PETONE MAYORALTY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 77, 30 March 1912, Page 9

PETONE MAYORALTY.

THE CAMPAIGN OPENED. MR. J. PIPER'S INITIAL ADDRESS. Mr. Joseph. Piper, a candidate for the Petone Mayoralty, gave hk initial address before about one hundred electprs at St. Augustine's Hall last evening. Mr. D. Keir presided. In briefly introducing the candidate, the Chairman said that Mr. Piper had been a resident of Petone for close on a quarter of a century, and during that time, he had been closely connected with municipal politics. "If you see fit to elect Mr. Piper," said the Chairman, "I don't think you' will regret it. I am confident he will carry the responsibilities of the high office with credit to himself and to others." (Applause.) "My duty to-night," said Mr. Piper in opening, "is to establish my claim for your suffrages." Ever since ho had been in Petone, continued the speaker, he had been in close touch with municipal politics, and he had a thorough knowledge of municipal affairs and management. Ho had been elected to .the council for five years — each year with an increasing majority— and he trusted that his services during that time had not been a disappointment to those who had voted for him. Before he entered the council, however, ho had done a great deal for the good of the people, and had beep prominent m forming many institutions which had been valuable from an oducational and social noint of view. He startecT the first amatour dramatic club in the valley, and was chosen as its secretary ; liv helped to form the first cycle club, the first rowing club, and the find cricket club, lie had also been prominently connected with Rugby. .Outside this, he had assisted in the formation of a fire brigade tome year* ago, and that brigade had done a great deal ofyood. as all knew. On Iho council htt had given careful consideration to all public questions, and had taken a fair share in administration. Mr. Piper went on to refer to the many progressive measures h» had suggested during his term of office, many of which, he was scary to cay. had not been adopted. In the words of the present Mayc>-, a spirit of pettishness and anti-pfogress had arisen. "But if I get into tho Mayoral chair," he said, '■'I can promise you that all questions will receive a fair and absolutely impartial hearing, no matter from whom they emanate." He complained that tho council had not this year taken all the means in ; tn power to induce electors to enrol, by advertising the fact that the roll wa* open for inspection and now names would be received. Ho would do his best to see that this was done in future. Thd question had been asked : "What would happen 'to tho officers and nervants of the council if he were elected ?" It would wholly depend upon themselves. If they \yere giving satisfaction, and doing their work thoroughly and with civility, they would not be interfered with. Referring to the proposed sewage drainage scheme, Mr. Piper said : "I ani mot so much opposed to this scheme as my opponents like, to make out." He did not intend to' say much about the matter that evening, as the Mayor had promised to explain the proposal fully. Ho objected to what bo termed tho humbug way in which the proposals had so far been put before the public. There were many things not yet mentioned which would have to bo taken into consideration, and the oost of sanitation would be increased, nc-t decreased. It was not fair to put statements forward which would not bear investigation. If the scheme was ever brought about, and he was elected Mayor, he would take the necessary oteps to allow the ratepayers to decide whether the rates should be computed on the basis of capital value or unimproved value. The latter was by tar the fairest and most equitable. Mr. Piper dealt retrospectively with- several other local matters, and at the conclusion answered a number of questions. Ho promised to deal more fully with his policy on a future occasion.