BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9670, 17 April 1923, Page 5

BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

COYEST FOB, MAYORALTY.

MR. V R. BALL, IN THE FIELD.

FIFTEEN NOMINATED DOR COUNCIL.

The nominations for seats on the various local bodies in the Borough closed at noon yesterday, there being two candidates for the Mayoralty, fifteen for the Borough Council, six for the Borough representation on the Cook Hospital Board, and nine for representation on the Harbor Board. As was indicated in the Times yesterday morning, there was a lastminute opposition to Mr. Geo. Wildish for the Mayoralty, the nomination of Mr. T. B. Ball being handed in tq tlie Returning Officer ten minutes before midday. When the deputation waited ■upon Mr. Ball yesterday morning, they informed him ■ that there was strong support for him among the nominees for seats on the Council, and they appealed to him to consent to nomination for the Mayoralty. Mr. Ball stated that he had carefully considered the matter, and, if the deputation was prepared to form a strong committee and, conduct his campaign, he would accede to their request. His nomination rvas accordingly sent in, and ' the nucleus of a campaign committee was formed immediately. Mr. 11. E. Hill, who had been mentioned as a possible candidate for Mayoral honors, decided yesterday morning that he would stand,- unless there was other opposition to the present Mayor. He considered, however, that Mr. Ball was more qualified for the position, and, in view of his opposition to the policy of the present Council, more entitled to it, and in consequence of this he intimated that he was prepared to stand down if Mr. Ball could be induced to stand. lie had determined, however, that Mr Wildish would not he returned unopposed.

Of the fifteen candidates for the nine vacancies on the Borough Council, four of these can, even at this early stage, he regarded as having no possible chance. If is significant that, of the remaining eleven, at least eight are known he standing as straight out suppcrfWs of Mr. Ball. Three of them, Messrs. JL. Mirfielcl, T. Corson, and Prod. Gray, were in fact, nominated conditionally upon Mr. Ball contesting tlie Mayoralty, while Messrs. Whinray and Rail, the Te Hapara nominees, are sui,porting Mr. Ball, and Messrs. Todd and Collin have been his “supports''’ on the old Council. Another candidate, Mr. 11. E. Hill, stood down from the Mayoralty contest in favor of Mr. Ball, go that he can reasonably he regarded ns a supporter. It would appear that, even if Mr. Wildish were returned as Mayor —and this would seem to be anything but certain—he will not have a Council to support the policy which he has followed in the past. In other words, it appears certain that, as a result of the election, there will he important changes in the administration of the Borough. Twp of the present Councillors. Mr. Robertson and Dr. W. A. Bowie, are not seeking reelection.

The Harbor 'Board contest will resolve itself into a contest between the present members of the Board, and these who are opposed to the policy which has boon a clouted- True to his promises, Mr David Whyte leas brought forward a •'‘ticket’' for the Board, but' the three supporters of his “immediate relief" policy cannot be regarded as strong candidates. One member of the ticket. Mr. D. S. Jamison, was a member of the Board until two years ago, when, the Board, adopted a scheme to which he was opposed. The other member of the ticket—Mr. Whyte is, of course, a candidate himself —is. Capt. T. A. Franks. The other opposition to the presen.t members are . the watersiders’ representatives, Messrs. McErlain and Perry. The two latter will receive strong support from their own faction. '

There is not a great deal of interest j attaching to the Hospital Board election. Of the four sitting members, Mr. E. Johnston is the only one not. seek- j j ing re-election. Messrs. W. G. Sher- j ratt, D.. W. Coleman, and IT. H. De j Costa ar.e again facing the electors, j while, other nominations are. Mrs Agnes j Sc-ott, and '.Messrs. .TV.. J. McCliskie,. and M. TV- Craig. Mr. McCliskie, i , who is at present chairman of the HoS- | pitini Farm Committee, was a member j of I*6 Board until last election, when j he was defeated.' Oil that occasion, j at least one memher offered to resign | in his favor, hut he declined the.of- ; fer. It how seems probable that he j will regain his seat on the Boaid.. j The nominations for .the various j bodies are as follows: — MAYORALTY. ! Frederick Robert Ball, nominated | by Mrs W. G. Slier ratt, and Messrs j R. Johnston, T. Todd, .and Harold r Bright. . f . , -i ! GrGorgG nominated by i Messrs Geo. Smith, E. Harris, R. 1 Robertson and T. Leslie. { BOROUGH COUNCIL. 1 Cecil E. Rickford, nominated by j Messrs I). W. Coleman, T. Hope, and j TV. Day. , . 4 , , ! David Wm. Coleman, nominated by j Messrs O. E, Bickford and J. A. Hud- ’ S °Fred Collin, nominated by Messrs | G K. Pasley and G. TV. Primrose. i Thomas Corson, nominated by i Messrs V C. R. Mitford and T. Todd, i Herbert H. De Costa, nominated j by Messrs O. Prince, J. 11. Shaw, and ! T. Haisman. Fred TV. D. Gray, nominated by ; Messrs TV. H. Chrisp and C, G. j Bl Henrv Ewart Hill, nominated by | Messrs TV. J. A. Whinray, G. Tatter- j sail S J- Bard well, and A. J. White. ! Israel Mil-field, nominated by Messrs j Geo. Smith, Jas. Barr, and G. B. ; ol Hnili McErlain, . nominated by j Messrs D. TV. Coleman, C. J. Bollen, ; James Perry, nominated by Mesas D. W. Coleman, C. J. Bollen, and H. 'McErlain. , , , ~ David Rait, nominated by Messrs G. F- Pasley and R. M. Birrell. 1W?. Todd, nominated by the Rev. Janies Aitken and Mr C. A. deLaut0 Thos Percy Vosper, nominated by Messrs’ H. E. Hill and IT. PI. De William Jas. L. Whin ray, nominated by Messrs C, P. Davies, J. W. Fairlie, and J. TV. Bradley. Frederick Thos. Lancaster, nomin- j ated by Messrs F. B. Barker and Fred , CTassm. ogplTlll BOARD. . ' David William Coleman, nominated by Messrs C. E Rickford. J. A. HudR °ATon ta "U Wm. 'Craig, nominated by Messrs H. Miller and C. H. AmHerbert H. De Costa, nominated by mSsJJc T. B. PearS °W,lTiom J j "McCliskie, nominated by Mess s G B. Reid and E Grundy. Agnes Scott, nominated by Messrs H E Hill and T-. Corson. _ yWffliSn G. sherratt. oommated bj Messrs J. W. K°inn anil G. B. 0n,,,... harbor board. James Clive Collins, nominated by Messrs G. Tattersa an Br Thohas A. Pranks, nominate^, by Messrs T Leslie and G. E> urmonci. David Simpson Jamison, nominated by Messrs TV. L. Hackett and Geo. nSsrf 801.e y n “jamJflrty, nominated by Messrs D. W. Coleman, C. J. Bollen, and H. George Smith, nominated by Messrs OcA. deLautour and W. Bruce. *iavid Whyte, nominated by Messrs yf. Cumming and H. J« Clayton.

CR. BALL TO FORMULATE POLICY

ELECTRIC LIGHT CHARGES SHOULD BE REDUCED.

NO NEED TO INCREASE THE GENERAL RATE.

Interviewed yesterday regarding his candidature for the Mayoralty, Mr. F. R. Ball intimated that, as he had only decided that day to contest the position, he was not yet in a position to outline his policy, beyond what had been indicated by his attitude on the old Council. There was no doubt but that the lack of municipal progress was largely, if not wholly, clue to the fact that the Council, in the past, had been without a policy, and he could only repeat what he had said at Te Hapara-. That a Council should go in with a definite policy which it was prepared to carry out. The policy of the Council was very largely dependant upon the attitude of the Mayor, and, now that he had been nominated for that position, it was his intention of explaining to the electors exactly what he proposed to do if he were elected. His attitude in regard to more efficient administration of the Borough was well-known to those who had followed the work of the old Council, especially as regards the cost of roading and other services. In his opinion, greater publicity should he given concerning the costs of the various services and works of the .Borough, as, without these, the Council could not possibly he in a position to decide ( upon future action. This applied, 'in’ particular, to the electric light department. In his address at Te Hapara, he had said that the statements made to the Council by its accountants did not clearly show the position, as it did not deal with stocks, etc., and, without a more detailed statement than had been given in the past, the Council had no guide as to what charges should he made for current. The costs should he determined annually by a proper statement of profit and loss in regard to the department, and the cost of current to the consumers kept as low as possible. It was apparent that the charges during the past year had been too high, and the position for the year clearly warranted a reduction being made.

In regard to rates. Mr. Ball called attention to the fact that, during the year, there would be £2IOO extra interest to be found. He did, not think, under the circumstances, that it would be possible to make any reduction in the rates and at the same time efficiently carry on the work of the Borough. He considered, however, that, with efficient management and control, there would be no need for the Council to increase the rates in any way. There were many matters, lie paid, which would have to he carefully gone into, and, within the next week, he would place his position and his policy fully before the electors.

OTHER CENTRES

WELLINGTON, April 14.

Nominations for the Mayoralty are: Messrs. P. Fraser, Len McKenzie, and It. A. Wright. There are 35 nominations for 15 seats on the council. AUCKLAND, April 16. Mr. J. H. Gunson has been reelected Mayor, unopposed. NELSON, April 16. Mr. Yv. Lock has been returned unopposed for tlie Mayoralty. HAMILTON, April 16. Mr. J. N. Low, the sitting Mayor, was the only one nominated for the Mayoralty. AUCKLAND. April 16Tlie Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. H. Gunson. and the Mayor of Newmarket, Mr. J. Donaldson, were reelected unopposed. There will be contests for the Mayoralties of Mount Eden, Mount Albert, and Avqndale. Thirty-nine candidates have been nominated for twenty-one seats on the City Council. Of these, sixteen are sitting, members. Labor has . a “ticket” of twelve.—P.A.