THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14977, 24 April 1909, Page 10

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

SYDENHAM CANDIDATES. A SERIES OF ADDRESSES. A meeting of ratepayers of tho Sydenham Ward of the city, called by the Sydenham Burgesses' Association, was held last evening in St Saviour's Schoolroom, for the purpose of enabling candidates for the City Council to expiess their views. There were about thirty ratepayers present, and Mr J. Butterficld was in the chair. The Mayor (Mr C. Allison) was tho first candidate to speak. He said that his views wero well known. It was the generally accepted idea that, unless for a very special reason., a mayor should' not hold office for more than one year. If some work wero undertaken and not completed during his offico that was one reason why a Mayor should be returned to office. He himself had an additional reason. His election to tho Mayoralty had been badly received. It had been stated in the newspapers that his election was a catastrophe to the city. The Press of the colony had reiterated those statements, and he had been held up to the public as a most objctionable person. Ho had had that prejudice to contend with, and he askod tho ratepayers, who could seo the effects of his year's work, if those prognos tications were borne out. He was standing again in order to obtain their verdict. Ho had endeavoured to carry out the work necessary to the progress of tho city and to see that the ratepayers' money was not wasted. During his term of office ho had endeavoured to conciliate his enemies and he now believed that he had not a single enemy on the counciL He was not autocratic and he believed that the business of the council had been more constitutionally conducted under his management than for some years past. Tho question of a Waimakariri power scheme had been before the ratepayers for some years and .they were now as far off as when they started. This was owing to the opposition of tho country districts. During tho past year steps had been taken to inquire as to the intake at Woodstock which would be preferable to the Gorge Bridge. But the river at this point flowed for a long distanco between precipitous banks and when the estimated cost came out it would probably bo found beyond the means of 'the ' council. Tho original scheme would cost the Council, by the time tho city was fully supplied with electrical power, about a quarter of a million. A scheme was propounded in which it was proposed to'utilise Lake Coleridge, which was supposed to be a, far better ' source than "the Waimakiriri. If he was returned to offico he w r ou!d obtain more definite reports about the Lake Coleridge sohome, and would endeavour to put the question fully before the ratepayers. He was in the forefront' of the agitators for the canal,' and he intended to call a public meeting on his, own account in order to deal fully with the question. Mr Allison outlined tho work that had been done in connection with the municipal baths, the city organ and sanitary conveniences.

Mr J. Forrester said that during the past two years ho had been on six committees of tho Council, and ho dealt specially with his work on the Abattoir Committee. Ho said that the cattle and sheep yards wero now all roofed over, so that the cattle were thoroughly sheltered from the weather. Ho thought that the Municipal Conference should bring forward legislation to provide for the salo of fish through a municipal market. The rates were reduced last year, and the values went up. This year the rates would go up.. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board this year claimed £2323 more than last year, and when claims like those were made the Council had to pay them with the ratepayers' money. Tho Council was not to blame for the increase in rates. He would support a motion to obtain a municipal quarry if the metal could be delivered cheaply. He was strongly in favour of the Waimakariri scheme, and when Mr Dobson's report came in, if it was at all feasible he would support it. He was also in favour of tho canal, and would further the scheme in every possible way. Mr G. W. J Parsons said that he also, had done his share of the.year's work. Ho was strongly in favour of the cana,l, to do away with excessive railway rates, but he was not going to pledge himself until he knew whether the scheme would pay or not. He was in favour of "the Woodstock intake for the Waimakariri scheme in preference to the Gorge With regard to a municipal quarry, ho had travelled all over the Port Hills from Sumner to Birdling's Flat, and, apart from two quarries, there was not a suitablo site. The Halswell quarry was prohibited on account of tho unreasonable price asked, and tho Government owned a small one near Motukarara. Ho favoured the amalgamation of all local bodies in Christchurch, and he believed in municipal markets and anything contributino: to the advancement of the city. Mr C. Taylor and Mr A. H. Webb spoke on much the same lines as the previous speakers. They both said that they had visited the Council's reserves, and Mr Webb favoured the planting of a reserve of 800 acres at New Brighton. He desired to see, a municipal milk supply established. Mr Taylor said that lie was not in favour of the canal scheme at present. He thought that legislation should bo promoted to make the Lyttelton Harbour Board more representative of the interests of the peonlo of Christchurch. Mr C. Lafferty said that the canal scheme should be given preference to any other. It was a question that the ratepayers would have to face, and he believed a canal would make Christchurch the leading city in tho dominion. He.favoured tho amalgamation of the various Boards in Christchurch. Tho Council should take steps to improvo tho lighting of the city. He thought that a municipal quarry would bo beneficial to the district." Mr W. Millar spoke in the same strain as the other candidates, and Messrs H. Hunter and A. D. Hart spoke on the lines of the Labour Party's programme. Mr Hart urged tho Sydenham electors to re-elect Mr Allison as Mayor, as he was the only champion Sydenham had ever had, so far as the Council was concerned. At the conclusion a number of questions were submitted to the candidates J) V the Burgesses' Association dealing with tho main srbjects of tho speeches, and after they had been answered- the candidates were accorded, a hearty vote of thanks.

MEETING AT NEW BRIGHTON

ADDRESSES OF CANDIDATES

The Now Brighton schoolroom was packed last night when candidates for election to the Now Brighton Borough Council addressed the electors. Tho Mayor (Mr J. Glanvillo), was in the chair.

Councillor W. H. Bellamy said that ho considered it was urgently neces-

sary to put in hand the acquiring of a suitable sports ground. The new council would no doubt be called upon to hnd about £IOO to carry out the worii successfully. he was in lavour of a grant of £3O towards the baud being continued. Ho would rather see the band-stand placed in the sports ground than behind the King Edward well. .

Councillor Edwin Blake said that he did not think anyone could cavil at the work of the council during the past two years. The roads wore better, the lighting bettor and the salutation better than ever before. He was in favour of the grant to the band but he was opposed to the band-stand being put behind the King Edward well. .

Mr Samuel Bruce said that he was a now man and could only claim an intima I e knowledge of the' borough, but if elected he would work earnestly for the common weal. He would support a continuance of the band subsidy.

Councillor James Cooke stated that he had been a member of the council for about a year, and during that time ho had gained a fairly good insight into the borough's requirements. If elected he hoped to safeguard the ratepayers' interests. He wished to keep an open mind on the matter of the band-stand.

Mr Thomas Falkinder said that if elected he would move to have the band-stand erected at the rear of the well. He would also bo in favour of the £3O subsidy to the band being continued. ,

Councillor G. E. Goodwin outlined the- work carried out during his term of office and said that he thought the ratepayers had every reason to appreciate the work of the old members of the council. He thought the band rotunda should be placed on the east side of the King's well and he would support the band subsidy. Mr Christian Israelson, an ex-coun-cillor, said that he was entirely in favour of the band-stand being put at the rear of the well, provided it was built so that it might at any future time be moved. He advocated a progressive policy, and thought every endeavour should be put forward to make the borough attractive, by improving the roads and the lighting. A municipal acetylene gas plant would prove beneficial, and a. water system should be initiated at an early date. Mr AV. Marriott said that he was a uew man, and no speaker, but if elected he could work. He was in favour of the band subsidy, and he would prefer to see the rotunda on the sports ground. Mr J. Mason said that if he was elected he would prove the most advanced member on the Council. He thought the present members were some of the silliest people he had ever seen. He was in favour of the band subsidy, but was opposed to the rotunda being erected behind the well.

Councillor J. B. Scoble said that he had always been in favour of a progressive policy and claimed credit for several a,rterial roads. Ho hoped soon to see gas installed. He was in favour of a £3O vote to the band, and he thought the back of the well was the right place for the rotunda.

Mr G. W. Sellars advocated an improvement in the lighting of the borough, saying that if coal gas was not feasible, acetylene ga*> should be installed. He thought a working foreman should be appointed for the borough. If elected he would vote for renewing the band subsidy, but ho was opposed to the rotunda being put behind the well. Councillor G. W. Stanilaud said that when he took his scat in the Council there was a debit balance of nearly £SOO and now there was a credit balance of from £4O to £SO. The outgoing members of the Council had done good service in putting the finances in a sound position. He was in favour of the subsidy to the band, and he would vote for the band rotunda being erected in front of the pier. Captain A. W. Owles, a candidate for the Mayoralty, said that he was not going to make any gilded promises, but would like to see a vast improvement mado on the foreshore, and up-to-date bathing sheds erected along the beach. He advocated the erection of a pumping station at the river to enable the Tramway Board to send its sprinklers to water the_ main thoroughfare of the borough in the summer months. He was in favour of the band subsidy, and' also of having the band rotunda behind the -well. The Mayor said that he had had a helping hand in practically every step of progress that had taken place in Now Brighton during his twenty years residence. The rotunda would have been built long ago had there not been so much "bickering" both inside and outside the Council. He thought attention should at once be given to the laying out of a sports ground, and providing better lighting in the borough. A special loan should be raised to provide a town hall, which he thought could 'be made self-supporting. The greatest problem that was beroro the Council was the question of securing a. permanent residential population. The main factor in securing this was a cheaper tram service to and from Christchurch: Ho advocated a threepenny fare for residents. During the coming year titer© would be a very largo expenditure of money, but it would not be necessary to burden the ratepayers any further, ou account of the care that had been exercised by the Council in the past* A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman concluded an enthusiastic, meeting.

Mr A. H. Anderson, a candidate for the St Albans Ward, delivered the final address of his campaign at Knightstown Library last evening, Mr H. E. Morgan presiding. The speaker dealt with a number of questions, emphasising the need for reform in connection with the enrolment of voters. The water-power scheme was also referred to, Mr Anderson urging that there was need of more onergv on the part of the City Council in dealing with this question. The question of sanitation was dealt with by the candidate, who said that he strongly condemned the neglect of trie Mayor and Councillors to acquaint ratopayors with the provisions of the Empowering Bill passed la«?t session. A vote of thanks Was accorded the candidate.