THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 155, 25 March 1908, Page 8

THE MAYORALTY.

MR. AITKEN'S CANDIDATURE,

A REPLY TO MR. HISLOP.

A meeting of supporters of' Mr. J. Aitkon, M.P., as a candidate for tho mayoralty of tho city was hold in tho Oddfollows' Hall last evening.

Mr. John Duthio, who was' voted to tho chair, apologised for tho absence of Mr. D. Robertson. During a speech 011 the previous ovoning, tho present Mayor had complained of tho state of tho books when 110 toolt offico following Mr. Aitkon's mayoralty. Now Mr. Aitken, as ho (tho speaker) had said elsewhere, had placed good and competent men in control of tho departments, but thero was ono old and faithful servant who was breaking down- in health—llo had sinco passed away—and the Council showed him somo indulgence. (Hear, hear.) That was how tho books got behindhand, and . thero was no canso for any reflection 011 Mr. Aitken. Sir. Duthio went 011 to protest against Mr; Hislop's estimate of tho goodwill of tho Gas Company at £200,000. If so groat a sum woro paid for tho goodwill, it would bo a scandal of tho first order, and Mr. Hislop, in naming such a figure, was' prejudicing tho interests of tho ratepayers. Ho was as freo of tho Gas Company as any men in tho city. (Applause.) Mr. Aitken, "who was received with applause, said that he had not sought this contest. It was only after repeated requests, culminating in an influential deputation,, that ho had consented to como" forward. (Applause;) Tho present Mayor had stated, or insinuated, that on taking office 110 found things in a very disorganised condition, and tho first thing 110 did was to put the finances in order. Now, tho fact was that tho whole position was known while ho (Mr. Aitken), was still in office, and ho it v.'as who showed tho Council that tlioso amounts would to bo borrowed so as to complete tho payments . for certain oontracts and fiperations. Tho Mayor and Council had had oxperts to advise them as to tho cost of tho works, and they had accepted their guidance, as any Mayor and Council would liavo done. Tho present Mayor had also accused him of being responsible for tho loss of Miramar to tho city, whereas ho did all that was possible to effect tho purchase. They had it all arranged, but failed to get their Bill through Parliament, becauso certain citizens interfered and interviewed tho then Premier, who blocked tuo matter by putting tho Bill in an unfavourable position on tho ord.er paper. .■ A voice: " Who was tho chief culprit?" Mr. Aitken-: " One of the gontlemen who was supporting Mr. Hislop at his meeting." Proocodingj Mr: Aitken said that lie had repeatedly spoken of tho affair as a most ';e----grottabloi thing for the city. (Applause.) Tho chairman was absolutely right in saying that ho (the speaker) had nothing to do with tho Gas Company. He had always hold that tho Council alono should be allowed to interfere with the streets, and, with that :in view, tho old horse-trams wero taken over during his mayoralty, and the electric tramway system was installed. If returned, it would bo one of his objects to get possession of tho Gas Company's business for the city, fairly and squarely, and 011 tho best terms possible. Thero were many other things that required to bo done. , Tho side streets, that were not wood-bloclted, should, bo paved with bricks, as was done successfully in some other cities; or asphalted, and this, would greatly reduce tho dust nuisance in the main streets. In conclusion, Mr. Aitkon quoted records to show that' in 1904, 'when he was Mayor, a Bill called the Wellington City Empowering and Gasworks Bill was circulated in Parliament. It was to givo the city tho power' to purcliaso the Gas Company's business. Aftor making some' progress, tho Bill Was thrown o.ut. That would show that ho had taken'steps to get possession of tlio gasworks in a legitimate manner, that would bo fair and square to tho Gas Company and to the city. (Applauso.) ■ *

All tlioso present wore enrolled as a general committee, and the following executive committeo was appointed Messrs. D. Robertson (chairman), Jno. Duthie, M! My.ors, Alex. Smith, J. M'Lellan, Thos. Orr, W. Hopkirk, and S. Hart., Messrs. J. B. Finlay and H. A. Gold woro .'appointed joint secretaries. ' •

A moeting of ladies, interested in the caw" daturo of the Hon. T. AV. Hislop for th'o forthcoming Mayoral election mil be held in Turnbull's Auction Rooms at 3 o'clock this afternoon.