the House that he had made that promise, and had shown that he was not allowed to give it because of the action taken by the Superintendent of Auckland. Mr Williamson had not considered it his duty io narry out the promises of his predecessor, and therefore it was that the municipality was in a state of impecuniosity. He felt that while the municipality was in its present position it would not be right to desert it. Mr Carpenter had stated that the expenses of the corporation for the first year would bo about £2,000. Dr Kilgour then went over the different salaries, showing that they were £774 12s, not including engineer's fees, solicitor, and valuer. He did not think the amount would be anything like £2,000. '1 he expenditure to August 22 had been £3,460 7s lOd, and the engagements were £2,374 18s <Ld, makiDg a total of £5,840 0s 2d. The estimated revenue was as follows:— Eates, £3,000; from Provincial Government, £2,250; cart and carriage licenses, £75; fines ii. M. Court, £200; Dog jNuisnnce Act, £100; subscriptions in aid, £558—total, £6,lß3—leaving a balance over expenditure of £342 19a lOd.

Mr Otto put the same' question to Dr. Kilgour as to Mr liowe. Dr. KiiaoUß said it was quite clear that the rights of the goldfield should be secured, but the administration might be

committed to tho Council, constituted as a Harbour. Trust.

Mr Rowe -said he could not conceive how the rights of the people generally were to be considered unless the people were to be represented. The only way to have the endowments properly administered was to have all the interests represented.

In reply to Mr Porter, Dr. Kilqotjh said that he was not aware that the Council had received money to be expended on the Waiotahi Road. The Council had received no money for that purpose, nor had they agreed .to perform it.—Mr Porter then appealed to Mr Kowe, who said that he did not think the Government had handed over that money for ■. that purpose, but the Government desired that that work should be done, and no doubt if the Council did notm>ike that road the Government would hold back the money and perform it themselves.

Mr Caepentee also stated his belief that the money was voted on the understanding that it should be expended in the manner stated.

The Chaieman; then invited Mr Macnab, who was present to address the meeting.

Mr Macnab said that ho had not intended to address them, but now that he was asked he would , make a few remarks. He was asked on the last occasion to stand for election, but as he was then in business relations with Mr Ehrenfried, who was also a candidate, he retired in his favour, as some of the ratepayers appeared to be of opinion that their two votes would go together. There was great necessity for retrenchment. The expenses of the Council were £1,112, which with interest which had to be paid, swelled it to £1,311. He estimated the rates would be £3,000. If any person told him how they were to carry on he could not see it. If the Council went on as they were doing thoy would be in the same position as the Kauwaeranga was in when he took office. There waff a heavy debt, and he set his face to wiping it off before incurring other expense. Before he retired the debt of £1,150 was wiped off, and a balance of £80 was left to the good. The Council voted the Mayor £150 ayear, althovgh it was distinctly understood that there should be no salary for the first year. They also paid £100 to valuers, and afterwards agreed to pay the Town Clerk £50 for completing their work. Mr Macnab then alluded to Llie appointment of a pound-keeper at £2 per week, when the Kauwaeranga Board did not receive £10 altogether from tho pound during the previous year. Retrenchment was absolutely necessary, for they had not anything to look to but the rates. If elected he would do his duty as if it was his own business. He would leave himself in their hands.

Dr Kilgoue said he was not one of those who voted for the salary to the Mayor, not that he thought Mr Davies did not deserve it, but because there was an implied understanding with tho ratepayers that there was no salary to be paid to the Mayor for the first year. Mr Macnab said that he was in the Council Chambers 1 on that occasion. The Mayor left the chair, which was taken by Dr Kilgour, and Dr Kilgour highly approved of the voting of the Mayor's salary. Dr Kilgoue asked in what way did he show his approval. It was well known that he was opposed to the voting of a salary. t (Ch6ers.)

Mr Macnab said that he showed his approval of it by highly approving, and and endorsing the vote of the Council.

Dr. Kiiooub : I utterly deny it. Mr ButliEK endorsed the statement of Mr Macnab. He heard Dr. Kilgour approve of the vote himself. He was present at the meeting that night. Dr. Kilooub said ho regretted that there were no members of the Council present, but on that occasion he did not say a single word. He only put the motion, and it was carried.

Mr Skeen said they had four speakers all going in for the laudable principle of retrenchment. In order to have their affairs managed" with the greatest decorum they should select the best men. He would move that Mr Howe was a fit person. He identified himself with every public movement, and was intimately ac quainted with the policy of the colony, and it would take some judgment to cope with the dying gasps of provincialism and Mr Yogel's new policy. He moved that, in the opinion of this meeting, Mr Bowe lias the best claim on the electors of the Borough of Thames for their suffrages, and that this meeting pledges itself to secure his return in the forthcoming election.

Mr Sims seconded the resolution, which wai carried unanimously. Mr Hollis moved that, in the opinion of this meeting, Mr Carpenter was a fit and proper person to represent them in the Borough Council, and that the meeting pledges itself to secure- his return. He was sure he would serve them as well in the Borough Council as ho had done in the Provincial Council.

Mr Jackson seconded tho motion, which was carried.

Mr Botleb proposed that, ia the opinion of this meeting, Mr Duncan Macnab was a fit and proper person to represent the burgesses.

Mr Mcllhone seconded the resolution.

Mr McGowan said that he had an amendment to propose, which was a vote of confidence in Dr. Kilgour. He thought it right that they should take the speakers in the order in which they came. Ho would be no party to showing any disrespect to any of the candidates who came before them. Mr Otto seconded tho motion, which was carried.

The Chairman then put tho motion regarding Mr Macnab, which was also carried.

Dr. Eilqoub returned thanks for the vote ot confidence passed in him, and the meeting then terminated.