NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 156, 26 March 1908, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

1 Interest in the Mayoral strugglo runs high. Mr. Hislop and. his friends aro bestirring thomselves vigorously; but Mr. Aitken is an old campaigner, and his supporters are enthusiastically 'preparing for the fray. Mr. Hislop is oxpccted to rcceivo a solid backing from tho liquor party, though it is not likely that that party will tako any organised part in tho struggle. There appears to bo some difference of opinion as to whether Mr. Hislop , derives any advantage from holding tho position of Mayor at tho time of tho strugglo. Tho fact that,he has already held tho oilico for so long is certain to toll against him, but, on the other hand, it gives him a cortain amount of influence, and, of course, he has a decided .advantago. in being able to call on Council officials to supply 'him with ammunition for tho contest. Mr. Hislop will sccuro the support of tho Socialist element in labour circles; but a'good section of labour support should to Mr. Aitken, whose record as Mayor his reputation for just ;and equitable treatment of Corporation employees.'

The first big meetings of the candidates aro boiug looked'forward to with espccial interest. Sjo far, tho addresses riven have been conlmed to one or two of' the bigger questions beforo the public, and matters have been only lightly touched on. It seems that Mr. Hislop does not e-stimato the goodwill of tho gasworks at £200,000,, as was in-, ferred from -his address to his committee. According to Mr. Hislop, tho ■ valuation of £200,000, is that> suggested by tho 'chairman, of the Gas Company, Mr. Hislop's own valuation being £130,000. Our' reporter, who, was seated in tho body, of tho hall, distinctly understood that Mr. Hislop was. expressing his own opinion in putting the goodwill at £200,000, and tho manner "in which ■ the Mayor worded his referenco was in a' mea'suro responsible for the misunderstanding. A conr temporary publishes a full transcription of Mr. Hislop's remarks as follows:—"If at present tho gasworks are worth £200,000, what,will they bo worth when the population of this place is "doubled, as it will bo before very many years? Aro wo going to postpono it until it. costs £400,000 0r,'£500,000 ? "

In an interview with a local journal the Mayor essays a reply to the figures which wo quoted yesterday in demonstration of his unsound prediction regarding tho promts on the tramways during the current finanivai year. He admits that he was " too .sanguine" but insists that the' "profits" will amount to £22,000, or only , £700 less than' he predicted in September last. It becomes necessary to repeat ,tho facts in connection with the Mayor's prediction. He declared that tho "net revenue" would amount to £47,000, but personally he imagined that it would be £4500 greater than this, or £50,500. As the amount to bo deducted for • interest, sinking fund,' depreciation, etc., is calculared by tho electrical engineer to amount to £36,400, the final profits, if tho Mayor's estimate of the net revenue were correct, would bo £15,100. As a matter of fact, tho net revenue for the eleven expired months is £38,701, which works out at about £42,001) for the whole year, so that the final; profits should amount to about, £5600,' instead of £15,100. The absoluto profits, that is-to say, will bo 63 per cent.'less than.was predicted by Mi H'.slop six months ago. Mr. li slop 'i.-'.'Jouttedly was "over sanguine.''

Mr. Hislop has one advantage over his opponent. He is married, and in Mrs. Hislop has an experienced and capable election campaigner, who has fought his battles on many fields. Mr. Aitken, on the other hand, has to place his reliance on the enthusiasm of such of his lady supporters as are prepared to organise Committees and attend to tho various tasks necessary to bring women doctors to tho polling booths. Mr. Aitken's past election ■triumpns would seem to indicate' that tho handicap he labours under is not so serious as might at first sight appear. ' At his meeting to-morrow evening a largo muster of ladies is looked forward to, and a beginning will then bo made in organising Committees for the To Aro' district. Tho mooting of Mr. Hislop's lady supporters, held ' yesterday afternoon in Messrs. Turnbull's Rooms, was attended ; by about twonty-fivo ladies, and apologios for absence, joined with promises- of support, wero received from nearly , as many. A plan of campaign was sketched out, and a good deal oL enthusiasm was manifested in its adoption. ' Complaint was made by Mr. Hislop last evening of our summary of his remarks to the effect that tho loss of Miramar was duo to Mr. Aitken's policy, and he denied that ho made " any such statement, or anything like it." Wo publish below the report of the paper which ho comntonds. The puhlio ca» iudgo for themselves whether or not

the Mayor attributed the failure to secure Miramar to Mr. Aitken. Our contemporary's report read: —"Ho (Mr. Hislop) nest referred to the success of; the elcctric light municipalisations which' ho had advocated and carricd into effect, and asked if the city would have lost ■ Miramar (when it was offered for £75,000 under the ochcmo ' perfected by Mr. I3cll during his term of office as Mayor) had Mr. Aitken shown cqunl energy; or would it have lost tho gift of 500 acros of Miramar land offered to it oil condition that a tramway to Snatounand Miramar should he constructed?"

A mooting of Mr. Hislop's supporters wjll be hold at Wood's Rooms, Brooklyn, to-, morrow ovening,. at 8 o'clock, for the purpose p! fuMi.iiig a committee.

.A n"t ting of those favourable t<> il e return of Mi\ Aitken will be held in' the Rechabite Chambers (Room No. 2),, Manners Street, 'to-morrow (Friday), at 8 p.m., for the purposo of forming a committee' to work tho To Aro portion of the city.