MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 212, 7 September 1899, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

till; karangahate seat. MR 11. T. GARRATTS ADDRESS. Mr 11. T. Garratt, a candidate for Karangahape Ward seat in the City Council s'-ave a-n address on municipal matters at the Wesley Hall last night. There was a good attendance. Mr John McLeod was voted to the L Mr'Garratt said he had been asked why did he come out to contest the Karangahape seat with the sitting member. Well, he was presented with a largely signed requisition, and at the efection held three years ago the present Councillor representing the Ward was not elected by the ratepayers, but by the casting vote of the Returning Oiucer. It had been stated that he was brought out by the brewers: if that could be substantiated he would retire from the contest. He was not brought out by any section but he would be grateful of their votes brewers or prohibitionists. He dealt with the difficulties or the .Municipal Franchise Reform Act, IS9S, and b!l i«] the canvassers had to compile a roll as well as work it, He considered the householders' vote an injustice, and he said it was also an injustice to ■i ratepayer who might own the whole of Knrangahape Road that he held only the same voting power as a tenant paying a weekly rental of 4/. Mr Uarratt condemned the imperfect state of the rolls, and .pointed out in the ease of two ratepayers of the same name a dead man was left on the roll and the name of the-live man taken oft". Too much Council work was done in committee, and the ratepayer only woke up when his pocket was touched. The anomalies of the building regulations were dealt will) and lie thought the electric. tramways should belong to the people. He was a, believer in Mr Bingham s scheme, and thought it was the best of those in the field. He thought penalties for non-performance of contract should be provided for. lie was not opposed to Mr ('.oldie, but if lie was returned he would go into the Council unfettered. With regard to the city loan, the ratepayers were asked 10 vote in the dark. He hoped the loan proposals would be voted out by the ratepayers. In the scheme there was no provision for a sinking fund, and the result would be the city would crct further into debt. The overdraft on Gth September. IS9S, was £24,192, and it had now increased to £32.458 V.I/. Queen street, he thought should not be paved at the cost of starving every street in the city. He spoke against the increased cost ot the night soil contract, which was nothing but another rate. If elected he would be no party to lea-sing any portion of the Domain ground. lie also condemned the discharging of the aged stonebreakers at Mt. Eden a fortnight ago. , Mr P. Neherny rose and proposed a vote of thanks and confidence _in -Mr Garratt. If they had men m the Council like the speaker they would not have the rates increased '3d in the £ and contracts let to sweep roads at a cost of £600 more than it took to do the same work twelve months ago. Mr P Purcell seconded, and the vote I of'thanks was put and carried unanimously.