THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12256, 28 April 1903, Page 5

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

POLLING TO-MORROW. The municipal elections in Auckland City and Grey Lynn, Parnell, Newmarket, Devonport and: Birkenhead boroughs take 8 place to-morrow. A lively interest is being * manifested in several of the contests. 1 : AUCKLAND CITY. . ■ In the City of Auckland there are con- - tests for the Mayoralty and for all the ward seats except Ponsonby, whose three representatives have been elected unopposed. 1 The polling places are Hospital and Oharit- - able Aid Board offices (East Ward), Central , Mission Hall ; (North Ward), St. James ' Hall (South Ward), Ponsonby Hall (Pon- • sonby Ward), and St. Benedict's Hall (Grafi ton Ward). The. polling places open at I nine a.m. and close at seven p.m. Follow- ; ing are the candidates _ Mayoralty: Messrs. J. W. Hewson, E. L Mitchelson, W. Richardson and J. Stich- . bury. East Ward: Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, C. ; Grey* Jno. McLeod, Dr. H. Walker. . Nortb Ward: Messrs. S. C. Brown, P. 1 Dignan, J. H. Hannan, T. T. Masefield, G. 1 H. Powley, W. A. Thompson, Sam. White, > South Ward: Messrs. M. Casey, R. Farrell, 1 A. E. Glover, J. T. Julian, Arthur Rosser. Grafton Ward: Messrs. J. W. Hewson, , Jas. Jamieson, Geo. Knight, Jas. McLeod, , John Patterson, Dr. E. W. Sharman, Wm. , Spedding. ' ADDRESS BY DR. SHARMAN. Dr. E. W. Sharman, one of the candidates in the Grafton Ward for a seat on the City Council, addressed a largely-attended meeting of municipal electors in St. Benedict s ( Hall last evening. Mr. S. I. Clark was in the chair. . " j Dr. Sharman said he had no axe to grind, and although it had been said that such busy men 'as doctors should nob enter public life it was a fact that most of the present members of the Council were quite as busy in their occupations as doctors were. In i respect tc the burning question of city finance, he knew nothing except what he ; saw stated in the press. Mr. J. Stichbury, ' an old member of the Council and a candi- | date for the Mayoralty, had stated that the finances were in an excellent condition, but, on the other hand, Mr. Hewson, another old councillor and also a candidate for the Mayoralty, said they were in a hopeless condition. • In this he had been supported by Mr. C. J. Parr in his speech the othei night, and after reading that candidate's statement he could only say that the finances were being conduoted on altogether wrong lines. He strongly advocated the abolition of, the wards. (Applause.) The ward system tended to foster a spirit of parochialism, and the ward returning councillors with the greatest influence naturally got more than their fair share of the expenditure in the game of " grab" which was continually carried on. If Auckland desired to progress, the best thing it could do was to do away with the wards and go in for a Greater Auckland. If elected, he would advocate the latter policy on the basis of some sound method of finance. He favoured the appointment of a commission to inquire into the financial and other conditions of the various suburban bodies and report to the City Council, and to afterwards take a vote of the electors in the various districts as to the question of union. • In regard to drainage, he commended the action of the Harbour Board in at last deciding to prohibit the carrying out of sewerage works providing foi the deposit of the sewage in the harbour. He considered it was a most iniquitous thing that the present' outfall system should have ever been allowed to exist. He advocated that the City Council should, at the expiration of the present sanitary contract, take the work in hand itself with a view to ensuring greater economy and more efficient service. (ApI plause.) Speaking of the abattoir question, he said he had not had time to go fully into the question of sites, but he had no hesitation in saying that the present site was the worst. After referring to hospital matters (as reported elsewhere), he said he had heard it stated that his chief aim in seeking election to the Council was for the purpose of " slating" the trams. Such a statement was stupid, silly, and pettifogging. The electric trams were infinitely preferable to the horse cars, but they were not perfect. They made too much noise and dust, and the seats were uncomfortable. The Council should also insist on a time-table being adhered to. (Applause.) He did nob think the streets of the oity were rightly constructed. The making of streets should be left to the city engineer, without the interference of councillors. As to the question of electric lighting, he thought this matter should be inquired into. The Council should have charge of all public services, and should not part with the birthrights of the citizens by' handing them over to public companies for the purpose of making profit out of. in respect to city endowments, he thought that instead of being dealt with as at present they should be offered it the public at reasonable upset prices. On resuming his seat Dr. Sharman was greeted with loud applause. In answering questions, the candidate said the question of Sunday trams would have to be settled by a vote of the people, but if Sunday trams were run the terms should be decided by the City Council. On the motion of Mr. McElroy, a vote of thanks and confidence in Dr. Sharman was carried without dissent, and the meeting then terminated. ADDRESS BY MR. S. 0. BROWN. Mr. S. 0. Brown, one of the candidates for the North Ward, Auckland City, addressed a meeting of electors in the Federal Hall last night. Mr. A. J. Entrican presided. Mr. Brown, in the opening part of •Lis address, lamented the fact that very few councillors came before their constituents to give an account of their stewardship. Referring to city finance, Mr. Brown said he did not wish to speak in a critical spirit, but in noting the steadily rising revenue, and yet the extremely heavy deficit, he felt it was high time that the good jld principle of keeping our expenditure within our revenue should be steadily kept in view. (Applause.) In speaking on the abolition of the ward system, Mr. Brown pointed out that the Council were at present acting illegally in the distribution of their funds, which made it necessary under the latest Act that money raised in the ward should be spent*"' there. Ha urged his hearers to take a larger view of affairs than the - parochial one at present existing. In speaking of a Greater Auckland, which he said was a plank of his platform, he pointed out that not only would there be a benefit by acting in concert, but economy would result, because where there 'were now several borough offices and town clerks, there would, under the amalgamation, only be one, and there would be great benefit to the city by having one highly qualified engineer. At the close of the address several questions were asked and answered, after which, on the motion of Mr. George Rhodes, a vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously accorded to Mr. Brown.

GREY LYNN. Mr. John W. Shackelford has been returned Mayor of Grey Lynn, but there are ; contests in the three wards for seats on the ; Council. The polling places are: St. George's Hall (Surrey Ward); Council Chambers, Rose Road (Sussex Ward); Primitive Methodist sohoolhouse, Richmond Road (Richmond [Ward). Following are the candidates: — Surrey Ward: Messrs. William Brinsden, [William Walter Dumper, William ■ Sydney 'Smith, Samuel Thomas. I Sussex Ward: Messrs. John Ourrie, Wililiam Dimery, John Farrell, Henry E. Rogers. i Richmond Ward: Messrs. Victor P. Casey, William S. Donald, John Edgar, John Raphael Lundon, James A. Warnock, Richard Walker. '■ " ' ' " I PARNELL. !| lor the Parnell Mayoralty there are two ■candidates, viz., John Fitt, the present •Mayoi, and James Gilmour. Following are the candidates for seats on the Council': — Messrs. George W. Basley, John A. Beale, Richard S. Briggs, George Foster, George F. Fowler, John L. Leonard, John R. Lundon, John Petford, James Slator, William Thomas, :CaleL Wood. The polling, will be at the Borough Council Chambers, from nine a.m. to seven pirn. ;■,.': ■ |. NEWMARKET. I In Newmarket Mr. John _ McColl, the retiring Mayor, seeks re-election, and is being, opposed by Mr. F. G. Clayton. Following are the candidates for seats on the Council: \ Messrs. Francis Bennett, G. F. Borgoltz, J. R. • Caston, Ernest Davis, W. Edgerley, W. H. Hamblin. R. R. Holmes, Christopher Leek, Jas. McColl, Alfred. R. Seccombe, and Arthur O. Shipherd. The polling will be at; Newmarket Hall, between nine a.m. and seven p.m. >• DEVONPORT, »*"' There is no contest.for the Mayoralty? at ; Devonport, Mr :'-. E. W. Alison, M.H.R., having been returned unopposed. The following \ .Hue candidates ! for seats on the Council : — ] Messrs. H. J. Baulf, C. G. Dacre, G. sVVf Edgcumbe, William: Handley, Robert Logan, tun., F. E. Mason,* O. P. Murdoch, EH. Peel, W. J. W. Philson,-J. A. Walker. The polling will be at the Council Chambers between nine a.m. and seven Em - !£:V ■•:■■:c:-. : .v•..■'■- -:.,..:.■-'.': .■.--:^S^::ofy BIRKENHEAD. Mr. J. H. Witbeford. M.H.R.. has been ieturned Mayor ■- of = Birkenhead unopposed.; The candidates for seats on the Council are Messrs. s Harold Frith, John Jaadfipld, Tom Hadfield, H. W. Hud»n, D. M. H©ro» 4 Jas.

Haitw, Alexander Keyes,'J. G. Kay, H. P. Taylor, William Wallace, E. J. White. The polling will be at Zion.Hill' schoolroom, between nine a.m. and seven p.m.

Mr. E. Mitchelson's ponsonby Ward Committee meet in St. John's Wesleyan school, Pcnsonby Road, this evening. .: Mr. John Petford announces that he is a candidate for re-election to the Parnell Borough Council. : - Messrs. George Knight's and W. Spedding's friends and supporters meet in the Wesley Hall, Pitt-street, this evening. Mr. E. Mitchelson's Grafton Ward Committee meet in St. Benedict's Hall, Eaststreet, this evening. Mr. James Stichburjr's committee and friends of all wards meet in the Foresters' Hall this evening.. Mr. E. Mitchelson's South Ward Committee meet in St. James' Hall to-night. Mr. J. H. Hannan has an address to the electors of the North Ward in another part of this issue. Mr. Hannan's committee meet in Parkinson's diningrooms, Victoria-street, this evening. > Mr. E. Mitchelson's North and East Committees meet in the Federal Hall, Welles-ley-street, this evening. Mr. Sam. White's committee and supporters meet in the Federal Clubrooms this evening. v