THE MAYORAL CONTEST

Evening Star, Issue 18258, 24 April 1923, Page 9

THE MAYORAL CONTEST

TO Tire EDITOR. Sir,—Cr Larnach, at South Dunedin, in his speech as reported in Saturday’s issue of the ‘ Star,’ makes reference to his opponents as followsHe did not wish to decry his fellow-aspirants, but they would agree that when a councillor gave his attention to his municipal and committee duties lie qualified for the higher office.” I am quite sure that Cr Larnach never intended, when he made that remark, that it reflected against his opponents. The percentages for attendance at council and committee meetings (Year Book, 1921-22, page 47) are: Cr Larnach 71, Cr Taploy ,57, and Cr Hayward 83. It is with reluctance that I publish these figures, but I am compelled to in self-defence.—l am, etc., April 23. C. H. Hayward. TO Tire EDITOR. Sir, —There are certain statements in Cr Tapley's mayoral address which one is hardly justified in passing over without comment and contradiction. Cr Tapley is surprised that Opoho extension was not gone on with long ago. This is why this extension was not go on with before: When Cr Tapley was a member of the Finance Committee he advocated that all expenditure on extensions, even Waipori, should be held over until money got cheaper. If the electors expect, Cr Tapley to do anything for them by way of tramway, extension or anything else, his future activities will have to he very different indeed from anything ho lias clone during the past two years. In proof of this, ho attended less than half the Tramway Committee) meetings during the last twelve months he should l have attended. By chance ho happened to bo present at the meeting when Mr Payne was dismissed and the appointment of the present engineer was confirmed, and voted accordingly. Surely that was the occasion for bringing forward any change in the method of the tramway engineer’s management, a policy which he now advocates, and only after a lapse of a few months. Although Mr Tapley affirms that he V? fought Air Payne’s battles in committee, he supported his dismissal, and took this attitude after Mr Payne stated his side before the committee. Throughout his speech there is nothing but what has been before the committees and council, Mr Tapley is a member of the Tramway Committee, and yet he does not seem to know of matter which has been before it. For instance, Iho committee is only wailing the Order in Council to proceed with the Opoho extension, material being in hand. I will conclude now by giving the attendances of the three aspirants for the mayoral chair:—Cr Hayward, 6 committees, 110 out of 135, percentage 81; Cr Larnach, 8 committees, 141 out of 178, percentage 79; Cr Tapley, 7 committees, 76 out of 151, percentage 50. In justice to myself, I would point out that I am also a, member of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and Otago Harbor Board, and at times meetings have clashed, and I attended the ones I thought of the most importance. —I am, etc., Cr Larxach.

April 25. COUNCILLOR TAPLEY IN REPLY. ! Cr Tapley, to whom the foregoing letters were submitted, makes the following statement: '! i.ero is nothing in Or Hayward's remarks that can be taken exception to. Cr Larnach’s letter, however, is an attack upon me to discredit my candidature, with which I am quite sure the public will not sympathise. With regard to attendance at committee meetings, it is quite true that during the past year my percentage of attendance is not so good as those of my competitors. The reason of this was that the extending of my business to other centres necessitated my personal absence from Hunedin on occa- ' sions when committee meetings were held, | but on my return I always made it my I business to make myself, conversant with j what had been done. The electors have i not in any way suffered by any of these ! absences, and I am quite sure they will be satisfied as to this by the record of my activities at the council meetings pub- : lishcd in the Press. My work in this | way has always been on constructive lines, |and for the benefit, of onr local industries j and the comfort and convenience of the public. Whoever is elected mayor this ' term must make up his mind That he has I to devote a tremendous amount of time land thought to the position, as, apart ! from extensive municipal duties, lie must keep in close touch with the development, of the exhibition. As far as I am concerned, if the citizens decide upon electing me as mayor, 1 have so arranged my business that I shall bo able to devote my whole time if need be to the duties. Cr Lamach also referred to the attiude I look up in fighting the battle of Mr Payne (the late tramway engineer). I state that I fought for a man that I considered ivas being unjustly treated, both in committee and out, and at the committee which determined Mr Payne's appointment I protested against what was being done; but, with the exception of one other councillor, I was not backed up.