CHOOSING A MAYOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 184, 29 April 1908, Page 8

CHOOSING A MAYOR.

PALMERSTON NORTH.

CITY AND SUBURBAN ELECTIONS.' TO-DAY'S POLLING. . ■ DO NOT- BE AN " INFORMAL." , To-day's Mayoral election is fraught with ■C/ ; ';iq'/.tiio ..greatest, significance, and all those entitled to a voto should see.that it is-duly \ recorded. !'.■ . The campaign has been .fought with, great vigour, and not a Jittio bitterness here and there. .- t ■ . -. . • Thoro are two for' the Mayoralty of tho City in tho field— ; , J. C. W. AITKEN.' i T. V/. HISLOP. Both gentlemen havo. occupied the Mayoral . •. - chair for several terms, and .both lay claim ■/.' to hare forwarded' tho best interests of the ;- citj /during those periods;' aiid thero is no doubt good ends havo been Teached by both candidates. . / - -• • - Tho issuo is, a clear one.'; Electors should not cloud it in' : any way, particularly in -the ; ':/;, ;way of-voting'.unintell-igently;; It is i:o use V. ' taking the trouble of. going to tho poll, and ; making a.misuse of tho;voting paper. Such papsrs are labelled " informal" -in tlie re- '-. turns, arid count- for nothing.'' As ■ shown, the.ballot representation of..which'' is given' in'our columns to-day—does not need .. . much thought. The two names are set'down . and opposite them are two empty space's,--in ; / one,of,..which the voter has to make a cross — ■ opposite the name of the candidate for whom : --j- ho wishes to vote. Elsewhere,'forinstance, by ' way.' of illustration, 'is a ballot-paper made • out in favour of Mr. Aitken. . It shows .the . ; correct method of voting to be followed by , thosi who support him. : .- THE ROLL. . Thero are 28,652 : burgesses on'the city roll : : ,' —sonlo '7000 .more names than have appeared on any previous' for a Mayoral election, an increase : extraordinarily: large, .' to' say . the least "ofvit.;--' The'.." mostthat,could bo said need-not be dwelt upon just at present. So . ./:; / .'apathetic- has ./the voting: becn' : in past elec./tion3,.that:it niust;bo,considered a good poll / if, 50. per cent. of. those .on tho roll exercise > their,power to,vote. , <:■ ' , > THE POLLiNG BOOTHS. ;; Tlio 'polling-booths 'are located as under:—, Mr. .Janes's Shop, "Wadestown 1 Road. , Tho Church. Schoolroom, Tinakori Road. . 1 .St.'. Paul's Schoolroom, ,Sy3ney -Street.... ■ Turnbnll's Auction Room, Panama Street.n Harcpurt's Auction .Room, Panama Stroot. ' Town Hall Concert. Room, Cuba Street. Rechabite Hall/: Manners Street. : , St. Peter's Schoolroom; Ghuznee.Street. Alexandra Hall, Abel' Smith Street. Druids' . Hall, Taranaki Street.' New ,Century, Hall, Kent Terrace, ' / St././ Mark's Schoolroom,. Sussex; Square. . ; , Victoria' Hall, Adelaide Road. ' . St. Thomas's'Schoolro6m, Riddiford Street. Churchroom, Palm Grove, off Adelaide Rsadj ' The' Public .Schoolroom, Island Bay. ..O'Donnell's'Hall,"Kilbirnie. , 1 : Churchroom;, Moxham Avenue, Kilbirnie. i Tho Public Schoolroom, Roseneath. > i :■/ - Churchroom/'Aro Street;- - -' i , Fullfbrd's Hall; Cleveland Street, Brooklyn. ! ■- Churchroom, Washington Avenue, Brook- < - ' i ' ' Churchroom, Upland Road, Kelburne. < ./vQhnrchroom, Primitive Methodist, 1 North- •< .-. land. ' ; < . , Votes may bo. recorded to-day betweon the 1 . i lours 0f;.9 a.m. and 7 p.m. , ! Tho result of ! . sho : election: should be known before, 9 p.m. - MIRAMAR. ■ ] lively ...contest v is' anticipated for tho { : Mayoralty, of: Miramar,. where (as in the caso •{ ', -,; struggle ..lies, between.the 1 ,'sitting Mayor antl an ex-Mayor. The candi- J dates are —. ■ -. ■ ■ ' ''.CHAS. jr'CRAWFORD,' . . FREDK. TOWNSEHD. : ; , Both-aro well-known to tbo suburban bur- \ . gesses. ',-: Polling-booths will be open between ( 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.y at the.following places:— '-T :, • Borough Council's Office, "King's Cham- -J Tho Kiosk, Worser Bay;. ■ •- -v • 1 ■ -t , The Post .Office Store, Miramar. : KARORI. } t ■:i- ;1 0 ELECTION. OF COUNCILLORS- ' . ® Therp; is_to be an election of councillors to t fill'vacancies at both Karori and the LowGr Hutt. ~ iAt Karori the following gentlemen „ ' have been nominated ; to fill, the threo ° y vacancies caused hy the absorption of North- 0 land by the city— / ? W. C. BRADNOCK. c ~' J. FOWLER. -■>. r 1 E. S. HARRIS. : : "1 , J. C. RAINE. . t , HUTT BOROUGH. ' A COUNCILLOR WANTED. ' •' l>c _*rhero is only ono 1 vacancy on tho Hutt c ■ Borough' Council, and thero are' two candi-' : ] dates, viz.— ■ ■■■:> -:/;; . : -v J . WM. E. HUCHES. 5 , ARTHUR HENRY VILE. - I l' ' ■ t '.' , ::. ■ -.. r SPEECHES BY CANDIDATES. j MR. AITKEN AT THE TOV/N HALL. j AN ; ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. ' ' ] Tho Municipal Concert Hall was crowded upstairs, and. downstairs last evening wben ; -f Mr. J.- G.. W. Aitken,, 1 MJ?., candidate, for; ] tho Mayoralty, gave his final address to. the, ( .electors.- The feeling of the meeting was "en- 't thusiastic'ally with Mr. Aitken from start to ( / finish, and a vote of thanks and confidence, ' , passed unanimously at the conclusion of his speech, was followed bj\ hearty cheers.,;' ' , c , -CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS. [ The, Chairman. • (Mr." W.-'-Hopkirk)' stated that he had known Mr. Aitken for over a j . quarter of a century, and while he had never '■ , known him do one tfiing 1 or dishonourable, he had known him do many " things foi'the good'of :the, community. ; :,Who ■ had done.so much for the young people:of f Wellington in work, on : tlie i Education Board, in : connection, with the 1 - Y.M.C.A.? (Applause.) Tho only fault lie 1 ; could find, with Mr. Aitken was that he was 1 . too modest. He was the sort'of liian-who did good by stealth, and when he found it c public blushed. (Applause.) ; v. , T , PRESS CRITICISMS. ' - ' Mr. Aitken, who was received .with ■ pro? : ■ <onged,applause, said that if they fought as i , / they should fight on the morrow, ho knew : ,i . v/ho would be victor. Ho had ; been somo- i what amused, and not altogether, ill-pleased. £ ■ at reading the leading articlo in the " Postl ' that evening. The "Post" said that, though s ho had been six years in Parliament, he was ' , no politician.' He was,mighty glad of that, i - (Laughter and applause.) Tho "Post" said < •that, though Mr. Hislop had not been in Par- 1 / liameiit'.'fbr some years, he was a politician. [ (Laughter.) Ho had turned up tho word ,J , politician in a, good dictionary, and found 1 ' that the following meanings wero given:— i ' . One primarily devoted, to his own advance- i niont in office; one devoted to the success ofi i a political party. !Ho did not know which i of these, meanings tho "Post" had!in.mind when it applied the term politician to Mr., i Hislop, and would not apply it to him. (Applauso and laughter.) < QUESTIONS FOR MR. HISLOP. ' # At Newtown the previous evening he had invited Mr. Hislop to reply to certain questions, which the Mayor, so far, had made no .! attempt'to answer. He would; repeat those .] questions, which had appeared in that morning's DbMEJioN. In doing so he reminded J - his audience how, when an error in the ; morning paper made it appear that he had j referred' '.:

lug funds, when no lettor had been written, ■' Mr. Hislop had pressed immediately for an 1 explanation, and ho (Mr! Aitken) had had tho error corrected in. the evening paper. Mr. Hislop had not answered his questions in tho evening paper, and he put them again. Tlie.y were 1. Whero was tho letter which ho wroto in September,. 190G, regarding tlio sinking fund 'commissioners? ' 2. Was the lettor,evpr read at tho Finance Committee's meeting? 3. Was the letter ever placed beforo or ■ read.to tho Council as a whole? He believed .that that letter was not to bo ~ found'on any of,the files'in the; Town Hall, ■1 a JJ, t l.that it was iiot.'in the possession of the 1 officers of tho Town Hall. f SINKING FUNDS. He had been asked -why" ho did not resign • his position as Commissioner when. lie.was' dissatisfied with tho conditions. 1 He did not resign becauso-ho thought that l if he sent in'.his .resignation, it would bo 3 just , what the .Mayorwanted, aiid ho was ) not going, to .do that.. He had' been api pointed-a trustee,of these funds, and he did not/ knowyyert .what his; responsibilities under I 'tho Act wore. . Tho .Set was remarkably s vague on _ tho subject.,-Ho had been asked s by Mr. Hislop if he could find any fault with 1 the investments which liad been made, with i the funds. He asked mfreply if the Sinking ■ Fund Commissioners'were ever in any shape, form, or fashion, cohsuTted in regard to "individual invest'mehts''fhat wore made. They ■ neiverhad .been ,so l consulted. How could he say,' then^';whether the " funds .were well-iii-'vested or not, when lie; had never had' the papers placed before him. He would ask Mr. Bell and Mr.' Brandon, for whom he had the 'very,.-highest; respect, if they had ever done-tho .business. Of,/ the .sinking fund through,/their o)vn offices .while they , were ' sinking 'and he knew welljthat'their reply' would be a repudiation. Of'course, . . they had . [done nothing of the kind/ and his .audi.oncc could • make' their own comment on that .position. , ' . MAYORAL, RECORDS. Mr..'Hislop.. wasalways comparing his Mayoral ; record with that , of tho speaker, •but' if : anindependent 'commission was appointed, i he' maintained that they Would find , that the works ■'done''while he was Mayor were of' more " importance than those put through s by'Mi':'Hislop.'The present Mayor's one owo'lamb was ; the' purchase of<the dec- , tricalliglitihg plan!;/- Ho described-how tho .City Council, when He '(Mr. Aitken) was at its -head, 1 had; offered '£120,000 for the lock, ■stock, arid; barrel of this plant. Referring to the subsequent'acquisition, lie said that 'Mr.-Hislop"was always''taking credit for its 'results, but they should wait for a few years uijtil the/plant .had, to. be renewed, .and it might then be found that it was not paying so well as had been' anticipated. l ° ; NEW CHARGES' REFUTED. After expressing, his/anxiety-to keep down tho ; rates,. Mr. : Aitken replied , to a correspondent's .inquiry v ./whether lie was.; a' land ,speculator by: stating that' ho owned : ,no inch of- land,^either;in,,person, or through any syndicate, in'ior about, this city, except tho .'■ section on'which-'his'housb .stood. l He'de- 'j |.nied strongly ' a correspondent's allegation ' that; ho did not /encourage local industries, and oxplaincd that the Council under him had-not,-accepted,,a tender of certain -New, Zealand .cement on;.one, occasion; because, the engineer•; specially - recommended that, tlio ; lowest tender for English, cement should ■ be accepted. : Could,-any. body of non-experts have .acted countor-itoVsuch an expert recommondation ? ;He had replied to the'letter containing that allegation at his meeting of the previous evening, but the paper which published_ tho letter,'had-hot published his romarks ,iri answer. ' He did not say that thoy. had purposely: been omitted. . J ■PRIVATE ,AND MAYORAL INTERESTS. Referring ,• to Clause' 68 of, tho Municipal Corporations .Act, he stated that;when mat-, t ters were before the Council in which' he i (had -a ;priv.ate. r ,interest, I ,he' had invariably ( t left the council 'room; and, someone else had C occupied:-.-theoichair;--:^ ; He--admitted that ' a, 1 lawyer might .experience this conflict of in- } j^^.^orb.!^h f^li^ca:jrierchattt''likei;lumi; . t vbut jt-he" only- safe-rule. ;was that a law-, -a yer in tho-Mayoral; chair, should either re- t fuse to take up aiiy case with which the City r Council was concerned, or vacate' the chair t -.whenever.' such matters were under- consid- -t oration.' ..Mr. Hislop Iliad . repeatedly.' p'ridedi !l /himself on:his ability, as a'business, man,'and: I -the "Evening Post"thad;supported him in Vthat .particular, but-lie would" liko to read- ' what the " Evening "Post " thought about Mr. Hislop's business methods - twclvo w months ago, when ho had been/two years in y office,./■ Tho;) extract preferred' to ! the chaotic! u state-of tho/Corporation accounts as haying n been repeatedly referred to in the "Post." n ■It stated further that the Public Accounts r' were in such a condition that it was impossible to 'arrive: ;at - any' -accurate' judgment s on.tho efGciency, comparative or'otherwise, ic of the administration for any particular per- P iod. The. "Evening Post" had received" no .t complete Accounts 'since then, ' so that the & :pbsitioij was, .unaltered.'' And'what did ]«r. Hislop', glorify himself'Vupon more than-on;- ■? the' beautifiir'statei df those' accounts? - •' •'» - w—.; rh SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS. P : Ho had. beenj somewhat amused when tlio S phairman had "given him a 1 certificate of ° icharacterj"but.i.porhapsihoihad ,been' moved ? .to do so . by . the. fact;.that Mr. Hislop had 11 .called upon.a member, of the Council to give f 'him, a certificate And what J was' _th<T certificate ?;' ■ Tliat the funds of ,the Sinking Fund Commissioners'invested in pro- - 'perties,,wero.;,woll.!arid™tru]y invested, and - r that the valuo was there. But who had ever Iquestioned tho value ?- ; Hp had never dorio so ; 'ho was ignorant as to that,' 'though he- was a Sinking Fund Commissioner. Ho had' only questioned the method. Mr. -Aitken ; stated that' there were threo Sinking" Fund Commissioners, only two of , ■ whom' had', powewto sign cheques. Since 'tho retirement of Mr. Martin in June, 1907,. lip' had never been' asked;'' as one of the Commissioners, to; sign a clieque. . Ho: thought that the .time had iamvedlwhen the'" Sinking ; Fund ;Commissioners,: should i booutside. the City Council altogether, and that their duties "should bo properly'defined hy the Supreme Court.. .' ' WELL KNOWN. . He left himself in .. their hands. Ho had done so many times'; before; seven times .in all ho had'tleft himself in the hands of the ■ citizens of Wellington, and'they had never said him' nay. (Applause:). They had voted for him every time, and ho believed it would •be done' again- on the morrow. (Loud ap- , plause.) ' ■ ' : ••"""•QUESTIONS. , ■ In; answer to'.'a question, Mr. Aitken stated that lie. was never, asked to attend any meeting : of tho' tramway /employees, or to state his views to them on i any: question. He had had no communication by word of mouth or c letter from the Tramways Union. c Replying to' another - question, the candidate stated that when he was Mayor, the practice always was ''that when tbo Town c Hall Was lefc to anyone'the hall !was paid for- .' on tho evening before'it'was required. ■ A member of the audience asked if. Mr. Aitken could give, the names of the deputation to, Mr.;/ Scddon which caused tho Mira- ' mar 'acquisition scheme to bo thrown out, t and if one member of the deputation was f Mr; 1!. Kennedy Macdonald, who was a pre- T sent supporter of Mr. Hislop? . / ' Mri' Aitken replied .that it was a long t while back - for"'him'■ to-remember the names j, • of!-"all'■ the ,;mombers of tho deputa- c tion, " but ho was conscious ; that a ,■ gentleman now dead, who had been ► Mayor of the city several times, and - Mr. Kennedy Macdonald wero head and shoulders in tho deputation which got the late Mr. t Soddon to move tho Bill dealing with Mira- ( inar from fifth place on the Order Paper to c the twenty-seventh E The! candidate stated that ho was strongly s in favour of a reserve fund being formed j against claims consequent on tramway acci- c dents. He was in favour of municipal super- £ vision of the milk supply. ( THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. • ] Mr.-'v. Dimock moved, and Mr. J. W. c Fossett seconded, a voto of thanks and con- c .fidence'to the candidate, which was carried i runanimously. i'.: Three chcors' were also given < for Mr. Aitken.' > ■ . 1 1 ! Mr. Aitken, in returning thanks, said that 7 j if tho/samo, enthusiasm was carriod to the ' .poll tfere eould-ba no doubt of his returns Jy

MR. HISLOP'S CANDIDATURE.

MEETINGS AT NEWTOWN AND . ; JERVOIS QUAY. Mr. Hislop held two meetings last night, one in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, and the other out of doors at the Band Rotunda on Jcrvois Quay. He delivered practically the same speech at both places, and his remarks wore for the most part on lines that liavo now become quite familiar to the electors. He, however, introduced-a touch of freshness by taking as his text tlio manifesto which appeared on behalf of Mr. Aitken in tlio advertising columns of the evening paper. Mr. Hislop read it clause by clause with sarcastic intonation, and threw the matter of his speech into the form of comment' on the reasons submitted for supporting Mr. Aitken. THE RATES. The main burden of the speech was condemnation and ridicule of Mr. -Aitken's declaration of policy against allowing the amount; of revenue accruing from the rates to be_ increased. Mr. Hislop maintained that it was absurd to suppose that when

the , city-.increased'.to 100,000 inhabitants, it could still do, with the municipal inepmo jthat: .was i sufficient : for a -population - j of'6o,ooo' or 70,000. Moro than that," Mr. -Aitken'* had' given a-long list'of' works-that: ho intended to carry out in various parts of ,tlie 'cityviand,:, suburb's./,; It:/wasV'.'pure '. and, •absoluto ,bunkum;' to,; : say- that,, all. thoso things could be done without raising tlio rates. The result would be a deficit, as was the case when he (Mr. Hislop) took office •three,;. years 'ago. In''-.this connection . Mr. .Hislop re-told tho story of: the -wash-up loans.-' ; ; ' . •. /,.-.,/ , GAS MUNICIPALISATION. ' Mr. Aitken's ipolicy of gas-works purchaso was roundly condemned as inefficient; '" If you .wait to .see tho . gas-works ' acquired under. a-' ; Bill'-like that .which' Mr. Aitkeii promoted,in< 1904," declared tho Mayor, "you will havo to wait till Mr. Aitken and I aro resolved into other substances." Tho Bill would have beon. useless, because .it prescribed no. basis of arbitration.- 1 . His own idea was to proceed, upon a "valuation of tho property as it stood in the public market at .tho present ,time. The shares were selling at £19 ss ; '' Perhaps £20 might bo allowed. Mr. Hislop recounted ' his own successful IpffprtsVtO; modify' the clause in the Wasli-'ing-'up " -Bill''''of-.last session, which would h'avo\- given- tlio Gas . Company additional powers "in : regard to'laying of mains in tho streets.'; He did not care what Mr. Aitken's own attitude to the Gas Company was. ; Ho accepted his statement that ho had no shares in , it, but' Mr. -Aitken must lia'vo been strangely blind to the, city's interests to letthat clause in 'tho ." Washing-up Bill" go ithrough without protest, and that was a

token to show why the Gas Company pre-: ferred to have Mr. Aitken as Mayor. There was no reason ,to fear that any Bill Mr. Aitken might father would bo anything moro than a Bill, for throughout his Mayoralty ho had not succeeded in getting a singlo Bill, or a single clauso of' a Bill, through Parliament. . .. THE MILK QUESTION. "Because," said Mr. Hislop, reading from the advertised list, "he is in favour of tho City Council having complete and effcctivo control .over the milk supply of tho city, so that:the citizens may enjoy pure, wholesome milk, and that infant, life may bo safeguarded. i Mr. Aitken is strongly in favour of this, and if elected would do.his utmost to achieve his object." On this Mr. Hislop's comment was to tlio clfoct'of pointing out that Mr. Aitken had declared that if any matter in which ho was personally interested came before tho Council, ho would not speak or vote on it, and had also admitted that ho was a director of,'tlio Fresh Foodand Ico Company. How, tlion, could Mr. Aitken " do his utmost to achieve this object?" But perhaps his promise not .to trust hjmself to f'o I'is best for the cit,v when his own interests .were-concorned was due to a deßire. to

"have a hit at Hislop." Perhaps ho had llio transactions with Mr. Crawford in his mind. In Mr. Milken's time tlio Council was plv/ays fighting in the Courts, and used to take things.Home. to the Privy Council. He (tho speaker), as trustee for the late Mr. Crawford, had to. go to Mr. Aitken when tlio Council was in litigation with him, and tho speaker thought tho matter could havo been fixed up easily. But!the Council went on with tlio dispute. After tho speaker came into office ho got Mr. Crawfbnl to meet the Finance Committee, ana in half, an hour,the thing was fixed up, the Corporation obtaining valuable concessions at Seatoun, Evans Bay, Lyell Bay, and Miramar, enabling them among other things to make the Kilbirnio Piccreation Park which was now in progress. "A GOOD MAN." , Mr. Aitken was praised as a good man, but the speaker thought what they wanted was a good Mayor. Tlio lato Dr. Chalmers was once recommondcd to patronise a certain shoemaker, because he was a good Christian and a good Presbyterian,' but he replied, "I'm not looking for a Presbyterian and a Christian; I want a good shoemaker."' (Laughter.) Ho appealed to tlio peoplo to let. him continuo his'administra-'

-tion, undertaking,new works at the proper time, maintaining a. reformed system of finance, and. trying to compass the benefit 'of the wliolo community. • SPEECH BY MBS. HISLOP. Mrs. Hislop ; added Aa.-'few 'words, ..'saying that was interested;.iiv all-, institutions ;for t-lio good of the people of Wellington. The meeting, which was an enthusiastic arid largely attended one, concluded, at tho suggestion ./of tho ..chairman. (Mr. , Allan Smith), with cheers and thoV singing of "He's a jolly good fellow.'-S •> . MEETING AT JERVOIS QUAY. Mr. and Mrs. Hislop then motored to Jervois Quay, whero the Mayor spoke from tho Band Rotunda near tho Town Hall; A crowd, which had already collected, greeted them oil arrival with cheers. Towards the.closo of tho address the-crowd was increased by'a number of persons who had boen attending Mr. Aitken's meeting, in the Town Hall, and < the, meeting becamo more.lively. Yet though interruptionsv;ero [ frequent, and not always sympathetic; fliers was no disorder. The crowd seemed : to bo a good-humoured oue. h. Replying to a questioji, Mr,' Hislop com- : mended the public spirit shown by the Hon. i Si in the negotiations whereby i tho Corporation was enabled'to undertake the work now being done for the improvement of Woodward Street. Tho speakcr had riot; as Biiggested by the questioner, asked tho Government to give a piece of ' land, to Mr. .Macdonald, but tho Minister for Lands; whan approached, had consented to sell to Mr. Macdonald a smr.ll pieco of'ground for £650* .- To a supporter who professed to repeat a

criticism uttered by Mr. -Aitken at his meeting,' which was just over, Mr. Hislop pointed out that thoso who valued tho property of the Electrical Syndicato at £90,000, valued -the plant for removal, whereas the Corporation bought; it as a means ,of earning £20,000 a year. Tho. price of £150,000 was not at all oxcessive.. A vote of confidence, proposed by Mr.' W. Noot, was carried, and the meeting concluded with cheers for Mr. and .Mrs. Hislop and a few groans for Mr. Aitken and Mr. lusher. ■ THE FINAL-ADDRESSES. Last evening .-witnessed the final addresses to the citizens by the ■ respective candidates for the Mayoralty. . As/is usual on', such occasions, both gentlemen were on their mettle, and acquitted themselves •' well ■ .and vigorously. At tlio Band Rotlunda, Jervois Quay, Mr. Hislop had- a fairly numerous audience, and was well received. Subsequently he addressed' an enthusiastic meeting at tho Victoria Hall. It was left, however, for' Mr. Aitken to make the record ol tho contest in point of ciithusiast-'c -it tho £«»s?rt" Chamber of ..'the j.Xown Hall;, which. :was £acked.">tft :the- doors..

Mr. Aitken was in fino form, and. made an excellent aiid telling' speech, full of interest, and marked here and there by genuino flashes of brilliancy. Tho mariner in which ho scored off the "Post" on the subject of politicians," as reported fully' in our report of tho meeting, constitutes one of tho best repartees which the election battle has generated, and demonstrates that Mr. Aitken, well known as ho is to tho general public as being ably equipped for. public life, yet possesses a reserve of talents hitherto unsuspected. Last night's 'effort' was freely commented on by friends and foes aliko as "tho speech of his' life."

WRIT FOR LIBEL,

In connection with the present Mayoral contest, an accusation of theft of a document from the tramway premises at Thorndcn was, on "Saturday last, levelled against the staff of this paper. Yesterday, on behalf of the Editor, a writ, claiming -£501 damages for libel, was served on the Now Zealand Times Company, by Messrs. Skerrett and Wylio, who, with Mr. M. Myers, are acting for the plaintiff ill tho matter. Tlio action will come on for trial at the next civil sittings of tho Supreme Court. REJECTED CORRESPONDENCE. A number of letters attacking Sir. Hislop on points affecting his candidature reached us yesterday for insertion in to-day's 'issue. Such of these as introduced . new- matter, which Mr. Hislop should in fairness be given opportunity -to reply to, we have refrained from publishing.- Our correspondents should have, sent in their letters at an earlier date.WHAT THE "POST" REFUSED TO PUBLISH. , THE TOWN HALL DEFICIENCY. 1 (To the Editor.) . Sir, —I asked, the editor of the "Post" to:day to publish a letter containing the following facts. Mv request was'refused, on the ground that all correspondence had been stopped, as there was no time for . reply. Yet the "Post" to-night contains a letter from tho Mayor which would havp beciv utterly discredited had my letter been allowed to appeal. Last night the Mayor most emphatically denied that there was over a deficiency in tho'Town Hall accounts of £800. What answer can'lie'give to this? It is addressed to the official who defaulted: "Sir, my examination of the Town. Hall revenue accounts to tho 13th instant discloses a deficiency of £512 Os., 9d.,'.=s .nor statement''below.' I hereby call upon you to forthwith pay /that; amount to the district fund account. (Signed) Jas. Ward, Government Audit Inspector, 20/7/07." Has tho -M.aypr a leg to stand on now? This letter, led to the discovory that Madamo Blanche Arral had. received concessions that wore irregular and unauthorised.,' Hence the hurried and confidential meeting of the Council, my condemnation of ; the Mayor by resolution (which has ~not been recorded, as '110 rough minutes wore kept), and hence tho"'fact that when I asked the Town Clerk for the_ official letter from the Audit' Inspector pointing out the': deficiency, ho replied that, it. was- a ■ confidential , letter to the Mayor, and riot on the records.. If Mr. Hislop was as softhearted' as ho professes to.be, lie would have assisted Madame, out of the £400 honorarium. which, ho. draws from the City Treasurer, and not shed "his brother's blood."'in'the cr.uso of genuine distress. . : -, The minutes quoted by the-Mayor, in tonight's Post" are those dealing with a defalcation, and do.not concern Mr. Hislop's "foreign policy "at all. 'J?ut a little thing like that does not hinder' tho Mayor for a moment. If the citizens return Mr. Hislop again (which' I think is unlikely), 1 shall have a busy time looking, after him;>but I ani beginning to understand him better every day,' and I don't shrink' 1 from the task.—l am, etc.,' w-' ' • . F. M..8. FISHER. . April. 28, 1903.

•As Mr. Hislop .would not in the ordinary course have had an opportunity'of replying to Mr. Fisher's' letter before the election, it was shown to him last night, when lie made the following statement: — "'Sir. Fisher's statemont is absolutely untrue. . Thore never was a deficiency of £S00! The memo, sent by Mr, Ward referred to the various items which have already been plibi lished, such as the fees which would havo been, payable had charges been made for the use of the hall,for'public purposes, Mayor's receptions, etc., etc. .'Mr, Ward's letter led to no'_ discoveries. What had been done wbuldiri^ho'ordinary course' have been' reported. Mr. WardV letter ( was referred to the Town Clerk for' analysis'and explanation, and his report accepted at tlie meeting, andapproved> 'afterwards ' by; the auditor.'' The > .miiiutes. published /in .the PostY arc. the minutes of / tho : only. special 'meeting held, and it was only confidential "to tho extent '.that; no reporters happened .to '.lie thero. As, for his ' reference • to ' Madam? A'rrail, . she .'.actually' paid us' £159'. at 'tlie average rate, of..about £16 p.er night, and slip . in ~some .cases, on ; account'.,;o"f bad weathor, did not -take tho. fee,, and. concessions were her, amounting to'about. £36. If she had .'been/'morb 'pf n business woman she : would have ' been' able at the outset'to, make better terms, and we would bo glad to receive a repetition of the fees, at tho same rate and at the'same amount', at any time. Every member of the" Council except Mr.''Fishor: was satisfied." Tlie only defalcation was under £200. Mr. Fisher, hiiiiself _ proposed it should be .settled by the receipt of tho' money.' This proposal' was earned, and the money was received.'; ~' " MR. HISLOP AND 1 THE ." POST."" ' (To THE . EDITOE.) ' Sir,—The. following letter was sent jo tho "Evening " Post" on. April' 26.'vSo, far that journal has not seen fit' to:.puljlish' it.,"'Tho delay ; is not mine.—R. M'Kenzie.'. •.., ..' •Sir,-J hope the citizens of Wellington will estimate at .their true valjie the action of tho Mayor (Mi-. ;Hislo'p). in trying-to drag the tramway, employees'. at his' cart tail.' One woiild have .thought.that as Mr.. Hislop had soeiv, the' iniquity of Govenimcnt' servantspractically controlling public meetings in this' city, ho would have hesitated before doing anything that would tend to bring,this rotten system into our municipal politics.' I have a very vivid recollection of a public meeting ' ir\ the Skating Rink, addressed by Messrs. Hislop, J. Hutcheson, and A. R. Atkinson, and presided' over by Mr. J. Duthio at which it was impossible to understand a sentenco sriokon' till. 10 p.m., wh.en the rabble'left to "catch tho last train for. Petono. Are we to have this in our municipal politics? Now, Mr. Hislop says he know nothing of the resolution of tho tramway employees, and was only asked to address a 1 meeting of tramway men on municipal' matters. The tramway men have plenty of opportunity to hear Mr Hislop, as supposing they are on duty at night one week, they are off'the next week; and this contest has lasted, more than a week. Furtho'r, will it be denied that , a chairman of Mr. Hislop's committee attended and advised a previous meeting of tire Tramway Union, about being addressed by Mr. Hislop? If necessary I am .prepared to be nioro explicit. Tho most regrettable feature of the whole oontomptible business is the strango action adopted by the "Evening Post," a ixiper th.it , could not find language strong enough to denounce these tactics, when adopted, by a far mightier man than .Mr. Hislop, and 'which now contents itself bvsaying "his action was indiscreet." I say it was, indiscreet, and,, further, it was an unwarrantable attempt to influenoe the votes of the city employees, at a very important juncture when tho claims of tho Union were, practically in. the hands of tho Mayor.' No one will deny the right and duty of the City Council to. moto' out' fair and just treatment, to their cmplovoes, but let it not be done at the' prico of their manhood. Mr. Hislop also blames Mr.. Aitkon for tho loss of Miramar. What did: Mr. Hislop do to try and savo it for tho ,city? During tho time of the negotiations, ni public meetinc .was held in the Exchange' Hall, called bv the now .defunct Baietwyors' .Wcio.ticn. at which '.•'.ltf'writ'v -.-•*'*■?:•■!; I, and.-ttonmlod. to -rove an amendment to. the motion of protect, but

was ruled down by the chairman (by tho way, now chairman of one of Mr. Hislop's committees). Why did Mr. Hislop not attend that meeting, and put his energy into trying to save Miramar for the oity? Perhaps ho was not a candidate for Mayor then!—l am, etc., • . ROBT. M'KENZIE. MH. HISLGP, MR. AITKEN, AND MR. BELL,. (To the Editor'.) • ■ t S £'~jj? reading tho long catalogue of Mr. J. U. ». Aitken'.s grievous mistakes furnished by Mr. Hislop to the -world, through his meeting in the Tojvn Hall last night, I was filled with wondor and amazement. I had just' previously been reading in a back number of tho " Evening Post " for Aj- il 1906 " That. a_very influential deputation! headed by Mr. H. D. Bell, had waited on the lion. i. W. Hislop and requested him to S £ Jl4 as ** 1 candidate for the exalted position j if or tr of i** 10 The strong point mado by tho deputation, and heartily agreed b , y , Mr -„ Hlslo P, was that ho (Mr. Hislop) would walk closely in tho.footsteps of tho retiring Mayor, Mr. Aitken. And now what a cliango has como over the scene. All that long list of sad mistakes must havo been well known to Mr. H. D. Bell, tho deputaI tion, and to Mr. Hislop before the pledge was given to " walk , in Mr. Aitken's foot- ?, V s '. _ This pledge was fully approved by the. Evening Post.".—l am, etc., , „ CONSISTENCY. April 28,. 1908.' \ THAT SMILE I (To the Editor.); " Up to the'present ,we have regarded . General Hislop as the superior campaigner. His forces have been marshalled with care, and. he has. carried, on the" fight with fearlessness and elan—nat missing the opportunity to smilo wherever !:e could see a head."—"New Zealand Times." . •' 1 'Tis the Yellow Journal's seen it—you and • I mislit never glean it— x But his friend of course must mean it — says it's there just all the while; - Just n, suaro for civic, creatures, lacking diplomatic teachers, • This contortion of the features in the true election smile. Is; it nlaiiitivc? Is it scornful, or, perhaps, ■ a trifle mournful, - Heralding, may be, a dawn' full of what's known as "falling, in"? - Is it.,fixed, or quite elastic; ,or the-smile ■' you'd call sarcastic.. On ,the Mayor's features plastic; .this elec : ■ tioneering grin?- '■ V . You can see 1 it-' as lib motors through the crowds of city voters, ■ . As-he scans the - tramway rotas,' as the ; " Post"-he gathers : iii; . It is said to be extensive, and, perlians, a bit expensive,'- • . . And it's very comprehensive,;'that - ' electioneering grin!: . .■; ...... You' can feel it quite a. mile off, for he's _ never got ..that smilq off,• It is one you couldn't file off, for he reckons . he'll go "in. , : It's a smils prdpitiatin'g, and;may. bo. con- .. ciliating, ." ' - For. the thoughtless voter waiting.;.* it's tho 'old election grin! .. ,' ; ..' And he • \vesrs . it' e'en in slumber, for he S dreams a countless number The polling booths ■ encumber with votes to put him in, '• .. . - Mm-ed by unions; or ".The Traffic," or a woman's voioj soraphic,'• • ' Ne'er before was dreairi " more graphic! Hence this old election grin ! But, one cannot lielu'but'wonder, when the veil is torn asunder,. .' .» Arid the cheers. resound' like' thunder, when '/it's Aitken they've'put'in,,/ What sort of gravo depression will find - facial expression, While the languaco needs compression; and Oh! where will be that grin? I am, etc.,—H. B. B. April 27, 1908. , . . -i

MR. W. 7. YOUNG ACAIN. : (To the a Editokj)' , 3iri—As you have : beeri.somewhat generous l in giving verbatim publication j to my letters, will you kindly grant mo/a little further in-, dulgoncb'in my efforts to sum up the position in respect to our limited controversy, which may, be accepted as my reply to the comments contained in your editorial foot-note-to- my letter published in your issue of to-day, i.e.— - ' . •• (1.) At the. outset you alleged, not .'in so many words, but by distinct and unmistakable inferences,' that the Tramways Union had resolved; to support. Mr. Hislop for ■ the extremely narrow reason, that lie'-would .concede the wliole of the demands''of the Union. My answer- to that.'was' that the'representatives of tho : Union had been'- ih "conference with the''electrical engineer :and the assistant electrical engineer oil the demands,'; that Mr. Hislop' knew'' nothing whatever' about the conclusions -arrived.'at-';, that' $t the; timehe./addressed the/tra.mways ; employees. tlie question of wages, overtime', and 'other material parts of:.the demands hadv.bepu settled, .and iil the' settlement iio increase in wages* or overtime worth.mentioiiiiig Had-been granted, and that so;far asV'the'!motbrmen' and conductors wore'.concerned their, wages and overtime were loft."idejitically 'the - same 'as ■ -they-were .'to'.' the .demands: being' submitted' to the Council:' You also ■ asserted by. clear inferences,' emanating froni' your quotations of . the' "Evening; Post'? :and Mr. Hislop respecting tho. acquisition of . the gasworks, and especially from those •emahatiii" from tho la.st paragraph': of-'tho article deak mg. with the subject, ' that .tho\public should vote for -Mr. Aitken,;if they- did' not dosirb to peo:tho City despoiled by.'ari excessive'increase., in. the .pay: of. the .tramways', employees, My- answer to that is-that as- our conferences with the engineer l - and' his assistant have concluded, and the whole of the demands have been dealt' with,-'.and no 'material; alterations;have,been-made in ,the• working conditions of, the. employees, ■ tho • public will, from your : own point' of -'argument;'- be perfectly -safe in • yo.ting' for. Mr. Hislop". instead of Mr; Aitken. ' (2.). In the course of tho-Mayoral campaign you haye -taken Mr;'Hislop to'task for-al-kgodly taking,'personal credit for tlio works carried out by' the. .Council,' and you have told the public .that if there is any credit attaching to these- undertakings it must be conceded to the-Council .as a whole,'for tho reason' that- tho -Mayor has no power- to act without' the' sanction - of',tho:Council.- :My' answer to'that is—i.e., if that'argument hold's good on the referred to■ .undertakings (and I think it does), it equally holijs good in rospectto tho demands of tho Tramways Union, and,' in proof, of that,. the' agreement arrived at between tho Union and the Tramways Committee' in 1905 (when Mr. Hislop- was Mayor) had to bo submitted to a full mce-t- : ing of the City Council for ratification,, therefore, again, on your own showing the public will; bo perfectly safe in. voting 'lor Mr. Hislop.: , . '. (3.) You further asserted that the demands of the Union had been submitted to the Council at tho juncture of tho Mayoral election • my answer to that wis that the demands wero forwarded to tho Council on November 19 last. Notwithstanding that'caiidid state-* nient, you are still in doubt on tho point; my answer 'to your doubt is' that, the letter from tho Town Clerk,- acknowledging tho receipt of those demands, is dated November 22, and thero is a further letter from tho same gentleman, dealing with tho same subject, dated December-12. . " (4.) You state that you were under the impression that the' tramways employees had blundered in igiiornnco in '-permitting Air Hislop to address them, and ycu express "tho opinion that the Union , did not recoo-niso tho full effcct of its action ; my answer to that is that tho tramways employees wore fully intelligent to tho circumstances surrounding the position, seeing that, .owing; to -the nature of thoir occupation, it is almost impossibles for tho large, majority'of .-.thorn to attend a meeting at night, hence the Union meetings*being held on .tho first Sunday in each month, and had Mr. Aitken,' or his committee, made a request to oddress our, members a similar opportunity^would have been afforded.him. (5.) You further assort that the meeting addressed , by Mr. Hislop was of a private character ; my answer to that'is that tho doors of the mooting room woro wido open and tho entrance of any person during the time tho- address was being delivered would not ha'vo boon .oUjrct«d to." '.0. -'Voji'.hw ep'-'"9.voured'to'make capital out of the fact-that the first order of

business on tho notice convening the meeting was the report of the Union Executive on the demands of the Union; my answer to that is that tho first order of business was susponded in order that Mr. Hislop might address the meeting before" any other * business was dealt with; and it is a common practice for order papers to bo altered at the. meeting, which' is. done, times out'of number by tho Legislature, and corporate botlies, ■ according to circumstances. (7.) You have also endeavoured to make capital out of the paragraph on the notice convening the meeting—i.e., the election of a Mayor affects the vital interests of ever; man in the tramways service. The answol to that is that tho election of a Mayor: affects the vital interests of every person. in ■ the Municipality, but as the notice was merely a notice issued by ; the Union, it was essentia! to limit that reference to the tramways employees. • ' (8, and conclusion.) On your .own'showing 1 you are in possession of a document that., is the property, of the Tramways Union, seeing that the seal'of the' Union, which you state is, attached to the document you ' possess, is kept in my office, and can only be used by myself; in view of that lam prepared 1 to leave it to tho intelligence of the publio to iudgo as to which is the most reprehensible tactic—i.e., heing in possession of property that don't belong to'you, or making an alleged misstatement. If .any of your staff,' or yourself, consider the aforesaid a slander, you will find me at number 5 Panama Street, fairly amiable, and always ready to receive documents.—l am,.etc., t W.T. young; ' (Secretary, Tramways Employees' Union.) April 28, 1908. _ [Mr. Young's long letter is mainly a reiteration of previous statements already contradicted by us. We have given so much of our space to Mr. Young and tho affairs of his Union in order to enable him to make the best he can of the deplorable positions into which the Union has drifted; that wo had >■ hoped to bo spared any further lengthy effusions. We ( have .tho weakness of tho Tramways Union s position/'and the in- ' accuracy of Mr. Young's assertions so ofton and so emphatically during the past few days' that wo must decline to waste any further t-imo upon him.] Tho municipal offices will be closed to-day ' on account of the Mayoral election. Mr. Hislop's Central Committee Room is. at Lundon and 'Brooks,,' 4' Peatherston Street.. . !■', ■ . /.., . ADDRESS BY MR. CRAWFORD. Mr. C., J. Crawford, the present' Mayor 'of Miramar, addressed'the-electors at'Wyatt's Rooms, Worser Bay, last night.; Tlje room was ' crowded. Mr. Cooper occupied the chair. ,The>candidate.showed.,-the,audience an original plan of Seatoun, and rebutted various statements made "by his opponent l as to reserves in' that district.' Mr. Craw. • ford' further dealt' with statements which had been made that more municipal- money had been, spent in Miramar South than had been authorised. Ho pointed out that' these ' assertions had been made because certain ratepayers had "not'' realised the-large amount of money which had been spent by him privately in Miramar South during the last year. So far as municipal money- wag concerned, not one penny had or; was being spent which was' not iu accordance with'the estimates read out to . ..them -some months, ago in public meeting, and voted-upon by them in connection with the road improve' merits loan.. As a matter of fact, the pro-' posed oxpendituro under that'loan at Miramar South was not nearly so great per chain' . of - roadway as. at Miramar North. The' speaker dealt at 7 length with a 'petition/ which had been received by him that evening from 84 Karaka Bay residents, asking' that-the Miramar North tramline should be extended eastwards; via Karaka Road, to Karaka .Bay, .in the vicinity of."the wharf. Ho' pointed out'that tho residents of Karaka r Bay had ,-been . admittedly badly treated so ' far, and ■'that"' the \scheme submitted seemed . to him way feasible; that it not only would; give what , the Karaka Bay residents required... but; it. would also give to r the Miramar .North line a ' satisfactory ter-" . minus,, which it had'not got, at' present. If elected, he i would exert his influence to.get estiniates 'of cost made, and have the scheme .submitted for the sanction of the ratepayers. MrV Crawford was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks ,and confidence.

■ . (BY TELEOEArir.—PHESS ASSOCIATION.) ~ Palmorston Northj April 28. There is ' considerable. interest , iu- tho con . ■ test •' between' the three candidates for tlia. Mayoralty,' tho polling for which takes .place,, to-morrow. Feeling is very'high, and it' ia ' antibipated that''the'voting-will'be considerably ;• in advance 'of anything- - previously, polled .at a local: Mayoral election;'.. Councillor Nash - closed his campaign last evonins* with a; most enthusiastic 1 meeting' at the Opera ■ House, where there- was tho largest attendance.' ever ,'seen' in the building.'- : ■