THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4304, 13 March 1901, Page 5

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

ATTITUDE OF THE RATEPAYERS’

ASSOCIATION,

The Ratepayers’ Association met last night to resume consideration of the programme for the coining municipal elections, a platform for which was partly selected at the previous meeting. The Chairman (Mr Hnrrell) urged the need for organisation for the coming contest. The association had the responsibility of voting for good men, and he trusted that that power would be exercised well, especially as he feared that an attempt would be made to use the elections as a political machine. After some discussion, the consideration of the programme was resumed. Mr R. H. Davenport moved, “That no Corporation officer should bei allowed to do any private work, and that the whole of his time should be devoted to the work of his department.” Mr McAlpine, seconding the motion, said that he believed there weffe instances of Council officials employing outsiders to assist them in their Council worl:, whilst at the same time they were able to take work outside.

The motion was carried, and the clause was added to the programme.

Mr R. E. Bannister moved as the next clause, that the association should support the Town Hall proposal. This was opposed by, Mr Benjamin Smith, and strongly supported by M” A. Wilson (Newtown), who l said th.ic a Town Hall was —mcessary to bring us' into lino with our neighbours. “Cheeseparing’’ was not altogether a good policy. Mr Thomas Orr said that he took as much pride in a Town Hall as anybody else, but he objected to a Town Hall costing £50,000, a sum which wouldn’t put in the foundations of some of the Town Halls in the Old Country. The motion was carried, and this proposal added to the programme by eight votes to five.

Considerable discussion took place in regard to street formation, a number of members strongly objecting to any borrowing for this purpose. Finally it was decided that the question should not be included in the programme. A motion recommending that sufficient money should bo borrowed to put the streets in good order was lost.

There was some discussion as to the reorganisation of the City Council staff, and it was decided that a motion should be drafted on the subject, to be debated at next meeting. A motion by Mr Bannister was- proposed in bis absence by the chairman in the following terms :—“That a public meeting be called by this association, and that speakers be invited to express their opinions on municipal matters generally, such meeting to be held about the 2nd April.’’ .

This was lost, an amendment, moved by Mr A. L. Wilson, being carried, postponing the question of the public meeting until the programme had been finally selected.

The association is to meet again on Tuesday evening next.