MR. WILFORD AT ISLAND BAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 6

MR. WILFORD AT ISLAND BAY.

THE DOCK. Mr.T M. Wi.lford, M.P., continuing his Mayoral campaign, addressed a meeting of about forty persons in.the Island Bay bchoolroom last night. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh presided. '■ ' • ; The candidate, referring to the address delivered-by Mr. Crawford on the previous evening, said he would pass over without I notice his. opponent's personal remarks. It he were inserting his address in the newspapers he would.like to put in the largest possible type the words, "I-am in this contest for the city alono." He had been blamed for the' position that had arisen in regard to the dock ( but he declined to take any responsibility for the construction of the dock or for the fact that the'■ concrete" had failed 'to set. In support, of this attitude,, Mr.. Wilford read a letter from Mr. It. Fletcher, chairman of the Harbour Board, stating that the dock contract was signed in. Fobruary, 1907,' and' that he (Mr. Wilford) became chairman of the bbard in February, 1908: and .further that the 'difficulty m connection with the 'concrete was caused by the inability of the contractors, so far, to obtain sound and satisfactory results in regard to the setting of the concrete, for which, of course, Mr. Wilford was in no W! >y responsible. Continuing, Mr. Wilford said that anyone who said they could stop the dock knew nothing of the subject. He would ask such an one: How many thousands of pounds would have to be paid City Council under the Granger Street endowment? How much would have to be paid in compensation to Granger Street-owners? How many, claims could bo lodged by tenants of the Granger Street block? How were the streets, jvhich were altered under the authontjr of the' Act of Parliament for making the dock, to be restored to their original condition?- How many hundreds ot thousands of pounds would the Harbour Board be liable for-if it put an end to the dock now? Another Harbour Board matter that had been referred to in tb's contest was the.recent increase,in the port charges. This ; was caused by the drop in imports, ■ which had reduced the income of the board.' When ,ho was chairman, he realised this, and the board reduced its -expenditure by -" .0M- t Tho revenue fell by ,£ll,lOO odd. JVot one new work was undertaken during his chairmanship, and the , increased charges were to -pay interest on money to he raised some time this year for commitment sentered into long before fore he assumed the chairmanship of the board. '

His opponent had advocated the sale of certain, city properties to pay off certain loans. He objected to this; if anybody was to have the unearned increment; it should be the city. He believed in municipal markets,. and ho thought the council ought to municipalise the gas supply, but tthis could not be carried out during the coming year. He would still say (in spite of .his opponent's statement) that there ,was no • sirikin" fund for the horse 'tramways' loan, though there were assets against it in the shape of cash.and a piece of , land in Adelaide Road, which was not at present earning anything. After dealing with other subjects on the lines of his previous addresses, Mr. Wilford remarked that it had been said by. a certain newspaper that he had "got up his brief." He took that

as a compliment; it meant that ho had mastered the details of his subject. A vote of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr. P. J. O'Regan, and carried unanimously.

Mr. Hindmarsh asked our representative to state that he only presided at Mr Wilford's meeting becanse ho was asked to do so. and that, being a member of the City Council, he docs not think it right to identify himself with the candidature of either of the aspirants for the Mayoral chair..

Mr. H. E. Richards, who was a member of the Ifiramar Borough Conncil.for some time, announces in this issue his intention to contest tho seat vacated on the council by Mr. John Brodio.

Tho Mayor of Eastbourne will address the electors in MacGuire's Hall on Saturday at 8 p.m., and on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20, before noon, is the time for ■ receiving nominations for the City Mayoralty. The official notice by Mr. J. Ames, returning officer, appears in another column.

Mr. Crawford will address a meeting at the Northland Methodist schoolroom at 8 o'clock this evening. Hβ will speak.at Island Bay next Monday, and at Willis Street Schoolroom next Tuesday.

A meeting of Mr. Crawford's Combine (men's) Committees will be held at Messrs. Thomson and Brown's Auction Rooms, Customhouse Quay, to-morrow, at 8 o'clock.

A meeting of Mr. Crawford's Combine (ladies') Committees will be held at Boulcott Chambers, Boulcott Street, to-morrow at 8 o'clock.