THE SYDENHAM COUNCIL ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2237, 29 April 1881, Page 3

THE SYDENHAM COUNCIL ELECTION.

A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Colombo road schoolroom, Sydenham, last evening, for the purpose of hearing the addresses of the candidates to fill the vacancy in the Council caused by the resignation of Mr W. W. Charters. The mayor, Mr J. T. Brown, occupied the chair. The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called in compliance with a requisition of the ratepayers, to hear the views of candidates for a seat in the Borough Council. He then called upon the candidates (in alphabetical order) to address the meeting. Mr Forrester, the first candidate, said he had been a resident in” the district for over eleven years, and if elected he would do his best to represent the people faithfully. He then touched upon several matters of interest. The administration of drainage affairs he regarded as being highly unsatisfactory, and a change in the representatives ho looked upon as absolutely necessary. With regard to the proposed new Drainage Bill he thought its effect would, if carried, be disastrous to the general public interest. As to the connection of this borough with the city he would do his utmost to get a bridge erected over the railway in a line with Madras street. The removal of the railway gates at crossings he looked upon as an injustice. With these remarks he concluded, and expressed his willingness to answer any questions. In reply to a ratepayer the candidate expressed himself favorable to an equitable distribution of the borough work among the laboring men in the borough. As to the surplus funds he would favor the expenditure of the surplus funds as far as possible to give employment to men out of work. That was if the work could be found, but not otherwise, as the Council was not a charitable institution.

Mr Sherlock was then called upon. He had not come prepared to make a speech. He was a man of deeds not words. But he should be happy to answer any questions that the meeting might ask him. A ratepayer put the same questions as were asked the previous candidate as to the expenditure of the borough funds, which ho answered favorably. In reply to other questions, the candidate said ho was not favourable to the town clerk being assessor for the borough. He was in favour of the ward system of elections, and he believed that the present officers of the Council wore sufficient to perform the official work of the borough. One of the advantages of the ward system was that each representative looked after his particular ward. Mr Smith then came forward. It appeared to him that most of the leading features had already been dealt with. His own views were that the Borough should be divided into wards, and that the principal thoroughfares should be widened. With regard to the drainage question, he thought they might well leave that to the member representing them on the Drainage Board. In reply to a question, the candidate said with regard to widening streets that he was of opinion the owners of property abutting thereon should give land to widen them. Ho, for instance, should be prepared to do so. In reply to another question as to whether the town clerk should be returning officer, The candidate said he was not quite prepared to answer the question which he had not yet considered. But as far as be knew at present he thought the town clerk ought not to be returning officer, and he certainly ought not to be assessor. He disapproved of employing additional clerical assistance in the Council’s offices during times of'depression. A ratepayer asked whether the candidates were in favor of a fire brigade for Sydenham. The three candidates answered in the affirmative, Mr Forrester adding that he should first like to see the water supply in the borough. As to the kind of water supply he advocated the cheapest and best, but that being a question involving professional knowledge and skill, he was not prepared to answer it off hand.

A discussion of a general character on local topics of interest to the borough took place, after which the meeting dispersed.