BOROUGH OF ST. KILDA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22545, 12 April 1935, Page 14

BOROUGH OF ST. KILDA

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS AN ABRUPT ENDING A meeting of the St Kilda ratepajeis interested in the forthcoming elections was held last evening in the town Hall for the purpose of selecting candidates to represent the borough on the Borough Council. There was a fair attendance. Mr H. Hinton was elected chairman. He said the meeting had been called to consider whether it was advisable to run a citizens’ ticket, which would be n opposition to that announced by the Labour Party. They were not present to discuss party politics. The Labour Paitj had announced its right to nominate its candidates, and those in attendance would not dispute that right. Mr E. H. Longworth said a citizens ticket would be in the interests of the borough, and in giving his reasons was subjected to repeated interruption trom various parts of the hall. A resolution —“That this meeting proceed to form a citizens’ ticket —was A motion was moved —“ That a committee be appointed to consider the question of selecting candidates to contest seats on the council as the citizens’ ticket repre-

sentatives.” 1 ~ . ... , Mr A. D. Edgar said it would be far better to defer the selection of candidates until after nominations had been received. It was decided to form a committee but only three of those present expressed their willingness to serve on it. Mr Edgar said it was apparent that the meeting was a wash-out. They could not do better than leave the decision of selecting candidates to the ratepayers. “We should call the meeting a complete wash-out and go home.” he said. Mr A. J. Morison said that as objection had been made to the presence of Labour supporters, the meeting might come to some finality if they retired. A public meeting had been called, and the Labour supporters had a right to be present. It seemed to him that the meeting was a sort of secret society, and he had no further interest in its proceedings. Mr Morison and another Labour member then left the room. The chairman said that as only three ratepayers had stated that i they were willing to act on the committee it was futile to take the matter any further. The meeting then ended abruptly.