THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4951, 29 April 1903, Page 7

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

TO-DAY'S POLLING. t'ho first Municipal Council to t><’ elected by i In- burgess, s <;f Greater \\ ollijigton will ho selected to-day, Tljc burgesses of Me I rose will return three rejirescnlalivos ami tho burgesses of the city arc called upon to chime twelve. Tho city candidates offering themselves for election are ;—Messrs Barber, Devine, Evans, Godbcr, Izard, Luke Murdoch, McLaren. Nathan, Smith, Tolhurst and Winder Ovho composed tin; outgoing Council), G. Anderson, G. in. 35. I Jay li.i, K. li. Davenport, W illiaia Grant, \V. H. .Hampton, V. Jenson, Allan Orr. Thomas Urr, Alexander J, Hand, G. Wiltshire and W. A. _ Worth. The polling-booths for Hie city are— St. Paul’s Schoolroom. Exchange Hall. Recha-hites’ llaM. Skating Pink, St. Murk’s .Schoolroom. Victoria Hall and the Gymnasium (Newtown). For Melrcso ward Die candidates are —Messrs Keene. Frost, Jorgensen,Rwd. Fullford. Drown, Crump, Aforra.it and Rranlgan. Tim pel ling places are .at the Island Hav Schoolroom, Viegmho tiara's 31 all (Kiibirnie), tho Oliro Baptist Cb arch room, jto .e neat h Schoolroom find McCarthy's store. AUtonelltowu.

Polling will also tako place in tho neighbouring boroughs. A t Fetono tho Mayoralty is being contested by Messrs H. Mothes and G. T. London. Ac Ka.rori the candidates for the office of ■Mayor are Messrs J. B. Tarr and W H. Tisdall. Borough Councillors have also to ho elected by tho burgesses of these two municipalities, and by thos of Onslow and Lower Hutt. Votes may bo recorded between the hours of 0 a.m. and 7 p.m. TUB RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION. At tho Ratepayers’ Association last ■night tho president (Mr A. L. Wilson) touched on to-day’s election! He said lie scarcely liked on the eve of an election to attack a dead Council. Flo preferred to wait until the members were resurrected before attempting to criticise. In conversation with a great many citizens, he found there teas a very strong desire to have some change in the personnel of the Council. How,ever desirable and good the Councillors might have been, a little nowblood would stir matters up. Ho would not say what part the association .should tako in the way of canvassing. The association bad selected twelve members, and ho had little doubt a good many of them would be elected. It was, lie thought, an abominable thing to see an election conducted and only a fourth of the voters going to the poll. There seemed to bo a singular apathy on tho part of citizens. Presumably it was a sign they were doing well, but it was just at a time like tho present that they should bo wary. Ho saw nothing looming up in tho future except the question cf street-widening, for which ho thought tho inevitable loan would como up sooner or later, but it would not came until after tho election. Two members expressed their intention of not voting for a single ono of tho old Councillors. Mr Barnett was of opinion that the majority,'if not all, of the old Councillors had no claim on tho support of the association. They bad no courage or spirit. The best part of tho Corporation work was delegated to committees. THE PETONE MAYORALTY.. Mr G. London, who is a candidate for the Mayoralty of Petone, addressed a mooting in tho Oddfellows’ Hall last evening. Air London dealt at length with the statement that his knowledge of borough affairs did not warrant him coming forward! as a candidate. Ho also dealt with Mr Mothes’ reply to certain criticisms which had boon published regarding tho finances of tho borough, and stated that if tho Council had not so much loan money at its disposal, its position at present would not have been so satisfactory. Air London condemned the practice of ‘transferring money from tho general account to tho public works account in anticipation of a loon being subsequently carried to pay the amount. Ho denied the statement that if elected ho intended removing tho present servants of tho Council from office. Ho adversely criticised tho manner in which the estimates of public works were prepared. Speaking of the Korokoro settlers and their grievances regarding the percentage ot which they wore rated, ho said it was unfair that they should have to pay tho same rates as tho more .centrally-situated residents without being in a position to partake of tho samcV berifcfits. On the question of tho Korokoro water supply, ho said he could, not give an. opinion ■on the volume of water available, and would have to rely on tho opinion, of exports.

Mr Baud, ono of tho candidates for election to the Greater Wellington City Council, addressed an open-air mooting at Newtown last evening. Mr Hand met with a good reception from the largo crowd that gathered to hear him. his" remarks being frequently received with expressions of approval. Ho regretted that the present Citv Councillors had not infused a little more life into the contest by corning out and addressing the ratepayers, and generally giviuw an account of their stewardship. Ho trusted the people would stand by him on tho morrow. Mr J. W. Henderson, a candidate for a seat on the Karori Borough Council, has an address to the doctors in another

column. Addresses to tho electors are published in our advertising columns by Messrs Baylis, Band, D. J. Nathan, J. J. Bovine and Allan Orr.