THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 24 April 1907, Page 1

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

RETIRING COUNCILLORS BEFORE THE ELECTORS. THE "MAJORITY" MASS MEETING. A mass meeting of the electors, called by the "majority of the present Council," was held at the Theatre Royal last evening. There was a very large attendance, the building being crowded in all parts. Mr George Stewart presided. The Chairman explained that the meeting had nothing to do with the conte.-t for tho Mayoralty, but was being held by the "majority" of the City Council. Cr. Hampson was the first speaker. He dealt with the specifications for the septic tank, and incidentally stated that it was well-known that even in the smallest contract it was found almost impo.siblc to carry out the exact specifications — there were always some extras. As to the septic tank, he contended that it was far better lo have a good job made at the outset, and .herefore a concrete wall should be bu:lt in place of a stone wall as at first proposed. The cost of a concrete wall would be £180— not £440, a-, certain Councillors untruthfully asserted time after time. Cr. Hampson spoke of tho wisdom of funding the overdraft. At present the overdraft was costing a 3d rata in interest. Then the rato of interest might go up to 7 or 8 per cent, and it was far better to hava tha overdraft transferred at 4J per cent intereat. Cr. Hampson raw no reason why the rates should not be reduced by ld in the £. Cr. Hounsell dealt with the gasworks, and said that the Mayor's statement that £2400 worth of plant was ordered without authorisation by the Council was not correct. The City Surveyor had recommended that certain material be obtained, and the Council resolved that the recommendations be carried out. He said that the Council should have a capable executive officer, and then put itn trust in him; and he had faith in the present executive officer. Cr Houilsell stated that he had never voted for any Wolks to be done out of overdraft, "and he had opposed the Mayor's proposal to spend £600 out of the" overdraft on the Waimea Road gas main, supporting a proposal to ask the ratepayers for a loan of £2500. He claimed that during the part two years he had done his duty to the ratepayers. Cr. Pettit dealt at some length with the meeting held in the Druids' Hall, -inrl snirl it reminded him of the water

chute in "Wonderland at the Exhibition — it was all splash. He belonged to no party, and thought there should be no party in the Council. If returned to tho Council ho would be a blind follower of no man, or Mayor, or Councillor. He had never given a party vote, but had voted as he thought best in the interests of the city. He supported the funding of the overdraft, and defended the Council's action in regard to the .onecrushing, asserting that the expenditure on the streets was well spent, and that the contractor got the job in fair and open competition. As to day labour versus contract, he at present believed the city wag better served by contract, but he was open to conviction, and if it could be shown to him that day labour was preferable he would ( support it. His interests, he reminded Ihem, were their interests, therefore it was not likely he would do anything that was not in the interests of the ratepayers. Cr. Harrison said that Councillors had not had fair, honest criticism — many misleading -/tatements had been made about Councillors, and their actions, it | being insinuated that they were wasting the people's money. He spoke of the charges against the City Surveyor, and ;aid that nothing had been proved igainst that officer.. Reference was nade to the septic tank, Cr Harrison ' itatiug that Mr Mestayer was quite latisfied with what had been done ; to he bridges, the purchase of the timber jeing defended ; and to the funding of he overdraft, the speaker explaining hat though he had at first been opposed •o funding the overdraft, fearing anither would be created, he now thought ,hat no Councillor! would dare to have mother overdraft. Cr. Atmore claimed that he and Mr Rout were entitled to some credit for laving aroused so much interest in mulicipal affairs. He showed that although he Mayor had referred to Mr Harley's 'wild-cat" proposals to spend over D 65.000, the people had sanctioned D 55.000 for drainage, £15,000 for water md other loans, and altogether had ■•ranted more than Mr Harley had suggested. The septic tank contract was lealt with aat some length, it being renarked that Mr Mestayer had carried iut drainage works aggregating a milion pounds, and Cr. • Atmore asked, .vas it likely Mr Mestayer would make a blunder over a £55,000 job? Again re- j [erring to Wainui-street, the speaker laid that the Council had spent 5800 on Wainui-street and neighbourhood, and while he admitted that the i Council was getting a good return for j he outlay, still, he wished to point out hat the Council would have got the | ;ame amount had Mr Rout made his *>wn street. I Mr Rout was invited on to the stage ! iis reply to Cr. Atmore, and acepting the invitation, he repeated his remarks ■>f the previous evening, and said that the Councillors who had dealt | with the matter were fools to make him the offer they did. I Cr. Atmore said he had not blamed Mr Rout-— he had said that Mr Rout was too clever for the Council. He mentioned that ex-Councillor Fairey had proposed two resolutions in regard to Wainui-street. Mr Fairey was given permission to go on the stage and make a statement, his remarks being similar to those previously reported. He said that he was no | friend of Mr Rout's, but he must say that Mr Rout had been a benefactor in converting a bog into an attratctive part of the . town. Cr. Atmore proceeded to defend the City Surveyor, though he said that if anything' could be proved against that ' officer no Councillor would defend him. | The benefit accruing from the new gas main in Waimea-road was referred to, figures being quoted to show the increased consumption at the College and Hospitals. Rating on unimproved values was opposed, as the system would press too heavily on the working man- in Nelson. The system was all right in compact cities, "but he warned them of the results of the adoption of the system (advocated by the Labour candidate) in Nelson. . . I Mr Johnston was given permission to go on the stage, when he said that it would be for the ratepayers to decide on the principle. I Cr. Atmore said, he recognised what unionism had done for the workers, but te unions could go too far. They did not want the Council to be governed by a party outside, but what was done should be done in the interests of the whole. The speaker said it would be

! possible to reduce the rates by Id in the £, and' thought % saving wo^ ba appreciated by the woinen, as it jerJiSo much more money for household purposes. In conclusion; Cr. Atmore said the "majority" had done t|Eeir best for tho city, aiid appealed to all to work together for "little Nelson/the pride of New Zealand.", (Loud' applause.) A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. . -it j To' the Editor. Sir,— lt was not until to-night vrhea reading your repprt of Mr Piper's meeting at the Theatre Royal last night that I saw Mr G. M. Rout had been getting into trouble with romeone over a very small matter, for, indeed, it is such a ver ysmall matter that I had quite forgotten about it until I happened to sea the report of Mr Rout's spech. Now, Sir, I happened to bo in Mr Rout's room at the time, and the man, who was in a very excited state, absolutely refused to leave the room without a pajjer with the names of whom to strike ouf. I can assure you, Sir, Mr Rout did all he possibly could to persuade tho man to leave, but he would not do so, as I have said, until he got the names. _If anyone would like to know anything more of the matter, : you can give them my name. lam not a personal friend of Mr Rout, but I believe in fair play to every man. Thanking you for space, I am, etc.,