THE BOROUGH ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 55, 6 March 1901, Page 2

THE BOROUGH ELECTION.

THE RETURNING OFFICER’S-POSI-TION DISCUSSED.

At the meeting of tho Borough Council last night, tho Mayor, in reply to Cr. Jones, said that tho bieuuial election of Councillors under the new Act, and tho annual election of Mayor, would be hold v on the 24th of April. Tho Mayor said that Or. Joyco had handed to him a notice of motion that a new Returning Officer bo appointed. He (tho Mayor) thought tho matter might bo considered that evening. The matter had come up at the Harbor Board, somo members not being satisfied at tho way tho election had been conducted. If the Council wished to do anything it was necessary to move quickly. Tho Council appointed the Returning Officer, whoso position was permanent until his services wero dispensed with. Tho motion by Cr. Joyce was that applications bo called for the position.

Cr. Nolan : What will this meeting do with tho present Returning Officer ? Tho Mayor : In that case you" would have to dispense with him. Cr. Nolan said that the motion did not state what was _to bo dono with him. Cr Joyce said that both matters could he combined. The Mayor said he thought the Council should docido that night, as another fortnight would bring them too close to tho election. Cr Nolan said that tho present officer had held the position for a good number of years, and always given satisfaction. It was human to orr, and lie had mado an error at the last olectiou. Tho Board had not thought it necessary to take any action in tho matter. Cr Joyce : Thank you. Cr Nolan : They declined to deal with it until the election of tho now Board, and the Council is now asksd to take on its shoulders what tho Board did not do. It lias not boon brought before us as a body why this man should bo dismissed, and that is what is suggested now. Cr Lewis said that 110 quite agreed with Cr Nolan. Ho had spoken to several others who had been Returning Officers during tho past twenty years, and lie found that every ono had mado tho same mistake, being under tho impression that they had a deliberative as well as a casting voto. If for a trivial technicality of this sort they were going to take a man’s livelihood away it was going too far. They had had 110 complaint; tho Harbor Board had refused to do anything in the mnttor. They should have somo cause of complaint before removing a man from office. l-Io thought tlio Returning Officer should be rotained.

Cr Harding: Is there anything beforo the Council ’?

Cr Joyco said ho did not know whether there was anything before the Council, but 110 wished to reply to tho assertions by Crs Nolan and Lewis. 110 admitted that tlioro was a good deal of logic in wliat they had said, but 110 would inform Cr Lewis, with all respect to tho latter’s knowledge and powors of comprehension, that it was not a mistake—it was an irregularity, and had so been referred to by the Magistrate, lie was not 011 cto be harsh on anyone, blit they had to fulfil tlicir public duties. If it had been merely a mistake lie would have said nothing, but they must take notice of irregularities, and if the Returning Officer had been committing such irregularities for year' past Cr. Lewis : I did not say him. The Mayor : He said other Returning Officers. Cr. Joyce said that if these things had boon dono with the knowledge that they wero irregular, the sin was all the greater. He was not tho man to do anything detrimental to a man’s fair name or fame but men in public positions should do their duty faithfully, truthfully, and honestly. There wore only two ways of looking at the matter—cither there were irregularities, as stated by the Magistrate, or there were not. If thoso irregularities had boon going on for years, the sooner such a state of thing was rectified the better. But his motion was like that of Mr Ross’ at the Liberal Association. The papers took it up and universally condemned it before it was even brought on for discussion.

Cr Hepburn said he would prefer to see tho matter disposed of that night. Cr Nolan said they must dispense with ono man before they appointed another. It would be an extraordinary thing to jump on a man in this way—no matter how badly a man had acted, ho would bo entitled to fair treatment.

In reply to the question how tho hnotion would provide for the despensing of the present officer, Cr Joyce said, “ If you had a King you could dispose of him and get anothor.” The discussion was then discontinued.