MASTERTON MAYORAL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2762, 30 November 1887, Page 2

MASTERTON MAYORAL ELECTION.

Mr W.Lowes, a caudidate for the Masterton Mayoralty, addressed a meeting of burgesses at the Theatre Royal last evening (Tuesday), there being about 250 present. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and in ' introducing the candidate, bespoke a fair hearing for all speakers, pointing out that they had a good choice before them in the election, having two ex-Mayors to select from, both of whom.had filled the civic chair with great ability and credit to the Borough. Mr Lowes said that perhaps he ought to apologise for troubling them to attend the meeting, after Mr Benall had courteously placed his platform at his service, but he considered that the previous evening's meeting had been somewhat prolonged, hence his reason for inviting them to bepresent on that occasion. He had been twitted, lie said, with being the nominee of the Borough Council in the present election, but did not think under the circumstances that he ought to be ashamed of it, as the members of that body had been time after time elected to represent the burgesses, and consequently had their confidence, and he considered that he ought to be doubly gratified at being their nominee. He would not, however admit that such Was the case, although lie had been asked by several of the Councillors—among other burgesses—to allow himself to be nominated. He had also been twitted with not being a fit person to represent them as Mayor, seeing that the Council was nothing more than a Board cf Works, but lie considered that there were other duties for the Council to perform, beside making roads and footpaths, and, bringing a water supply into Queen-street. . (Hear hear,) He was not an engineer, neither did he know if Mr Benall , was one, but he would leave it iu the hands of the burgesses to say whether he possessed the qualifications to preside over the Municipal Council or not. He did not know why so much capital had been made out of the Town Lands Trust Management Bill at tins juncture, nnless it was that he was a member of that body, but he could not see how the faults of the Trust could disqualify him for the Mayoral seat. Mr Benall had raised great objections to the introduction of the word " primary" in the Bill, but when it was taken into consideration that the Government were reducing the Education vote and raising the soliool age to seveii years, they would find that this was a very sensible introduction in the new Bill, as it would prevent the funds of the Trust being used for secondary or higher branches of education, and under the circumstances he thought that they would find the lands a great boon to the town. (Hear hear,) He thought those requiring the higher branches of education should pay for them,and that the Government should have commenced their retrenchment in these, instead of in primary education, arguing that they could well dispense with drawing, dancing, swordstick, and such subjects in their schools. [Hear hear.] He did not see anything outrageous in, legalising the acts of the original Trustees by allowing lessees the privilege of holding a seat on the Trust, neither did he think there wasanything monstrous in inserting a clause allowing that body to advance thoir funds upon mortgage of real estate, but considered it a sensible business transaction, which gave them the opportunity of investing their money at good interest [Hear hear.] He thought they had the control of the residential clause in their own hands, and should not elect a nonresident if they did not think fit. He maintained that tho Trustees had given due publicity of the new Bill by posting and advertising it, and the text of it had also appeared in the Daily, so they could not complain in that direction, and if any objection were to be made itshould have been offered before and not left till the eve of the Mayoral election, as it had forced him to the conclusion that it was not so much the objection to certain parts of the Bill which had been made as a desire to make capital out of it to influence the election, [Cheers,] He said the Trustees had only one object in view in framing the Bill, which was to conserve the best interests of a valuable property to the town, and he felt sure they would be willing to diaouss it with the people and make suoh amendments as the majority should wish. [Hear hear.] Referring to Borough matters he said he would not assume to be censor of the Council, nor make any rash statements of thousands of pounds being wasted, but would, if elected, speak plainly on these matters when in a position to do so. Speaking on the gas question, he stated that lie was always opposed to the Council taking the matter in hand on the ground that companies always managed such things more economically tlsn Munipipa}bpijies. H§adYQcatpd reducing the prioe of gas, thereby increasing the number of consumers, and argued that it was far better to lower the price under those circumstances, and pay the special rate, than to keep up the present high charges, and still have tq pay the rate. (Heay, hear)' . His opjmbn wag tliat' tlig unfair divisjon of (Kg tough Into wms, wlliol) was parried qui on a petition, Inaugurated by Mr Benall, was the principal, oause of the finances of the Borough drifting into the state they now were, He referred to the meeting held in the Theatre to discuss ; the Wards' question, when a resolution < moved by himself in favor of three : Wards was carried, but owing to i someone's neglect had never been wtsd upon, & wntiQiwd that i ■

cumstaiicd to that Mr RsIST , did not always act inaccordance' with public opinion, as ho carried round v bis petition and divided the Borough into four Wards in face of the rosol-'

ution. Ho did not .approve of the ■; Steam Fire Engine being in opposition to the wish^WSf. the ■ ■ people, and hoped the' Gouncil would make somo; arrangement —as lie believed they could under the Muni- ' eipal Corporations Act—whereby those:; who were benefitted Ijy it should pay for it, as he did not think ,the outside ratepayers should be saddled 'with the debt. [Cheers.] While On the subject, he would like.to refer'to Mr' Eenall's offer of £2O towards the Jubilee, au offer which he was sure would be thankfully received by the - burgesses, who would doubtless pass' . a hearty vote of thanks'for it (laughter) He was glad to hear that the wb/JM Council were in favor of Mr Beijlfei water supply scheme, ho could riofsee >; how they could bo otherwise, as it aj was a most desirable thing for the 1' town. As the Council Were the. conservers of the interest of the burgesses fP bethought it only right that they should have a fair -dfijferstaiiding with Mr JReuall as to thefcheme, " before he was allowed to interfere ■ with t-he Borough property. Tbeyshould ; also see that everything was on a; per : ■ fectly legal' footing, that the supply ; would be continuous, and that there ; would be no possibility of other claimants springing up for the supply, or that it would be interfered with many way. . Judging from. Mr' RenalTa speech of the other evening they, were led to believe that the only thing the future Mayor had to do was to arrange ;■ a water supply for the town,, as that was really all Mr Kenall spokb about; He thought, however, that the finances of the Borough was the most important question that now affected tbejn. ' [Hear Hear]. He said it was n&jessary that the Council should put its foot down firmly and decide that no unnecessary works or expenditure should be carried on, until the finances of the Borough were in a mora satisfactory state. There were doubtless necessiftworks to be executed that would justify them ■ being done, but it would in his opinion bo the duty of the incoming Mayor/to see that the expenditure came within the income. (Hear hear). He pointed out that they were paying money for interest on their overdraft which should be used for public works, and thought that fact should be an inducement for them to reduce the amount as soon as possible. (Hear, hear.) He advocated that all works. • of importance in the Borough should be done by contract, as tins was more economical and gave the burgesses an Opportunity of participating in the expenditure of the rates. He considered that a reduction of from twenty to twenty-five per cent in the price of gas would increase the number of ,<msuiners and be a means of oventiflly . overcoming the gas difficulty, . If elected he would do his best to effecta reform in that direction. (Cheers.) In conclusion he said that a careful • supervision of the whole affairs of the Borough was necessary, and noixpensive works, should be undertafflf and that "with strict economy and judicious management of the finances, he did not think that they would come to any great harm, but the Borough would be placed in a position that would redound to the credit of them all, (Loud cheers.) Mr Benall, who was received with cheers, said the reason he had introduced the Town Lands Trust matter iuto to present contest was because hq had strong suspicions that the neV Bill was introduced for an unfair purpose, as there was nothing of an urgent nature to warrant the Trust in taking the action they had done. He knew the public were not aware of tha£ft being introduced into Parliament®!; he had taken the opportunity of making them acquainted with it. He had that day received a letter from Mr George Beetham, who thought they might introduce a more comprehensiAineasure, audhe (Mr Benall) hop the Trustees would bring the matter betorethe peopleandhave it thoroughly discussed. In dealing with the water supply question he said that' tile river had encroached about three" chains • on his land at the point where he drew his supply from, and he would like to know who had a greater right to it than lie had. [laughter.] He challenged the right of the Council to divert the stream from- the town into the gas tank, and went extensively into the law on" "Water" to show that they were doing wrong, and were liable to an action from persons living on the stream, who suffered through the supply being out off. He alludftf to his old friend the Daily, whiq» deserved his thanks for the lift it.haP given him. over the Trust business. He denied that Mr Lowes had carried a resolution in favor of 'the Borough being divided into three wards, but that his motion—which the Chair-

should not have put to the meetingwas one referring his [Mr EdWs] resolution back to, another tribunal. He had heard that the Counoil would resign in a body if he were elected Mayor, [Several Counoiliors: No! no,] Well, lie said,, lie hoped not, because when he got among them, he was sure that they would be a very happy little family. [Laughter,] He contrasted the unfinished state of Eenall-street with the welj . kept Worksop road, and.in the Jubilee said he would give towards it if l{r gave a like pquiM the Mayor 0), as-lie qonsldered it ivoultl be much fairer to pay for it by voluntary subsoriptioKdl| than to charge it to the ou®* burgesses. [Cheers,] : s •The Mayor, referring to the statements made by the candidates ontha financial, affiairs of the Borough. esid they to only hearsay,, and that things QQuld not he sq bad as thev tried to make out, as it was only about'a year • ago that he placed the whole affairs of the Borough before tliem at a publio meeting, 'and everything appeared satisfactory then, |hat he would convene a publio meetiijft ' an early date, when he would 'agam explain the position of affairs to them and .would ask the Mayor, elect to preside on that occasion. , 'A vote of thanks to the Chairmai}