THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. TE ARO WARD.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1876, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. TE ARO WARD.

Mr. E. T. Gillon advertised that he would address the ratepayers of" Te Aro Ward at eight o'clock yesterday evening, at the Foresters' Arms Hotel, Ghuznee-street. It was considerably past that hour before there were any persons present in the room in which the meeting was appointed to.be held, and at no time did the attendance exceed a score. Mr. Charles Taylor, at the request of those present, took the chair. Mr. Gillon began by stating that it was principally with the view of giving an account of his work in the Council during the past eighteen months, that he had convened the meeting — that had he not become a candidate, he would have felt it his duty to call the ratepayers together, and to have shown how he had endeavored to fulfil his pledges. Two months ago he had said that he was not to stand for re-election, and he was perfectly sincere in saying so. He thought that by giving the ratepayers such notice of his intentions of retiring, they would find some person to replace him. When urged to offer himself again, he at first threw cold water on the proposal, but when a numerously signed requisition was presented to him, he consented to offer himself for re-election — that was to say that, if the ratepayers chose to elect him, he was willing to give his services. He had not time to fight a contested election, neither had he money to squander in such an effort ; his circumstances were not such as to enable him to do so. He should have very much preferred to have been left alone, and not have been urged to come forward. However, having done so, he would not like to be beaten. As to the past, he challenged anyone to say that he had not fulfilled, or endeavored to fulfil, to the very letter, all the pledges that he had made. Of course he had not succeeded in all, but he had done so in many more cases than he hoped. His purpose in going into the Council was to break up what he believed to be injurious to the interests of the city at large, and he detailed what he had done in the direction of dividing Te Aro Ward, and placing its representation on a footing equal with other wards. Another subject to which he had given attention, though he was twitted with neglecting it, was retrenchment. On several occasions, he had fought hard for it, but had received very indifferent support. Subsequently, a proposal was made to increase the salary of one of the officers, but he favored a general increase, and proposed that from one of the officers, who had not done satisfactory duty, they should expect duty equivalent to his improved salary. Other matters which he had promoted, or endeavored to promote, were increased wharf accommodation, improved drainage, the half-yearly payment of rates, the removal of complaints as to the mode of assessment, and the reduction of the general rate by 15 per cent — a reduction effected without any stoppage of works, of which To Aro Ward had had its full share. One of the first reforms he had effected was the establishment of a Public Works Committee, which had led to the saving of many hundreds of pouuds, and to a material increase in the amount of work done. He denied the accusation that he had favored Thorndon Ward ; though not a ratepayer in Te Aro, the ward had not suffered. In illustration of the work imposed upon a member of the Council, he stated that he had attended 57 meetings of Council, and 93 of committee, the meetings averaging an hour and a half. This was a severe drag upon him, and often very inconvenient, but, except when once in the country, he had never been absent from a meeting, and on that occasion there had only been formal business. He referred to the interest he had taken in the reduction of water rates, the rating of absentee owners, and the utilisation of the Market Reserve. He had been accused of perpetrating a job with the Gas Company, in association with all the Councillors, but the Mayor and Mr. Cleland, but he would be a fool — and he did not think he was quite that — to attempt such a thing on the eve of his going out of office, and when standing for re-election. Was it possible that he could go before the electors perpetrating a job 1 He had voted as he considered best for the interests of the city at large. It was an accepted maxim, with reference to gas and water supply, that it should be under public control, and in this case he had come to consider that the bargain was a very advantageous one. To start another company would simply involve the waste of local capital, without any chance of an adequate return ; it would be a ruinous competition among themselves, and would result ultimately in one company buying the other out, and establishing a greater monopoly than ever. Moreover, it would be two years before works could be started, and they would require a private bill, which would be strongly opposed in the Legislature, where the Wellington Gas Company has great influence. He placed no reliance on the estimate of the cost of new works, and even if it were correct, it would be sinking money on an object which could be better attained by extending the present works. He would, however, be the last to force any purchase of the works against the deliberate will of the ratepayers. He contiuued by referring to the consolidation of the loans as a beneficial arrangement, and concluded by saying that on the last occasion he did not ask a single ratepayer for his vote, and would not do so now. If they preferred Mr. Moeller, for whom he had the greatest respect, but who was being made a tool of by those who had personal animosity against him (Mr. Gillon). by all means let them elect Mr. Moeller. He believed Mr. Moeller would behave in a gentlemanlike way, whatever his supporters might do. He did not expect it from them, who were actuated merely by trade jealousy. If he had not served them well, for Heaven's sake let him go out and he would be quite contented — quite happy. A few questions were then put, and some speeches made, by ratepayers or others present. In reply to one question, Mr. Gillon said he had very strongly opposed the election of Mr. Hutchison as Mayor, but he felt bound to say that a better Mayor than Mr. Hutchison Wellington never had. The attention he gave to his duties was creditable to him aud advantageous to the city, and even when he (the speaker) differed from the Mayor he had the highest respect for him. He had not treated him with the greatest hostility ; privately they were friends; and he was sorry that he had opposed Mr. Hutchison's election. In reply to another question, he said he was not satisfied with the manner in which Mr. Marchant discharged his duties. He had voted for an increase of his salary, but the result had not been satisfactory. Mr. Lyon, as a ratepayer in Te Aro, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Gillon for the manner in which he had given an account of the discharge of his duties. He was not going to propose a vote of confidence, but of thanks. Mr. Wallace, in seconding the motion, said he would like the motion to be one of confidence. Mr. Lyon replied that a vote of confidence meant nothing, and it would be unfair to Mr. Gillon to pass it. Mr. Hunt

proposed " a vote of thanks to Mr. Gillon for his address to the ratepayers this evening, but not for the manner in which he had performed his duties in the City Council." There was no seconder, and on Mr. Lyon's motion bein^ put, it was, with Mr. Hunt's assent, agreed to. As put and passed, the motion was— "That the thanks of this meeting are due to Mr. Gillon for his address, delivered in explanation of his past conduct in the City Council as a representative of Te Aro Ward."