Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3712, 17 November 1880, Page 3

Electoral MAYORALTY ELECTION. TO THE BURGESSES OP THE BOEOOGH OP THAMES. j | Ladies and Gentlemen,— IN soliciting the favour of your Vote and Interest at the forthcoming Election for 1 the Mayoralty, permit me to assure you that, whilst I shall esteem it an honour to be elected to the position, I have no object to gain beyond that of furtheriug the best interests of the field. My interests are bound up in the progress of the field, and have' been since the establishment of the Advertiser in March, 1868. I have always shown this through its columns, to. the best of my ability, and I cannot believe that anyone will credit statements to the contrary, by whomsoever made. I am not connected with any clique, and this fact may have something to do with the reasons whick'certain persons seek to urge against my cndidature. If I had not been independent of I coteries I might have stood higher in the ! estimation of a small circle who now take means to oppose me. ! It is fair to assume that any gentleman who has done his duty faithfully and well as a Councillor should make a tolerably good Mayor; and, if that is conceded, it is likewise reasonable that candidates should not be put to great expense in contesting elections. The obnoxious part of the work might be avoided if candidates would be willing to leave the matter, as they ought to do, in the hands of the ratepayers, and let them determine .who should fill the position, instead of seeking to attain it. There would then be no necessity for a personal canvass. Such a method of gaining support is humiliating, whilst some pleasure might even be derived if candidates were content simply to leave the choice in the hands of the ratepayers, and let them exercise to the fullest extent the freedom of the ballot box. The right«thinking independent members of any community do not wish to see contests of an undignified, harassing, or expensive character provoked. It is true there are to be found in every community those who are prepared to lay aside every principle of right and virtue in order to gratify pers'nal friendship or personal dislike, as the case may be, irrespective of the weightier interests at stake. Some men will e«en sacrifice the best interests of a community to feelings which should be subservient on all occasions where the public good is concerned. Men are sometimes thrust into places of trust and responsibility who would hot be trusted in the ordinary affairs of a community; but it is only fair to entertain so high an opinion of the morality and intelligence of the community as to believe they j would not wilfully and knowingly elect such men to positions of responsibility, and thus deliberately arrive at the conclusion that it makes no difference to them whether their representatives are men of honour and high character or not. The policy and conduct of our civic administration must be maintained in a sound, healthy condition, and, if possible, improved in tone by shrewd business men, able to. bring public opinion very forcibly to bear upon their proceedings, even if they have no power beyond that of protest. These are points which the electors should consider whenever vacancies occur. Hitherto there has been complete apathy, leading citizens standing aloof from the work, and seldom troubling even to interfere. The financial position of the borough of late has been by no means reassuring. ■ There is a large liability to be met, and a decreasing rate, because property cannot maintain the same heavy assessment as heretofore, and depreciation in value must be taken into consideration. The payment of seven shillings and sixpence in the pound of subsidy, instead of one pound, has left a gap to be filled up; and, as not unfrequently stated, the so-called efforts at retrenchment are in some cases a mere sham. A large portion" of the saving has at all events only been represented by a stoppage of streetsnaking and metalling, and although perhaps this expenditure can be postponed in some cases, much of it will evidently have to be incurred, and it is consequently not so much retrenchment as postponement. Something more is required. There are items of expenditure in connection with the administration of several matters which need reducing; and tftse indicate the extreme importance of, a wise and business-like administration, under which money will not be frittered away, and by which the necessary work will be done as economically as it would be by a private firm who wished to keep out of the bankruptcy court. The water supply of the town will soon be in a most satisfactory position. The new mains in Shortland will release* a considerable plant, which will serve to enlarge the supply to other parts of the Borough, and along the Tararu road. By this means the revenue of the Borough will be increased, and the ability to pay interest and sinking fund on loans negotiated on water supply account .will bej proportionately increased. The payments to the Borough on water supply account, throughloans just negotiated, will leave the corporation in a better position to do urgent works, and ratepayers may look forward to an improvement in that direction during the ensuing twelvemonths. It is the duty of the corporation to protect the sanitary wellbeing of the district, and more attention is required iv. this direction—an attention which I hope to be instrumental, to some extent, in securing. I shall not do thisby means of goat-collars, or sixpenny rewards to, juvenile informers, nor by robbing the labouring man of his pig-stye, as another attempted, but by taking care that attention is paid to bye-laws already existing, and that officers appointed under those laws do their duty impartially. The construction and maintenance of roads and footpaths should have special attention, but other matters affecting the interest of the field should not be overlooked. The main tenance of institutions in connection with the borough require careful attention. The withdrawal of subsidies will leave this community in an unfair position inJkhis respect, because we have no lucrative endowments to fall back upon, and steps must be taken to secure our'fair share of support from other sources when the change is made. The question of aid to pumping has been decided by the Council, and when effect is given to the decision, as it will be in a few weeks' time, no doubt it will be satisfactory to all interested in the important work of drainage on this field. As to the Fire Brigades, I consider that economy is necessary in their management, but, owing to the distance between Shortland and Grahamsstown. it is almost impossible, to rely upon a central station and one brigade, therefore I support the maintenance of the two brigades on an equality and with economy. I can only say that if elected I shall mv partially perform the duties devolving upon the office, and leave nothing undone which may ;be calculated to promote the welfare of the Thames-a course which I have endeavoured to pursue in the conduct of the newspaper tinder my control. If you think the candidate who aspires to fill this office should be one having a stake in the place, then I have no doubt you will record your votes in my favour. Believe me, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, WM. WILKINSON. Thames Advertiser Office, , . Albert street, !Nov. 16, 1880. ' I WISH it to be understood that my object in idling 3b Tea is the greatest good to the greatest number, and that the greatest number it number one, therefore try McGowan's 3i "X«a . ; ■, ;:.., "." ' ' ■■•*■'.