THE WOOLSTON MAYORALTY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13113, 29 April 1903, Page 5

THE WOOLSTON MAYORALTY

ADDRESSES BY THE CANDIDATES. A public meeting was held at Wools ton last evening to hear the views of the candidates for the Mayoralty of the. borough. Mr W.- W. Tanner, M.H.R., occupied the chair, and opened the meeting. He said that Mr Wigram was quite right in saying that the interests of the present four wards should be. consolidated before any further extension of boundaries was made, and Woolston was therefore sure of maintaining its corporate existence for at least some years. • He hoped that Woolston residents would recognise tiiis and set themselves to make the borough the model that it should be. Mr J. Richardson, the retiring Mayor, and one of the- two candidates, stated that he had been connected with the public affairs of Woolston for over thirty years, and believed that during that time his ■services had given satisfaction. (Applause.) The street lighting improvements last year had b E eu carried out on his casting vote. Ho had been instrumental in getting the street through the Tamai Settlement put into proper order at the 'Government expense, and had obtained a promise from the Premier of a £ for £ grant towards the widening! of Coronation Street. A swimming bath wa.s shortly to be erected adjoining the school for the convenience of residents, and would be vested entirely in the borough. Mr Richardson also mentioned that the increase in the borough’s valuation was evidence of the improvements that had been carried out. He would be in favour of the amalgamation of Woolston with tho city. The books of the Council had now been put into proper order. In answer to a question, Dir Richardson said that on the presentation of a proper petition he was prepared to advocate the taking of a poll on the question, of joining the Greater Christchurch. Dir F. S. Yates said that his kan-jijo-g were strongly towards municipal socialism. Ho believed in the people owning the. means of lighting and of transit and the water supply, and he would strongly support the muncipal control of the present gasworks. Regarding the Greater Christchurch, he would advocate the immediate taking of a poll in Woolston on the question of amalgamation with the city or with Linwood. He rather favoured the latter course, as Linwood! would be likely to welcome an addition to its area, which would entitle it to four representatives in place of two. He criticised the financial methods of tho Council at some length. He stated that the Council had last yeax spent

some £409 more than in the previous year, and had yet increased its liabilities. The debit balance had been estimated at £lO6, but had really been over £4OO. At this rate Woolston -would never free itself of debt. The-acquirement of Coronation Street had been a blunder, as it had been formed at the ratepayers’ expense to benefit private owners and a Government settlement. He considered that Woolston’s sanitary arrangements were a. disgrace to the borough, and he would support extensive improvements. He was not, however, in favour of any loan proposals during the present year, as an effort must be made to reduce the debit balance. If he were elected he would endeavour to serve the borough to the very best ef his abilities. Mr W. T. Thomas moved a vote of thanks to the speakers. _ Dir Hewitt seconded the motion. He criticised Dir Thomas’s .attitude inshifting the blame for the late clerk s defalcations to other shoulders. The speaker paid a high tribute to Dir Richardson’s services as Mayor. The motion was carried.