THE MUNECIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12239, 7 April 1903, Page 5

THE MUNECIPAL ELECTIONS.

THE CITY MAYORALTY. MEETING OP MR. STICHBURY'S SUPPORTERS. A meeting of the supporters of Mr. J. Stichbury, one of the candidates for the City Mayoralty, was held in the Federal Hall last evening, when the preliminary arrangements in connection with the coming election were ma.de. There was a good attendance, and apologies were received from a number of supporters who were unable to bo present. Mr. G. Higgins was voted to .tjie chair. Mr. Stichbury, in addressing those present, said he had extracted from the Council's book a few facts concerning the financial position of the city, which would belie the report that had been circulated to the effect that the Council was in a bad financial position. As a matter of fact, the Council was in an excellent financial r position. There was no occasion whatever for any increase in the rates. A readjustment -was all that was required. At present the general rate was insufficient, and the special rate was more than sufficient. He advocated that 3d in the £ should be taken off the latter and added to the former, thus benefiting the general rate to the extent of £4748 a year. There was no overdraft at the present time. On the contrary, the Council had received a considerable sum in interest on credit balances during the past 12 months. The debt of the city, not taking into account the new loans for Victoria Park, the abattoirs, and the destructor, amounted to £574,900. This might seem a large sum, but the money was well laid out, and the Council had valuable assets to show for it. The sinking funds totalled £77,000, and this amount was earning interest at the rate of 5 per cent, and over. During the past year the Council had received in .interest on its credit balances at the bank the sum of £526, and the only sum that had had to be paid in respect of a small debit balance was £20 2s 6d, leaving the net amount received in interest £505 17s 6d. He would deliver a public address before the election, and. he would then go into these matters more fully. With reference to his principal opponent, Mr. Mitchelson, nothing could be said against him as a —that was a certainty. Mr. Mitchelson, however, had never had half an hour's experience of municipal matters, and he asked whether it was right or just that he should be brought forward as the tool of a few people would know whom he meant— wished "to run the Council by getting on the committees. If his opponent were elected he would simply be a figurehead, doing exactly as he was told by those who were bringing him forward. He (Mr. Stichbury) had worked himself up in the Council, and he was proud of his career there and on the other local bodies on which he had served, especially the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. If any persons stated that money was wasted whilst he was chairman of the lastnamed body, he would convince them to the contrary. During Mr. Kidd's term of office a great deal of useful work had been done, including the asphalting of Queen-street, the installation of the electric tramways, the new water supply, the improvement of the streets, the erection and equipment of the new fire brigade station, and the purchase of the new road roller and stone-crusher. The works which the new Council would have to face would be extra drainage, Victoria Park, and abattoirs and electric lighting, and possibly an improvement in. the sanitary sen-ices, which he thought should be taken over by the Council when the present contract expired. (Applause.) Those present then proceeded to the election of committees to work in Mr. Stichbury's interest in the various wards. MR. MITCHELSON'S CANDIDATURE. We are informed that good progress is being made in connection with the candidature of the Horn E. Mitchelson for the City Mayoralty. The committees will meet in the North and East Wards to-morrow evening, in the Grafton and South Wards on Thursday, and in the Ponsonby Ward on Tuesday evening next.

ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS. A well-attended meeting of ratepayers was held in St. James' Hall last evening for the purpose of selecting candidates for the position of councdlors for the various wards of the city, pledged to the abolition of the ward system and a careful and prudent administration of the finances of the city. The following selections were made : —North Ward, Mr. S. 0. Brown (formerly Mayor of Grey Lynn), Mr. T. T. Ma&efield, and Mr. J. H. Hannan (sitting members), the lastuamed conditionally on his pledging himself to support the abolition of the ward system. East Ward: Messrs. J. McLeod (sitting member), P. Oliphant, and L. J. B agnail. South Ward : Messrs. R. Earrell, M. Casey, and Y. Warren. Ponsonby Ward: Messrs. J. Court, 0. J. Parr (sitting members), and Hutchison. Grafton Ward : Messrs. J. W. Hewson (sitting member), W. - Spedding, and Knight.