SIDELIGHTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20098, 3 May 1935, Page 14

SIDELIGHTS

MUNICIPAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN A “LUCKY” EMBLEM The attendance at meetings so far held in connection with the local body elections have been comparatively small. It might be possible to read into this a lack of interest on the part of the public, but so far as last night was concerned, 'there was possibly some excuse, citizens preferring the cosiness of their firesides to sitting in cold halls listening to speeches. The two candidates for seats on the Timaru Harbour Board have so far not had to address capacity houses. One candidate had an unusual but very patient listener at his meeting on Wednesday night in the person of a black kitten. When the meeting commenced the kitten was shut out in the cold, and for 10 minutes it meowed persistently at the door, until a member of the audience, out of a sense of kindness, and also possibly to preserve silence, admitted the kitten, which curled up in the lap of its owner and went to sleep. Referring to the Borough water supply at his meeting at the South School last night the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) said that he did not think there was much wrong with the water supply. “I drink as much Pareora water as anyone and I have always found it all right,” he said. Mr A. Hay: What do you put with it? The Mayor: A little something with it sometimes does not do any harm. (Laughter.) During the meeting conducted by the Labour candidates for local body honours, in the Scottish Hall last night, a member of the audience presented a silver horseshoe to the candidates. It was inscribed: “From the organised relief workers of Timaru, wishing you every success at the elections.”

When the presentation was made, a voice remarked: “You’ll want it too.

The orderly manner in which the meeting of the Labour candidates who are standing at the municipal elections was conducted in the Scottish Hall last night was somewhat upset when question time came, and at one stage the chairman threatened to close the meeting. An elderly gentleman charged Mr G. T. Koller, who is standing for the mayoralty and other local bodies with (having told a band of Unemployed Workers’ Union members to mark Bill , because Jie was not a friend of his. The speaker asked :f that was the spirit of a man standing for the mayoralty or the spirit of a gentleman. Mr Koller said that at the meeting in question he had been making reference to personal statements which were being spread round concerning himself. Some of the remarks had got back to him. and also the names of two of the men who were alleged to have made them. He asked if they were present. He wanted them to stand up so that he could refute the statements. , Bill Will you tell the audience what I said? Mr Koller: I can’t remember. Bill— “Yet you drag my name up in public. Further remarks were drowned at the moment, but the next audible remark was. “If he doesn t do it to-night he will be made to do it later. The chairman then interposed, stating that he did not want personalities introduced, and ruled the speaker out ° f Mr Koller remarked that he had been referring to the speaker’s son and not to him. Bin again commenced to spec.-.. whereupon the chairman said that T he did not keep quiet, the meeting would be closed. Bill ; Well close it.^ Are you not, as a former Councillor, going to ask me any questions, in ouired Mr A. M. Paterson, at his meeting at the Waimataitai School last night, of Mr C. H. Mason. Mr Mason: I am afraid that if I asked any questions I might offend someone. Mr Paterson: Not at all. Mr R. H. Hill: Let there be light. If Mr Mason asks a question I am sure that we are bound to learn somethin.,.

The jubilee celebrations in connection with His Majesty the King have foscussed attention on the name of “George,” and by a strange coincidence “George” was very prominent at two e’iction meetings held in Timaru last night. In the Scottish Hall, the chairman’s Christian name . “George,” and the mayoral candidate was “George” also. The chairman incidentally, was an ex-Mayor. At a meeting held at Highfteld. the Christian name of the mayoral candidate was “George” and the chairman was “George” also. In this case the chanman was the ex-chairman of the Timaru Harbour Board.

The restoration of trade and business prosperity, said Mr G. Benstead at his meeting at Highfteld last mgnt, when dealing with unemployment, could only be brought about by the, provision of necessary works for the unemployed at reasonable rates “ pay, so that every section of the community could contribute to the leturn of prosperity. He did not advocate an increase in the rates to provide m ance to help the unemployed. li“ Government had taken over control of the unemployment problem and snou.a provide the finance. #

“The people who never make takes never make anything aid Mr G. Benstead in his addiess at' H igh field last night. Mr Benstead enlarging on the work oi the Councils with which he had be ™ a^°“ a L rt ”lwhich, he could honestly say, had al wavs endeavoured to do their best tor thffbeneflt of the town, although, as in every walk of life, mistakes had been made on occasions.

When advocating at his meeting at Highfield last night that the of finding suitable accommodation for the pictures and other objects at sent housed in a large room in the Municipal Library building would have to be cosidered as the room now in use would be required for library expansion, Mr Benstead said that perhaps the old Mechanics Institute, now unoccupied, could be secured for the purpose. “On the other hand, said Mr Benstead. “perhaps a donation for a building might be forthcoming from some wealthy citizen like our worthy chairman ” The chairman (Mr G. T. Dawson: Question (Laughter.