MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 16 May 1941, Page 6

MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

MR TENNENT'S ADDRESS

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

There was an attendance of approximately 500 at the Opera House last evening when Mr \V. B. Tcnncnt 1 addressed electors in continuance of bis campaign for the Mayoralty. Mr Tcnncnt's address was, in the main, devoted to a reply to criticism levelled at him by Mr A. ,E. Mansford. Mr J. C. Young presided over an enthusiastic meeting and in introducing the candidate said the question was what particular man did they as citizens consider would worthily represent them, not only on Iho council, but also on all other occasions. The t radii ion was that, no particular national conscience came into it. The history of Palmerslon North was purely of a local character. While be appreciated the capabilities of the other luo candidates he considered it an honour to support Mr Tcnncnt. It was not a party question—there was only one issue. On rising to speak Mr Tenncnt was greeted with applause. A report of his speech appears on pa;?c 6. Replying to a questioner, Mr Tcnncnt said ho was not against sport on Sundays. There was no law to prevent people from playing on municipal greens on .Sundays. Sunday, however, was a day set aside for worship, and Sio thought it would be much better for the people if they spent more time on church affairs on Sundays. "If we have public meetings of women in tlie city, would you always want to come and influence those meetings and tell us what lo do?" was a question ar-ked by a female moinlvjr of the audience. Mr Tenncnt replied that be would, consider it bis duty to call the meeting, but he bad no desire to control it. There were plenty of women in the city able to control such

meetings. Mr Tenncnt was (hen asked which scheme he would support, to augment t hewater supply for Palinerston North. Three schemes bad been suggested, he said ;n reply, and be was ill favour of temporising with the two artesian bores. Under the present conditions there was no alternative. . Mr ,1. A. Grant, proposing a vote c.t thanks, said that Palinerston North bad been given one of the opportunities of its life when Mr Tenncnt bad decided to contest the Mayoralty. It had been a great pleasure to him to present a peti; lion lo Mr Tenncnt asking him to allow bis name to go forward as a candidate. He felt sure no one had been disappointed bv Mr Ten'nent's speech and be .had very much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks and confidence in him. Seconding the motion. Mr T. .1. Rodgors thought it was not a good thing for any one man lo bold the office of Mayor indefinitely. There were young men who had the ability and should be given their opportunity. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr E. 11. Smith, a candidate for the City Council, also addressed the meeting. He staled that be was not a member of anv political organisation. lie had been a J P for 26 vcars, and had had a good deal of experience of local body work, besides having held executive positions on many sporting bodies, lie was now scrying his seventh year as president of the 'lakaro Progressive Association. Mr Tcnncnt's large men's election day committee meets to-night for final preparations for to-morrow. His ladies' committee had a final and enthusiastic meeting yesterday.

MR MANSFORD'S" CAMPAIGN Mr A W. Just presided over an attendance of about 30 electors at \\ est End last evening, and in introducing Mr A. E Mansford referred to the fact that he had carried out his duties as Mayor with credit to himself and with advantage to the city. ~ Dealing with the Emergency Precautions Committee. Mr Mansford slated that when the committee was first set. up as a result of the Napier earthquake various committees were arranged, with Mr C. \. Dav as secretary. This committee then went into recess until the war brought fne Emergcncv Precautions ( omniitteo into prominence with further -proposals from the Government. Mr Mansford stated that, realising that it was going lo take up more time than he could give it lie first consulted the Deputy-Mayor (Cr J rcmaine) to see if he would take the chairmanship of the Emergency Precautions Committee, and as he replied that his time was more than fully occupied with Homo Guard activities the speaker then asked Cr Tenncnt if he would take it. Cr 1 enrient replied that it was a full-time job, but Insupposed he would have to take it as a war effort. Mr Mansford then got the council to appoint Cr Tenncnt chairman and told him that Mr Day would give him all the information he had. In the following week Mr Mansford (Mayor). Cr remaino (Deputv-Mayor) and the town clerk (Mr Hardiel left for Auckland to attend the Municipal Conference. -You can imag ine mv surprise," said Mr Mansford, "on ,nv return from Auckland on Saturday morning to find Mr Tcnncnt had called a meeting of the Emergency Precautions Committee by circular and not by public advertisement, had not consulted Mr Day. and had set up further committees. When I asked him why he had called the meeting he said if bad been a matter of lirgenev Fancy," said Mr Mansford. the meeting was called for Friday and the Mayor, Deputy-Mayor, and the tou'n clerk were back in Palmcrston North on the Saturdav. No wonder be got m a tangle. "Then, because' his action was questioned he caused a breeze with the Mayor at a*'council meeting, and out of pique decided next morning to contest the Mavoralty. j. . "That ladies and gentlemen, is the reason this city is put to the expense of an election. Just pique, because Cr I onnent had previously stated he would not. be a candidate. This young man anxious to serve the city must not be questioned as to his actions! "On fop of this.' said Mr Mansford, "he went to Duncdin and left no deputy when the Emergency Committee was required. Whilst be was away no one knew whom to approach. This and that person came to me and I could not toll them anything. It seems to me the Emergency Precautions Committee has not been controlled and organised as it should have been" concluded Mr Mansford. Mr Mansford again referred to Mr lennent's absence from meetings. "Mr '1 onnent slates that T knew where he was As a matter of fact, 1 cannot say that I did know where he was- and that is not the question. The question was whether he was awav or whether he was not. Mr Tenncnt 'refers lo the facl thai be offered bis cervices in connection with the war. If he looks up the records he might, find lhal others have done the same without talkinz about it. He further refers to the fact that 'f congratulated bun on the report in connection with the gas undertaking. Wain Ibis is a sign of good leadership, particularly in view cf Ihc fact Ih.it. I knew most of the figures were compiled by n a member of the council slah". In regard to bis lack of courtesy in starting the campaign, the fact that lie was going lo Dune dinis no excuse nl all. AH he had in dp | was to tell me the date be was starting his campaign and give me Ihc opportunity, if rj so desired, of speaking fust. ••Re Mr Tcnncnt's advertiwnicnf • He .tales that the town clerk, the engineers. and the beads of departments will still carrv on as usual. Now. wool the departmental heads be pleased to know that Mr Tenncnt states lh.it they will still carry on as usual. Now. Mr Tenncnt. says the Mavor. no miller how good he has been. ,n„s( be thrown overboard after bo has served ten vcars. so what guarantee has the stair got. particularly from a man who can wobble on Ibe Sunday (ffltT« question when he is faced with a crowd? If be will wobble then he will wo I,bio over the staff if he gets m n iamb! At the conclusion nf Mr Mnnsfords addr.-. a motion of thanks and confidence was moved bv Mr Warren and seconded by Mr. D. Uecran and earned unanimously. " I'ALMF.RSTO'X NORTH'S RATES. Mr I'" Jackson presided when Mr A. E* 'Mansford addressed electors ill the State Theatre to-day. Mr Mansford s address was on the lints of those previously to the rating position the Mavor cave a comparison of the rates in this" city with those of .several other places in New Zealand. The figures for all the main centre, were not available, but Mr Mansford gave a comparison of the rates between Invcrcnrgill, New Plymouth, Wanrranui and Auckland, taking the unim-

proved value of a property at £250 and the capital value at £1250. The figures were as follow: £ s d Palinerston North 12 9 J Invercargill 16 12 9 New Plymouth 13 4 1 Wuiiganui 19 13 3 Auckland Ij J u '1 hese' 1 figures, said Mr Mansford, proved how the rules had been kept down to a minimum and yet the social services had been maintained. He stated that he felt no .malice towards Mr Tenncnt. There had been nothing personal in his remarks. He held both of his opponents in the highest esteem Mr K. A. Henderson proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Mansford for his address for his work in the past, and what Re would do in the future. This was carried unanimously. MR MANSFORD TO-NIGHT.

The final, address from Mr A. E. Mansford will be given at the Opera House to-night at 8 o'clock. Tne chair will bo takci. by Cr.' G. Tremaine, Deputy-Mayor,

LABOUR CANDIDATES

Mr W. 11. Drown occupied the chair labt evening at the Hokowhitu School, when Mr C. R. .Murphy, the Mayoral candidate, and the Labour candidates for the council addressed just on 40 electors of the Hokowhitu district. The chairman, in opening the meeting, taid ihut he was well acquainted' with Mr Murphy and could truthfully say that he knew of no reason why the candidate should not creditably fill the position of Mayor ol the eitv. 'Speaking as president of the Automobile Association, Mr Drown t-uid that Mr Murphy was a "live" member of the association's executive, and one whose slogan was "service," a very necessary qualification for the high office to which ho aspired. Mr Murphv opened his address by referring to a' letter in the '•.Manawatu Standard," from the Palmcrston North branch of the Communist Party, and said that he'certainly was not courting the doubtful support of that organisation. He did not. want its support, and furthermore if jic felt lliat. his candidature in any way depended upon the backing of the Communist Party he would ask to be withdrawn from" the contest. His criticism Of municipal affairs, Mr Murphy said, and his expressed opinions of departmental management had not been refuted or challenged bv either of Ins opponents, who evidently were too busily occupied to give anv attention to the minor matter of the city's affairs He had endeavoured during his campaign lo present a statement ol constructive criticism and policy, and to avoid unvthing that savoured of personal recrimination, and he would continue to ' \t the conclusion of his address quo<tioni were put to the candidate and were answered to the complete satisfaction of ,he audience. Mr Murphy was followed by the other candidates for council and local botlv positions, who spoke briefly on the linen thev had adopted at other meet intra Mr Hodgens -aid thai he had happy memories of hit, association with the chairman during the lime Mr Drown wa, „ member of the City Council and rc■uaied bis previously expressed desire dial |„. di( i riot wish for support in this cam paign if that ,-ttppoil vvcie not on tended o Mr Murphv and the oilier member* of Labor's team. This in spite of the c: M a h« W b» extremely ealcus, said Mr HodJens referring to the recently published n^rmceiin« t ''clo,ed with a vote ol H,-,>!-s to the sneakers and of confidence labour', candidate* for the Mayoralty. •itv Council hospital and power boards The resolution was carried unanimously. „ was a vole of thanks to Mr Brown for the able manner in which he had conducted the meeting. TO-NIGHT'S MEETING.

To-night at ihc Oddfellows' Hall, Cub* Strcei Labour candidates will clo,-e their municipal campaign by a brief eurvc-y oi the' cardinal points ol then; policy, the large attendances at previous mcctingo have been' appreciated, and is accepted as an indication of the interest that has boen aroused in the campaign, and as an omen for to-morrow. The meeting will be under the chairmanship of the senior sitting councillor. Mr J. Hodgens, M.P., and will be addressed by Mr Murphy. the Mavoral .candidate, and by Mrs Bennett, Mi* Harrod. and Mr Salmons, who arecontesting'City Council seats. In view ol the importance or the issues al stake tomorrow- a good attendance is anticipated.