MAYORAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 6

MAYORAL ELECTION.

LAST NIGHT’S MEETINGS. MR HISLOP’S CANDIDATURE. Tho Hon. T. W. Hislop, in continuance of Lis campaign for tho Mayoralty* last evening addressed enthusiastic and well-attended meetings at the New Century Hall and Roeencath. AT KENT TERRACE.

Tho meeting at the Now Century Hall was presided over by Mr George Winder, an ox-City Councillor, who said that while four .years ago ho was an enthusiastic supporter of Mr Aitkcn, ho now, after tho experience ho had had of Mr Hislop whiloon the Council, was just ao enthusiastic a supporter of that gentleman. Mr Hislop had served the city well, especially in financial matters, and had boon responsible for a considerable saving to tho ratepayers. Mr Hislop said that by now every sane man and woman should bo convinccd that thero was nothing in the question lately raised about loan money. In respect to loan®, tho Commissioners wore tho persons who had to ultimately loan out tho money. In addition, no client had ever suffered loss wnore nis firm were trusted absolutely with lending out money, and the firm was certainly not going to begin with th© corporation of tho city of Wellington, ever which he had tho honour to preside. This was absolutely his last word about th© wretched sinking fund business, H© did not think thero was anybody to whom tho mud thrown by Mr Fisher would stick except the person who had thrown it. (Applause.) Dealing with administration, he compared his term of office with that when J Mr Aitkcn was Mayor, and claimed that I it had been more satisfactory in every way than that of his opponent. It had ( been, stated that he (Mr Hislop) had boon throwing a good deal of warmth into the discussion of public matters. It was impossible to carry on a contest of each a nature without some sort of personal allusion, because the whole question, was one of personal fitness to carry on tho business of the corporation, and he had only challenged Mr Duthie because he had challenged the fitness of tho speaker to hold the office. Mr Hislop touched on tho finances of the city and the important municipalization schemes which had been brought to maturity during his tenure of office, and claimed that ho could pardonably say that they had all been, in the best interests of tho city. With reference to the promise of Mr Aitkcn to tho Kelburn© people that if elected he would see that steps were taken to acquire the cable tramway by the City Council, Mr Hislop said that soon after going into office ho thought this would be a good thing and had gone into the question. He had then found that during Mr Aitken*© term of office the Council had not only granted the company a right of seven years* working, but had also guaranteed a profit of 7 per cent, per annum upon tlio expenditure. Yet Mr Altken had promised to take over tho tramway! He surely could not have been acquainted with the terms of the agreement when he made this promise. If th© company had not got a penny from the Council th© tramway would have paid them handsomely. He never have minded the guarantee of 7 per cent, if the Council could have taken the tramway over. If they gave notice > to do this next February the Council would have to add to the amount of principal which they would have to pay the difference between 7 per cent, and what th© tramway had earned during the seven years. Was that an agreement which was in the interests of the city ? Mr Altken at Kclbume had promised the residents that ho would take the matter of drainage and other works in hand if elected. Mr Aitken rid not appear to he sufficiently interested in the matter to know that & large mm of money had been borrowed to, undertake these very works', and that they were now actually in progress. At the conclusion of the address a committee <f those present was formed, and arrangements made for the furtherance of Mr Hislop's candidature. AT ROSENEATH.

Mr Hislop subsequently proceeded to Roeeneath, and addressed a mooting there on lines similar to his remarks at ■hia meeting earlier in the evening. A committee was algo formed there to canvass the district in the interest of l ie candidature.

At 8 o'clock to-night Mr Hislop will speak at Palm Grove, Berhamr, orc ;r. H . B "yj also address meetings at the Mission Hall, Aro street, to-morrow night at S. and at the Kelburne howling green pavilion on Friday at the same honr.

The ladies’ committee which is working for the return of Mr Aitken as Mayor of Wellington will meet at the Brooklyn Baptist Church at 3 o’clock this afternoon. There will also be a committee meeting in support of tho same object at Sydney street Schoolroom at 8 o'clock this evening.

MIRAMAR MAYORALTY.

ME F. TOWNSEND A CANDIDATE,

Miramar a Mayoralty is to be the subject of a contest, Mr F. Townsend bavin" acceded to a request from a number citizens to again stand for the position. He was ten years chairman of the old Eoad Board which controlled the district’s affairs prior to the advent of tho borough, and when tho change came he was appointed the first Mayor. Tho requisition, signed by about fifty ratepayers, which was presented to him last week, read as ! follows :

"There is a strong desire on the part of residents of this borough that vou should once again contest the election for the Mayoralty. In presenting this petition to you we do so with the sanguine expectation that if yon consent to seek the suffrages of the ratepayers you will be returned to the position which you formerly occupied with distinction and renown. "We take this opportunity to express our pleasure at having you amongst us once again, looking your good self as of old, your search for health having been successful. We hope you will consent to seek the position, which can only claim one good and experienced candidate, and that is yourself. We approach you with the conviction that you will be successful, and that in your hands the welfare of the borough can be considered safe, and progress most Mr O' J. Crawford, the present Mayor, will be a candidate.