HASTINGS BOROUGH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 76, 11 March 1933, Page 9

HASTINGS BOROUGH

CAMPAIGN FOR MAYORALTY

MR MADDISON’S CANDIDATURE

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. The beginning of the contest for the Hastings mayoralty was made last evening when a meeting presided over by Mr Cecil Duff was held in the Assembly Hall and was attended by about 500 people. A resolution approving the action of the recent deputation in asking Mr Maddison to stand was passed by the meeting on the motion of Mr Duff, seconded by Mr A. I. Rainbow.

The motion pledged the meeting to support Mr Maddison was carried unanimously and to the accompaniment of considerable applause. It was a trait of the British race, said Mr Rainbow in seconding the motion, that in time of emergency a man should come forward to serve according to the principles of what he conceived to be his duty.

Mr C. Lassen, Mr Arch Lowe and Mr Clancy (chairman of the Unemployed Association) also expressed their approval of the motion, Mr Lassen paying a tribute to Mr Maddison’s services to education, especially after the earthquake. Mr Clancy announced that the unemployed were putting forward a candidate with tho object of attempting to have an unemployment policy established by the new council, and concluded that he would give Mr Maddison his personal support. Mrs 8. E. Jones, speaking, as she said, “on behalf of the women of Hustings,” expressed the view that tho women would support Mr Maddison. CAND ID ATE'S SER VICES. Mr Maddison had indicated, said Mr Duff, that before he would accept the recent deputation’s request to stand for the mayoralty, ho would not definitely consent unless there was some indication that at least a section of tho public also wished him to stand. Hence the meeting, added Mr Duff. There was nothing personal in Mr Maddison’s campaign, and there was not, nor would there be, any intention of depreciating the services of anyone else. Mr Duff then proceeded to refer briefly to Mr Maddison’s public services, including his nine years in the mayoral office. He. had devoted a great deal of thought and time to the reorganisation of the municipal administration. Ho had arranged a power supply contract which had later been copied by every other municipality. He had surfaced much of tho borough streets, and had initiated the borough afforestation schemes without levying a rate. Also, community lighting had been brought into being during his term as mayor. The reserves had been improved, and he had been the direct means of having earthquake insurance amounting .to £20,000 taken out on the borough buildings. Further, he had taken a leading part in having the District Nursing Association established, and also in the establishment of the Women’s Rest. INTENTIONS IF ELECTED. Mr Maddison would not bo able to wave a magic wand and bring prosperity back as it had been a few years ago, but he would help. One important work that would have to be attended to was the improvement of tho sewerage system, and the bringing about of uniformity in the electrical system also would have to bo looked into. It was hoped that Mr Maddison would get behind tho town’s claims to a hospital, and certainly he would give the unemployment question his sympathetic attention. In reply, Mr Maddison said he was overwhelmed by the cordiality of the reception that had been given him by the meeting. His reward in serving the town was the appreciation of his work. What had been achieved was not. to be credited to himself personally, but to the co-operation and loyalty of the townspeople a.nd of those with whom he had served on various bodies. If he were re-electee, it would be his endeavour to restore Hastings to the proud position that it occupied before tho earthquake. Much more could be done for the unemployed, and it would be his intention, if he were elected, to call a conference to devise ways and means by whieh the unemployed could be given more pleasant, more profitable, and more constant work- Also, he would advocate a “clean-up week,” both as a means of giving work to the unemployed and as a measure of protection to the health of tho town. Mr Maddison concluded, amid prolonged applause, by saying that he would not indulge in personalities during his campaign, but did reserve tho right to criticise “any man’s administration.” Tho meeting ended with the appointment of various committees.