THE MAYORALTY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 28 April 1914, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY.

MR DIXON ADDRESSES THE ELECTORS.

wSal? I b! ir«esses * the OddfelgSir^nsf'v^^°^ tendance he had and with thfSay L Srks. aUdienCe folloffed^«

Mr Walter Powdrell occupied tfce special qualifications-he was a "S£S speaker, a good business man very energetic and with a great tenacity of purpose. He had occupied many important positions with credit to himself and to the town, and he never lost an opportunity of endeavoring to further the interests of Hawera

Mr Dixon explained that he was a candidate for the mayoralty at the request of a large number of citizens. He had not sought the position—he> W nGVi? r i 1 60^ g xt-i iny Public position, but he held that if a man took a live interest in the town in which he Jived and did his duty to that town, and if he was wanted to fill the highest position which that town had to offer tke citizens would seek him if they'considered him worthy to fill that position. For that reason he had never sought any public position. He recalled the time when he first came t» Jlawera, twenty years ago, to build up. a business. One of the first men ha met said he would be out of the place in six months. He replied: "That's all right, old fellow. 1 have taken a lease for three years, and will probably be here another thirty years."

PERSONAL. Mr Dixon then went on to say that although it might savour of egotism, itwas necessary on occasions such as these that a man should speak cf Ms own public work in order to convey some indication of his public worth. He then referred to his electien fourteen years ago to the Education Board in. succession to Mr Robins, and of his determination to do his best to prove worthy of t^e trust imposed in him.. And he would say further that there was no public work he had taken up that he had not gone into thoroughly and to the best of his ability. He referred to the earlier stages of technical education work, when, although the Government spent large sums of money in erecting schools all over the districe, there was a dearth of pupils. v He conceived the idea of the compulsory continuation classes, and this was ultimately placed on the Statute Book. For proof of the success of that movement they need only look to the Hawera Technical School. He recalled the fights they had over the establishment of the technical school in Hawera, and the battle of the sites. At that time he had to combat the impression held by many that the school was not wanted and he then predicted that not only would it soon prove its value, but that it would very soon he altogether too small for the town's requirements. The school was finally erected in a prominent position, it had proved a gigantic success, and not only was it not the "white elephant" predicted for it, but already it hade been twice enlarged, and would haveto be enlarged four or five times moreduring the next ten years. (Applause.) He was in his third term aar president of the Chamber of Commerce —a very live institution—ever watchful of the interests and advancement of Hawera. When that institution first moved in the direction of having the metallic circuit system' introduced into the telephone exchange he remembered Mr Gillies thought it was a < waste of time bothering about it—it would. be altogether too expensive an undertaking for a place like Hawera. But the Chamber was not discouraged, and his audience would be surprised if they knew the amount of correspondencer and the number of resolutions sent to» the Minister «n this matter. They would be surprised, also, to know that the system which was now almost completed had cost the Government £60,000. Hawera was indeed fortunate in securing the new system when so many other larger towns were without it. In his capacity as presidentof the Chamber (of Commerce^ as. wejjp as a private citizen, he had aiwayft taken a keen interest in the Opunake railway, and he yet believed that the line would junction at Te Roti. AN APPRENTICESHIP NOf ESSENTIAL. '*?' It had been urged against his can* didature for the mayoralty that he had not served a terjn at the Councit table. "Whose fault is that?" remarked the speaker; not . mine.** (Hear, hear.) "And for aught I knowit was your" logs, too." (Laughter•> He reminded them that he had served on the Education Board for fourteen, years, and there was no better school. in New Zealand at which to gain a* practical general knowledge of the' business and conduct of local body work. Then again it was sometimes aa advantage for a mayor not to hav»eerved on the Council—he could then come- with new ideas and new methods. Some of the best mayors and some of the most successful New Zea— land had ever had had never servedT five minutes at the Council table. They had come into the position unfetteredand. had brought to hear on the borough's affairs their business, ability and experience to the great' gain of the burgesses. (Applause.) He (Mr Dixon) did not profess to understand road construction, and in that connection he would readily give place to MrWhittington. But did they, wanting, their chief magistrate a man qualified^ in road construction or a ousine&s man, to look after the finances—a man who* had had business experience and who>' understood the value of money. Mir Whittington had' served on the Council for twenty-seven years—a long and. worthy record indeed —(applause)—and had done good work. "I hope," went on Mr Dixon, "that when I am re~ turned as Mayor that he will still continue on the Council. I. shall be glad". to have advice from him in -referenceto roads, etc." (Applause.) It was unfortunate that the balance-sheet-for the last year was not yet ready for publication, but probably that wasp^ unavoidable. The Star had stated that, consequently, he could speak only in generalities, and that was so. But if returned as Mayor he would make it his business to see that, if the balancesheet were not available for occasions^ such as this, some statement would be> prepared. He understood that about £5000 had already been spent out of the £30,000, and it would.be interesting to know how much of this had been spent in plant. We don't know. <A voice: "You will know. They are keeping us in the dark as long as they can.") THE £30,000 LOAN.

Mr Dixon then went on to explain h» attitude in regard to the £30,000 loan, and venturer! "the opinion that if any nian deserved the thanks of the country over this matter it was he. What he tried to do on that occasion was to arouse the indifferent rate- . i»; payers to take an interest in their, ■'; own town. "I would that people-'' '•<? would take it greater interest in theur *& town," said the speaker. "I know ot ,^

ii© town in New Zealand where there is such a lack of jrablic spirit as here." He quoted Eltham in contrast to Hawera, and pointed out that they had a dozen public-spirited men there to one in Hawera, and this accounted for the rapid progress of that town. And yet they had not a tithe of the natural claims to be an important centre «uch as Hawera- would be if the Hawera people took a keener interest in their own affairs. Reverting to the question of the £30,000, Mr Dixon recalled the Mayor's meeting, in which he was denied the right of addressing the meeting. He contended he had the right, but the Mayor ruled otherWise, and he had to content himself by asking some questions, and very pertinent questions they were, eliciting some information which was very useful to them. Had he been allowed on that occasion to deliver the address lie had prepared they would have fully understood the attitude he took up Anyone who knew him knew that he always stood for progress, and his opposition, as they would have seen by a letter he had written to the Star was that m view of the then state of the money market the time was in--opportune for raising the loan He desired to know on what terms they wefe going to raise the money, and whether the whole £30,000 would lie in the bank. He opposed also the culling of the ratepayers' meeting only two days before the poll. He considered it altogether too short a time to discuss such important proposals— two weeks would have been nearer the .xnark. He was -lad to see that the Council had raised the loan on terms giving them ,the right to life £5000 at a time as required. They had made a good.arrangement in that respect.

ADMINISTRATION

Hawera was one of the smallest and jtnost oompact boroughs in the Domin-' ion with only 500 acres. Eltham had 1590 acres and Stratford 1920 acres. -Consequently Hawera had less streets and footpaths to keep in good order, and it had every advantage in the way of its being made one of the best Isoroughe in New Zealand. It was very fortunate, too, in the matter of its reserves, thanks to the foresight of Mr James Davidson and Sir Harry Atkinson. Sometimes he thought that people did not recognise how much they were indebted to those men. These reserves were now bringing in £1200 a .year, but they must be very carefully guarded. He strongly disapproved of i a- recent action of the Council in the way they cut up the property in Princes street for lease, and contended that mo private, individual would ever have }cut up a valuable section as they had done. They were all trying to do away •with right-of-ways and yet the Borough Council, right in the centre of the town, had to create a right-of-way in order to give an entrance to a section at the Back of the Opera House. A good, deal had been spoken about footpaths. He considered them a' disgrace to the borough. (Applause.) It would almost have been better to haya •left them in their original condition than to have allowed them to become full of little holes in which women and with their thin boots and shoes splashed and got wet feet. That portion in Princes street leading to the Technical School was disgraceful, and it was a portion over which num"bers of children were constantly compelled to walk at night. He considered those footpaths .required attention more urgently than some of their roads, and if returned as Mayor he

would make tbis one of his first duties

(Applause.) Three or four men should "be constantly employed on the footpaths—kerbinn; channelling, etc. —and if kept constantly at this particular Tvork they soon became expert, and the Council would consequently .get

more value out of them

He would

like to express an emphatic opinion «n one point, and it was that when they started a work they should get 'at done and finished with. Not a little l>lt here and a little bit there, but

concentrate on the one job till it was completed, and they would then soon Tiave the town in a satisfactory condition, (Applause.)

"WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

The Council some time ago approached the Government in reference to erecting workers' dwellings in Hawera, "but the matter had been allowed' to drop. Whether because of the price of land he could not say. But there never was a more oti^ortune time than the present for approaching, the Government, because there were two estates "being cut np at reasonable prices Tvluch would makp> ideal sites for such, buildings. He advocated again approaching the Government, and not restins satisfied until they saw the cottages erected.

IN CONCLUSION

Mr Dixon said that he had been twenty years in Hawera, and had always taken a very keen interest in the affairs of the borough. He was a large ratepayer, and no occupant of the 'Mayoral chair was likely to study:the •interests of ratepayers more than 'the one who was himself a large ratepayer. He would certainly be more likely to do so than a- man who paid mo rates at all. (A. voice: "That does mot follow.") Mr Dixon: If I were a Scotchman it would follow. (Laughter.) Continuing. Mr Dixon said that if burgesses placed him in the Mayoral chair they would find that he would take a very keen interest in borough affairs. If defeated at the poll be would take it like a mart, but Il© "would continue to work just as bard for the welfare of the borough, of H~wera. as he had in the past. (Applause.) .

QUESTIONS

Mr Goodson fiskerl Mr Dixon if he was in favor of a Greater Hawera.

Mr Dixon replied that that was largely a question for the people themselves. It would be in the interests--of the boroush to have part of the South .road in, for instance, but they would require more information as to the cost of roads and footpaths and the amount of rates that would be paid. -He, repeated that it was a question largely for the peonle themselves, and when they approved the Council the whole matter could be thorough!v gone into. Mr Barracloup-h desired to know if Mr Dixon would be in f-pvor of the -water that is being used by farmers, factories, etc.. off the main before it reaches the borough being cut ,off so t*at the whole sunpiv would come into Hawera instead of being tapped alone the route. The borough received only a. small revenue for it. Mr Dixon said it had been a matter of surprise to him that this had been permitted to continue when the pressure was so low. The Council's "first •duty was to maintain the nressure ji.dequate for fire pxirnoses. and it was -their, duty to have informed these people, +hat they could not be allowed t>»e privilege until such times as a sufficient pressure warranted it. Cr Reid informed th« meeting that the Council received £900 a year as extraordinary revenue for water supply. n . Mr Dixon said they were not discussing the revenue from the extraordinary supply to houses down the Soxith Tdad,- for instance, but to those people -who tapped the main before it reached the borough. Mr Goodson: Would you be in favor of earmarking the revenue; received from extraordinary water supply and placing it in tvust to ultimately duplicate the main? A Voice: The Council has no power ■to do that. . i . Mr Dixon: If you cannot do it that «nde it.

There being no other questions, Mr Brunette moved a kearty vote of thanks to Mr Dixon for his able and interesting address, and respectfully requested electors to return him as Mayor of Hawera. Mr Canning seconded, and thought they should feel gratified that a man of Mr Dixon's ability should offer himself as a candidate. The motion, on being put to the meeting, was duly carried.