EASTBOURNE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1912, Page 2

EASTBOURNE.

MR. HOBBS'S CANDIDATURE. | Mr. W. Hobbs, a candidate for th: Eastbourne Mayoralty, addressed a meeting in the Eastbourne Hall last night. He said it must be patent to all electors that a continuous administration was not in the best interests of the district. The infusion of new blood with new ideas would ba a benefit, and act as a stimulus \o the council. He would favour working on a general plan, looking to the future all the time. To do that to advantage they must have the best • engineering skill applied in any work undertaken, and. lie thought that small boroughs near 'the capital city should have the benefit of the city- engineering staff at a nominal cost. As to the ferry jser vice, he askedoif • Mr. Shortt 1 still claimed credit for' everything' the Ferry Company did? If so, 'what about increased fares ? - . Passengers and resi- . dents of Eastbourne were now paying an increase of about £750 a year for tv "slightly improved service. An increase to casual passengers would not be folt so much, but to overtax the pioneers of the district and permanent residents was a suicidal' policy .\.\yhen the Ferry Company offered, the three- besb vessels of its fleeti to tho council for £20,000, if he had been Mayor he ..shoul.d have called a meeting of ratepayers and residents, and if not them, at least when the company .imposed tho increase of 20 per cent, to 30 per cent in fares, .without altering tho fares ou the Seatoun run.' That would have brought forward some very definite resolutions, which would have helped to adjust matters, and resulted, in a better understanding. What had been vhe effect? More people j were leaving the place than usual at ! this time of the year. The formation of a Ratepayers' Association 1 , he went on 'j to say, was, to his mind, as good as an admission that the council and its Mayor required an initiative body to lead it. As to the ferry fares he would certainly do his best to bring about a change in the present state of affairs, though he could not say how at prosent. It might pay to municipalise thu service. They could then strike a small rate to cover a possible loss for the "first year ot two (and he was not sure ther* would be a loss) and make the place more popular by concessions to regular travellers. He'did not consider that "the people asked for a 10.15 boat every week night- Three late boats, per 'week would suffice, but an extra boat from, the Bay at about 9.15 a.m. would meet with great approval, during the summer especially. He submitted that the present Mayor had on more than one occasion failed to correctly, read the barometer of public opinion, and to act promptly with full authority of the council at critical times. The Mayor did not seem to have taken the council fully into his confidence. He would pledge himself .to attend to the question of water, and was in favour of the Gollan's Valley scheme. • There" were many electors looking for a change and he could claim to have had fair experience of matters municipal, and if returned he was sure the electors would not be disappointed.