DRAINAGE BOARD ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13180, 13 January 1905, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD ELECTION.

SIX CANDIDATES NOMINATED.

Between 20 and 30 persons gathered in the Stook Exchange vestibule yesterday to hear tho returning officer (Mr J. G. Sooullar) announce the nominations for three vacancies on the Dunedin Drainage and Sowcrago Board consequent on tho retirement by effluxion of tirno of Messrs R, Glendining, B. M. Clark, and the Hon. 11. Gourley, the two last-named of whom seek re-election. Six nominations were received for the three vacaueics, and the returning ofilcer announced that a poll would be taken accordingly on Wednesday next, January 18. The candidates nominated were as follows: Thomas Reid Christie, nominated' by Meiers G. Ritchie and W. R. Ilayward. ■lames Arklo, nominated by Messrs J. Higliley and W. A. Brottell. Richard Maris Clark, nominated by Messrs J. B. Shaeklock, J. P. Simon, D. Larnach, and the lion. If., Gourley. Thomas Shepherd Culling, nominated by Messrs C. Speight, 11. V. Pulton, I'. Miller, and J. Loudon. Hugh Gourley, nominated by Messrs R. Glendining, ,T. A. Johnstone, J. I\ Arnold, M.11.R., and tho Hon. D. Pinkorton. ■fames Small, nominated by Messrs J. C. Wilson and James M'Gill. ; Tim candidates were all present with tho exception of Messrs Christie and Culling, and after tho nominations had been declared briefly. addressed those present. Mr Arkle, in the course of some brief remarks, said ho had been asked by a large number of,people to stand for election. He referred to his cxnorience in municipal matters, and, among qualifications as a candidate, lie mentioned the fact tlmt lie had ample lime lo devote to tho uoaru b affairs, and that ho was perfectly disinterested, having no axe to grind. Ho considered it a very healthy sign to see such interest taken in the present olcction and so many candidates coming forward If elected the interests of the ratepayers' would be his first consideration, and he would do his utmost to see that (he lave sums of money expended were expended with due economy. lie would not. hold tho position as a sinecure, but would, if re . turned, dwotc his best interests to tho work of the board, and do his duty faith- ! by the citizens.—(Applause) ; Mr Clark said that during- his period of ! p" ICG t °» the board ho did not: profess to ; have brought to it any engineering knowledge but ho had given the work close j attention from weok to week. Ho did claim, though, to know something about finance, and such knowledge as he had ho Would still, if elected again, place at tho disposal of tho city. There had been no relationship between him and the engineer except of a professional character, and he wanted to say that ho had every confidonco ill tile ability of Mi' Anderson, who was a man of great capability, industry, and experience in his work. As to tho question of contracts, the work of reticulation in tne side streets, etc., muifc bo done day by day by the board itself, being, ns it was of suoh importance, though oilier works inWit >e done by contract. He then referred to tho board s accounts, which he had inspected at the engineer's office from time to time, and which lie thought were Icont in an excellent manner. Though one might not be ablo to-find, out a|l one wanted'to know from tliom, there were heads for everything, everything was lcont in its place, and a return could be got. from the bookkeeper without delay. He considered the system a most admirable one.—(Anpianse.) 1 Ml Gourley said that he had bctMi before the pubho many years, and ho had always B mi ' a " d Woll ' ll continue to do so. The board were now committed to a scheme of drainage, and there was no backing out of it. And therefore he thought it their duty to carry out that sehomo in is entirety, and as ohcaply as possible. It was not necessary for him to go into the question of the engineer's ability; tho report published tho previous day showed that ability clearly. After making reference to the. matter of the Frederick. street, sewer, the speaker went on to say that if returned he would do his best to sco that everything was dono in a proper way. It was the duty of tho present board to assist the engineer in carrying out his work as cheaply and economically as possible, and wherever Mr Anderson thought it was his duty to have anything dono by day labour he thought it was tho board's duly to support him. and ho was personally prepared to give him every assistance in his power to try and keep down expenses ns much as possible.—(Applause.) Mr Small said practically all he had to say would bo covered, by his reading the platform of the Ratepayers' Association in regard to this matter, which, briefly, was as-'follows:—"That tho policy of the Drainage Board has not been m the best interests of tho community. That their plicy, as far as it is possible to know it, is to be condemned for its lack of organised supervision and its lavish expenditure: That under their administration tho amount, of imouey—viz., £200,000—which the board are empowered lo borrow cannot possibly give Dtmcdin and suburbs a complete drainage scheme. That no genuino attempt lias been lmulo to test tho correctness of tho estimates submitted to tho board. That, the ratepayers' are entitled to knowOn tho host procurable evidence how much tho completed scheme will cost. That as tho board's policy is to carry out their work by day labour, tho public should be made aware each fortnight (1) tho amount of work done, (2) its cost, and (3) tho engineer's estimate of tho cost. That Parliament shall not ba approaohod for additional rating powers or to authorise an additional loan unless tho consent of tho ratepayers is first obtained. That, immediately npon the new board meeting a committee be appointed to ascertain the total cost, as closely ns it is possible to do so, of the completed scheme, and that the result of and the reasons for their conclusions be made public at tho earliest moment. That plans of the complete scheme bo prepared and niado public. Tho above cover tho main points in our policy.

Wo believe they are wise. We regret that the late board have so far neglected their duty as to have made them neoessary, and we confidently anticipate that you will endorse them by returning the candidate we have recommended to you by a majority sufficiently large to indicate your approval of our policy and your disapprobation of that at present existing."— (Applause.) A vote of thanks to tho returning offieor terminated proceedings.