MAYORAL ELECTION

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7956, 12 April 1904, Page 3

MAYORAL ELECTION

Mr Abrahams at Terrace End.

>'? Municipal Catechism

Active hostilities in the municipal campaign were comtnencecl last night by Mr S. Abrahams, who addressed a very fair meeting in the Princess Hotel, Terrace End.

Mr Pinker ton took the chair. CANDIDATE'S CONSISTENCY.

The candidate referred to the programme which he formulated last year. He ■ was consistent and still relied on that programme. Keferring to the three candidates in the field, he said if he were not a candidate he certainly would not vote for a gensleman who had never sat in the Council. An apprenticeship in public work should be served before contesting the mayoralty. He and Messrs Haydon and Hurley were personal friends in private life, and he Was going to fight on iair and friendly lines.—(Hear, hear.) One reason why they should not vote for Mr Hurley was that he was a new man. Mr Dunk, a new man last year, came forward with even better credentials than Mr Hurley, but unfortunately he had not been succecsful; he had not stuck to his programme. The best plan would be to-take a poll on the Opera House question, and if elected he would endeavour to carry that out.

ABATTOIRS,

The abattoir question was also a burning one. There were a lot of strings being pulled in this matter. " I tell you no strings can be pulled where lam concerned. I am not afraid to speak out what I think." He said ratepayers should be asked to show, at the poll, whether abattoirs should be built, or the powers of the Council delegated to the freezing works. ... SEWERAGE. The sewerage question was another important matter. Beyond calling for tenders, however, they were practically in the same -position as before. He hoped now tenders had been called the work should be proceeded with without delay. WATER SCHEME. Referring to the water question— which had not been touched on—he declared that if the scheme he propounded last year had been carried out, there would not have been such a .disastrous fire as was experienced. Ho contended that they should go in for a loan for an adequate waterworks scheme. The revenue from the Borough for the water supply this year was £2,329. £ 2,000 would pay interest at 5 per cent, which was sufficient to cover a loan and put by sinking fund on a loan of (£40,000. They could carry out a Bcheme—even if it cost £20,000—and pay the interest out of the revenue from ■the;' water supply The Council had a "■ scheme before the last election, but un- ' fortunately had not proceeded with it. Mr Abrahams then went on to refer to the erection of a large number of dwellings, and the difficulty of the poorer class of men to obtain proper water supply.- Then again they could never get a. proper sewerage scheme without an adequate water supply for flushing purposes.

" THE WHOLE HOG."

Continuing he said: "This morning's Manawatu Times has given me a character fit for the Prime Minister of New Zealand." The Times, however, was consistent in its inconsistency. Last year it supported him, but now, he said, it was supporting Mr Hurley without hearing his views, or those of the other candidates. Reading1 from the Times, he said he had been asked to stand down and go in as a councillor. He was also told he could do the town a great service.. He was going to try to do that service, but it would be as Mayor, not as a • councillor; he was not going to stand down. (Hear, hear). If elected he would carry out his duties fearlessly in what he considered the best interests of the Borough. He would also insist on a proper respect being shown to the chair. If Mr Dunk had been firm from the start, the Council would now be in a fur better position.

'■"•■'... QUESTIONS. In reply to a question from the chairman as to his scheme for the water Bupply, the candidate said he would ask the ratepayers to sanction a loan of say. £20,000. The revenue, as he had explained, would pay the interest.

" Are you unfavourable to this Staffs Committee ?"

11 If the Council consider a committee should be set up, I see no objection,', replied Mr Abrahams.

" "Would you advise doing away with tne present staff, in the present state of the Council?',

"If a report in favour of it were brought forward, it would have to show distinctly why. the change should be made. I am not intending to go into the Council to injure any man, nor to favour any man."

" Are you in favour of Mr Jickell's report that in case of buildings ground and elevation plans should be submitted and also plans of adjoining sections ?" "I do not think that is necessary, though lam not an expert. Everything ihould be made as easy as possible for the community consistent with strict regulations to see that dwellings are erected in a proper manner. In reply to a further question the candidate laid six acres might be sufficient for an abattoir itself, but not for the requirements of stock. ■

"If elected will you vote against the abattoir being erected at Hokowhitu ?"

"If eleoted, I will never take upon myself to give a 'party vote.' If it comes to a casting . vote I will vote according to my honest opinion. It is for the chairman to allow the majority to rule. I will never vote for any ♦party. 1"

*'I do not think you have quite answered the question," persisted the inquirer, Mr Eussell.

" Why should I be obliged to pledge myself before I have heard what is brought forward," jetorted Mr Abrahams, adding,',' A. man that will pledge himself to do a certain thing without knowing all the ins and outs is becoming a biassed individual." (Hear, hear.)

11 "Sou Say the Mayor should support the majority. "Would you do that if you thought the majority were utterly in the wrong ?" ,

" No; if I thought the majority were doing an injury to the community I would vote against them."

'•The Council having decided to erect ft superior drillshed for an Opera House, "would you support them ?"

" No, I would support the majority of the ratepayers." In answer to a further query, he said he would favour the erection of an Opera House on the old pound site. In regard to the protective works at Hokowhitu, he was asked if he was in •favour of the ratepayers there being lated for the work over a special area.

" If the people are willing to be rated, there should not be any obstacle thrown in their way."

" That is not the point," persisted the qnestioner, who - contended that the work, as it would tend to the benefit of the Borough as a whole, should be paid lor out of the general rates..

Mr Abrahams agreed that the ratepayers as a whok would be protecting their own property. The community at large should therefore help to stop a disastrous loss to property by flood. No more questions being forthcoming, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Abrahams for his address. He stated before the motion was put, that he did .not want a vote of confidence. They *could keep that for the day of the poll. iLasi; year, he said, he had no committee, he would have been returned mad things would not now be in such a mess. This time, however, he was obtaining the support of several gentlemen in favour of his candidature.