HUTT MAYORALTY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 67, 20 March 1907, Page 2

HUTT MAYORALTY.

COUNCILLOR CLERE'S OPENING ADDRESS. The Mayoralty election campaign at the Lower Hutt was commenced last night by Councillor Clere, who addressd a well-attended meeting in the Oddfellows' Hall. Mr, T. W. M'Donald presided. . «- The- candidate gave. ; a reGtune of_ the Work done by the council during the" past' two years, referring, among other things, to the appointment of an engineer, the raising of the £&2,000 lohn for drainage and waterworks, " the starting of that scheme, and the 1 l-ai^ing of the men's wages. Tho duty of the new Mayor and council, he said, would be to see that the important scheme now being carried out was successfully completed in sections as already provided for. So far as he could see there -would bo no need to increase the rates, but the new assessment would necessitate a, re-adjust- x ment of the details of the rating. After referring in genera! ter»s to, several other matters, and . requesting those' who" supposed him to fight fairly, so- that they would have nothing to reproach themselves 'with after the poll, the candidate answered a number of questions. Dealing with the fiubject of the amalgamation of the Hutt and Petone, Mr. Clere said that if it were a love match he would do all he could to further it, but he did not think it was, and In those circumstances.' he considered it advisable to wait until there was a more pronounced inclination on both sidce. He feared there was little prospect for some time of a traffic bridge being built over the Western Hutt part of the river as the County Council had declined to assist, but he supported the construction 'of a footbridge) " ' Questioned concerning improved means of traffic, Councillor Clere said he was strongly averse to th 6 borough hampering itself to get an electric system, but ho thought that when the draihage and water pipes were all laid and the roads put in thoroughly good order, it might be expedient to get an improved system of omnibuses — probably motors. This might be done municipally or by private enterprise. Such motors were in their experimental stage to a great extent, but they might iv a very short ."time be found available for the Hutt. He did not see the justice of Petone taking a slice out of the Hutt without, any reciprocal arrangement of any kind. A' vote of thanks was carried, on the motion of Councillor J. Ward, seconded by Mr. T. A. Peterkin, the only other candidate for the 6eat announced so far. In proposing the ' customary compliment to the chairman, Councillor Clere eulosrised Mr. M'Donald's past services to tho borough.