MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES

Evening Star, Issue 14548, 24 April 1911, Page 3

MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES

WHO'S WHO? AND WHAT ARE HIS CLAIMS? The article begun on Saturday is herewith brought to a conclusion with a few outline particulars concerning other candidates for seats in the City Council: HIGH WARD. Mr Charles Ernest Statham, oldest son of. Mr C. H. Statham, was born in Dun«din and educated at the High School. Ijo had the benefit of several .years of tammercial life, and was trained as an accountant in his father's office Then he studied tho law, and has been for some years in practice as a lwrristor. His closo association with various athletic bodies is •well known, ho having been, amongst other things, treasurer of the l'irates Football Club; also for many years an active member of tho Otago Rowing Club, of which ho has held the oflices ot committeeman, treasurer, and captain respectively. He has also for some- years held a seat on the Otago Rowing Association, tho governing body of aquatics in the province. Mr John M'DonaUl, master tailor, now a commission agent, was born in Auckland, has been in New Zealand all his life. and resideil in Dunedin for twenty years. His iirst election was lor Leith Ward in 1901, and he held the seat till 1905. when he retired owing to ill health, but was returned for High Ward in 1907. became mayor in 1908, and won the bye-election for' High Ward when Cr Barr resigned. He has served on practically all the committees, and was chairman of the Gas Committee two years. He originated the proposal to straighten the Leith ; he led the opposition to the trains going through the Gardens ; he took so much interest in the For bury Park purchase proposal as to go to Wellington to try to get the Minister of Defence to give a subsidy of £l5O a year; he formulated the gasworks policy: he took a hand in getting the Waipori tunnel authorised; he negotiated the £206,000 loan for municipal works: he advocated the reduction of tram fares; and a leading plank in his policy when he stood for the mayoralty v.a.s to fix 8s a day as the minimum wage for Corporation employees, with the result that the tramway men got a rise and all other tram systems in New Zealand had to follow suit. He has held olliee in and worked hard for the Otago Cycling Club, the Grange Cricket Club, the Alhambra Foolball Club, and other clean-sporting bodies. and is now senior vice-president of the Caledonian Society. Mr D. M'l'herson came from Scotland twenty-seven years ago. and is in the linn of M'l'herson, Kemp, and Co.. importers and agents. He became a councillor two years ago, and has served on the Works, the General, and the much-criticised this Committee. '"Most of my work has been in the committees." he says; '" 1 didn't go there to talk." This fairly describes the candidate municipally. Apart from the Council. Mr M'l'herson is known by a lot of public service. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce for two years; three years president of the Commercial Travellers' Association, and on the Committee for twenty-five years; has been chief of the Gaelic Society ever since the death of Sir John M'Kenzie ; is a past president and director of the Caledonian Society; also a past president of the Burns Club; also a vice-president of the Dunedin Liedertafel: ami is now in his third year as president of the Orphans' Musical Club. Mr MT'hcrson's career as a Mason has led him to office in Lodge Celtic. Mr J. S. Sincla'r is a solicitor in practice, and son of the Hon. J. R. Snclair. So far he has had no experience of public life, hut his career has titled him for Pitch work to a large extent, in that iio has intereste 1 himself in manly pastimes and the manage nent of tenuis tournaments, and at the same lime mastered tie; business of his profession. It may also be taken as projf of business capacity that Mr Sinclair undertook a huge share of th° responsibility of the recent "Gondoliers' production, which proved a huge financial success. LEITH WATM). Mr J. Small, who has resided here for close on forty years, is a retired contractor. He gave up business six years ago. and went into public life in order, as he himself says, to givp his mind some occupation He took a seat on the Drainage Board, and at once became chairman «.f the Works Committee, a position he still holds At ihe same time he went into the City Council as a representative of Leith AVard. and held the post of chairman of the Finance Committee for two years _ He did not stand at the last municipal election, but is now readv for another term. His strong point is finance. end he knows all about works. _ .Air H. B. Courtis is son of a mayor of Talbot (Victoria) and cousin of a lord mayor of Cardiff, but he rests his claims to the suffrages of the citizens on his personal acquaintance with municipal atlairs as gained during his thirteen veais' experience as gas engineer in Dunedin. Whilst he held that position the price of,gas was reduced from 7s 6d to ss. and the consumption increased from 65 millions of cubic feet per annum to 129 millions. He is a past master in the Freemasons. was a director of the Caledonian Socetv for years and superintendent of i!,e sports'. and has held office in the Dunedin Amateur Athletic Club and Dunedin Cricket Club.

Mr H. H. 8. White was Lorn at Milton in 1869, mid followed his father's calling of a gardener till eighteen. His father lnadegreat sacrifices to educate hK children, and \V* subject of this notice (eels vevv grate fi.l. He came to Dunedin in 1886? and started clerking for Albert Dormvell, butcher, in (leoige street. At that time tic Butchers' Union wcs formed, and .Mi White, took a, land in bringing about eailv closing. The- butchers made him secretary of their union. After leaving the butchery trade Mr White was engaged bv William Wright and Co.. bakers, "as accountant That, was in 1890. On the death of Mr Wright the accountant was appointed manager, a position he still holds. In 1007 h-> entered the City Council as one of the choice of tho Ratepayers' Association, and has held the seat ever since. lie has served on six committees, ami is chairman of the Oas Committee. Mr White is a strong supporter of all athletic sports, and a vice-president of tho Otago Hug by Union. .Mr J. J. Clark is an Otago man, having been born at Palmerston in 1870. Ilk father was the llev. James Clark, one of the pioneer ministers. To the rev. gentleman's memory his sons endowed several bursaries and scholarships in connection with tho Otago University and Theological College. Mr Clark studied for the law, and spent several years in Dr Findlay's office, but a severe, and lengthened illness laid him aside, and the doctors then ordered him to relinquish his studies. Eighteen years ago lie came to Dunedin and engaged in the operations of a huge commercial and manufacturing firm. In 1905 he retired from active business, and has 6ince devoted much of his timo to public affairs. He was returned for Lcith Ward at the last election, polling a record number of votes for the (Sty. He is chairman of tho Library Committee. Mr Clark is also a member of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Committee, chairman of the Benevolent Advisory Committee, president of the Otago Cricket Association, and is connected with a great many athletic bodies and philanthropic societies. Mr R. 15. Douglas is a natrvo of Dunedin, was educated at tho Albany Street School, and is a son of Mr J. S. Douglas, of thia City. He. is proprietor of the tailoring firm of Douglas Bros., Frederick street, and has Tesided in the north end all his life. Ho unsuccessfully contested the Dunedin South seat against Mr T. K. Sidey at the last General Election, but five months later was elected to a seat in the City Council for Leith Ward, where he ifi now seeking re-election. Ho has adopted a progressive policy during his term, and has always been prominent in the discussion of the Council's business. He was responsible for the motion by which the dual office of town clerk and city engineer was terminated, and also moved the amendment to tho Finance Committee's report when it was recommended that the town clerk's salary be H 1,000. Mr Douglas is a thinker atxi a Maid? debater.

BELL WAItD. Mr E. A. Tapper has been thirty-nine years in New Zealand, thirty-one years in business in Dunedin, and he has thirtyseven yeais' experience of public life. His tirst election was to the Committee of the Invercargill Athenaeum—the Committee that collected money for and built what was then one of the finest libraries in New Zealand. lie joined the Invercargill Borough Council, and was • twice made mayor there. During his mayoralty the water supply was brought in, and a final decision arrived at to keep open the upper harbor bo" as to bring the Dunedin vessels to Invercargill. As the Mayor of Inver-cargill-was always chairman of the Harbor Hoard, he had 'to till that position also. After removing to Dunedin, Mr Tapper served on the Mornington Council, and subsequently entered the City Council. Altogether,' ho has seventeen years' experience of municipal life. Ho was chairman of the Works Committee when it, was decided to asphalt George street. .Mr Tapper was for many years on the Hospital Trustees and the Benevolent Trustees, and is a member of the Technical School Committee

Mr F. J. Stilling, barrister, was educated at the old Middle District School, the High School, and the University; served his articles with Macassev and Kettlo and with .Mr Eraser, practised tirst at Palmorston, then at Dunedin. where he has had chambers for a quarter of a century. His name appears on the roll of presidents of the Otago Law Society. To many pastimes he has given attention, particularly cricket and gol!: he was one of the secretaries of the children's ward movement; and for years ho has made the Competitions Society his business and delight, never grudging lime to attend to that society's affairs.

Mr A. Al'Millan, house painter, in busii ness for himself, is a self-made man, having had to work since eleven years of age. He served his apprenticeship with Mr H. S. Fish, and after various business experiences he set up on his own account sixteen years ago. He gained his tirst experimental knowledge of municipal matters as a member of the \Yc6t Harbor Council. Thei:. moving to Roslyu, he became a memlvr of that. Council, and served on it for ten years, taking an active interest in works and finance, and, as all admitted, looking well after the interests of AVaverley Ward/ 'this is his tirst try for tho City Council. Air S. S. Alyeis, dentist, has been in New Ze"iland since 1b66, ami he has a capital record. He began to work for the public by a. term on the Tapaniii Council, and is favorably remembered there. Upon shifting to Dunedin he resided in the A'al!ev, and w;is mayor of that municipalily fo'r five years. Whilst in that position he cicated an agitation for a water supply, but the ""do-nothings" of that day were frightened, and the pro|iosal lapsed. Mr .Myers next joined the Harbor Board, the Valley School Committee also claimed his services and made him chairman, and he became chairman of the School Committees' Conference that preceded the School Committees' Association. He was chairman of the City Licensing Bench for twelve or fifteen years, and also chairman of the Valley Licensing Committee. He became, in fact, chairman of almost everything he was connected with. He seived on the Hospital Trustees for twenty yeais, and was made a life governor of the hospital. Another outlet for his energy was as a member of the Board of dental examiners, this position being held for about twenty vears. In th" volunteers he rose from a lieutenancy in Hie North Dunedin Ritles to be lieutenant-colonel, the highest position one could get in the A'olunter Force, and he has the A'.D. decoration. Always a lover of clean sport, he has been president of the Football Association for twenty-one years, also president of the North End Boating Club, and for a term he held the presidency of the Otago Rowing Association. socnt dunkm-v w.utr>. Air J. B. Shacklock is temporarily absent fiom Dunedin, to we have to get his record at second hand, but everybody knows that he sat in the South Dunedin Council and became mayor—one of their be.-t 1 mayors —and went into the City Council ; at the time of the amalgamation. Though not a talker, Air Shacklock from the first made his mark in the larger body, and as a certificate of respect he was entrusted with the chairmanship of ihe Electric Power and Lighting Committee. It is to his thought and business ability that the City is in a large degree indebted for the extension of the electric scheme to our factories and for the purposes of lighting on a big scale. Mr J. .1. Marlow, who is in business as a furniture maker, was born in Loudon and educated there, and came out in 1874. living on the Flat practically ever since his arrival. He is a gieat economise!- of lime, and cj.n thus get through a vast amount of work. From 1896 to ISOI he had a seat in the South Dunedin Council. and on the day his la.-t term with that. Council expired he was elected to the St. Kilda Council, on which he served for three vears as a councillor, and was then i twice elected mayor. During his mayoralty of St. Kilda" he brought-forward the lighting scheme, and he inaugurated the £7.000 loan that siaited St. Kilda's boom. Two yens ago he entered the City Council. wherein ho has served on the Tramways, Works, Gas, and By-laws Committees, and took a seat on the Gas Inquiry Committee. The better | lighting of the southern aiea was referred j to him and Cr Wilson, and to iind out j the requirements they stepped every inch I of the two boroughs. Air Marlow has j given a lot of thought to tramways and works. He is also an old member of the I Drainage Board, and a very useful man j in bowling circles whenever any managej incut is required. I Air T. Fiddis Ls the '" daddy " amongst | I the municipal aspirants, lie has attended ! nearly if not quite 1,000 council meetings! I He began his municipal career in the Maori Hill Council, where he held a. seat for four years; then he was a representative in the South Dunedin Council for twenty-nine years without a break, being twice mayor of that borough ; and he entered the City Council six years ago. when South Dunedin amalgamated. There is the b;isis of tho calculation: ihirty-nine years" continuous service, and, giving each Council twentv-five meetings per year, we get a total of 975 meetings, to say nothing of uncounted committee meetings. Aisked to stato briefly the aims he has set before himself in the Council, Mr Fiddis replied : '" I havo always tiied to get as much work done in mv own district as possible, and I have fought for tho working man to get a living wage. Put down, too, that I managed to get tenders for the gasometer called for in Dunedin as well as at Home, and that we got a tender for £10,850 when the estimate was £15,000." Air S. A. Scott, master builder, of Reid road, has been here for thirty-live years, and resided on the Flat all the time. He did good work on the first Alacandrew Bond School Committee, and took a prominent part in the affairs of the South Dunedin Rifles, of which company he became a sergeant. Ho served two terms in the South Dunedin Council, and then, through liis advocacy of a project for widening tho Cargill road corner, he lost his seat at tho next election. 6ome of the ratepayers holding that this widening would bo in tho interests of Ca.veT6ham rather than South Dunedin. As things turned out, he saw further ahead than those who unseated him. Air Scott is interested in local undertakings, and certainly knows all about tho district. VALLEY WARD. Mr David Murray has one recommendation that is not likely to b© forgotten. As head master of tho Valley School for ever so many years ho has taught half the yonng people of the Valley, and not only taught them, but trained them. He was also 1 a distinguished -volunteer cadet officerMr Jamee Wilson, master plumber, has lived in tho Valley for thirty-two years, oxcept for ono year, and has sorved four years in the Valley Council, during which itenn ho worked liard for the water supply. Mr Wilson is also a prominent member of the Ravensbourno Lodge of Masons. Mr James M'Gre.gor, a milkman at "Upper Junction, sorved two years in the Valley Council, and is now in the City Council. Air J. B. Frame, boot manufacturer, has "lived in New Zealand for tv/enty-fivo fcyeare.- Ho eat for two .years in Uio Valley

Council, and joined the City Council at the- amalgamation. He has worked on the local School Committee, being chairman tho year before last, and he is connected' with tho Foresters and other friendly societies.

Mr "Isaac Green is the veteran local politician. lie started to work for the public when only twenty-two years of age. being then elected to tho Valley School Committee-; then lie had a feat on the Road Board ; afterwards represented the Valley on the, Waikouaiti Council; and has been mayor of the Valley borough six times.

Mr Wm. Begg, head of the firm that his father founded, has resided in the Valley for thirty-three years. Heservedatorm in tho Valley Council, being chairman of tho General Committee. Being very fond of athletic 6ports, ho has worked keenly to get a recreation ground for the Valley, Mr Begg is connected with football, cricket, cycling, yachting, and bowling clubs, and not long ago was in moro than a little prominence as a volunteer. Mr W. Mowat, grocer, settled in New Zealand over thirty ycare ago, and has lived in the Valley for nearly fourteen years. He served six years on the Valley Council, and during that time was chairman of the General and Finance Committees. Wo was for eight or nino years on the School Committee, rising to the chairmanship, and he is vieo-prcsident of the local bowling club. Mr R. Rotting is a butcher in business for himself, well known as a man who taken a keen interest in local affairs.

Mr .John Campbell, of the Otago steam laundry, has been connected with local politics for twenty years, and is a member of (he Drainage Board.