TAKAPUNA CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 13

TAKAPUNA CONTEST.

MEETING OF, RATEPAYERS.;

SOME LIVELY PASSAGESCRITICISM OF CANDIDATES* Some lively passages occurred lasrfi evening at a meeting of Takapuna ratepayers, which was addressed by the present Mayor, Mr. J. W. Williamson, and the candidates for the council on the ticket of the Combined Ratepayers'' Associations of the borough. Mr. P. J. J. Dawson presided. In his address Mr. Williamson pleaded for support for the whole ticket of the combined ratepayers' associations.

Mr. A. M. Seaman asked the electors not to vote for him unless they supported Mr. Williamson's He did not want to have to serve under either of the other mayoral candidates. The retiring council, he said, had in the last two years cut down the "overhead ' expenses by £2OOO a year. Both Messrs. D. Guiniven and Davis, said Mr. Seaman, bad been obstructionists on the council, and neither had pulled his weight in the borough's affairs.

Mr. C. H. M. Wills also criticised Messrs. Wilkie and Guiniven for their actions in regard to the Waitemata Bridge Association, declaring that both were out of touch with the association and its aims.

Mr. Guiniven asked the Mayor how he could justify bis action in being a party to asking for special legislation by Order-in-Council depriving the ratepayers of the right to a poll in regard to tho revocation of tho lato Tramway

Company's concession. Mr. Williamson's- explanation was to the effect that tho council had acted in the matter in accordance with law and under legal advice. Public notice bad been advertised and no ratepayer had. objected.

Mr. Seaman further explained-that the suggestion for legislation by Order-in-Council had been made by the Tramway Company and not by the council. Mr. J. Davis challenged the Mayor to name three occasions on which he had actually obstructed business.

Mr. Williamson said there had been considerably more than three occasions. One question related' to the payment to Messrs. Stevenson, contractors for the Milford storage culvert, of £IOOO in excess of the amount of their tender. The explanation given was that legal steps with regard to the contract caused undue delay in having it executed. When Messrs. Stevenson were asked to take up tlie contract the weather conditions had altered to their disadvantage, and alter negotiation the council agreed to add £.LOUO to their contract price. Another question raised by Mr. Davis concerned the alleged installation of <4. water meter for a councillor without any record in the borough's books.

Mr. Williamson said he had heard the allegation only on Wednesday last and had given instructions that in future proper entries should be made in every case.

A vote of thanks and confidence wail passed to the candidates. A gathering of about 100 in the Milford Hall was addressed last evening by Mr. A. H. Wilkie, candidate for the Takapuna Mayoralty, and the members of the Independent Party who are seeking election to the borough council. They are Captain J. A. Algio and Messrs. L. H. Titchener and Ernest Lilly. A unanimous vole of confidence was passed to all the speakers.