THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7402, 5 March 1903, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Mr GoodalJ's Meeting,

Mr G. 11. Gooclall, one of the candidates for the forthcoming Municipal election, add reused a fairly largo and attentive suulierico in the Mastorton Town Hall, last evening.

Mr J. M. Coradino occupied the chair, and in introducing tliti speaker, said that on sill previous occasions when Mr Gooditll had addressed them on municipal matters, he had dealt fairly and illkiently with them. Mr Goodall alone was responsible for the views expressed by that gentleman. He asked for a fair hearing for the speaker, and said that when a man expressed his views fearlessly and honestly he was entitled to a fair hearing, which lie knew himself a Masterton audience always granted. Mr (Joodall was the first of the candidates for municipal honours to speak, and he gavu his opponents plenty of time to criiici.se his views.

Mr Gooclall, who, on rising, was greeted j with applause, said he wished it under- j stood that he was not there with any i malicious intention. As a citizen, he claimed the right to criticise the work of the Council. LLc knew if he wanted to get into the: Council ho would have to do so on his personal abilities. Up had come before them that t-vening to address them on three important questions, and place his views before them. Of course, ho did not expect them to be adopted in /"/<>. If thoso present, after hearing his views, said well there was something in what he said, his meeting would not bo in vain. (Applause). The j first subject lie would deal with would 'be in connection with the recent Fire Brigade dispute. "For a large town like Masterton it was unfortunate that the Jirigades were not on a more friendly footing. lie considered the matter had been dealt with by the Council unskillfnlly, untactfully and imprudently. Now, as they, no doubt, all knew the matter of running the two Brigades under one head had been put before the Council many times, but nothing dei'mitc had resulted. It had only been really dealt with by the Counfil lately. They should not judge the Brigade too harshly for bringing the matter to a head, lie upheld the position, taken by the Central Brigade, in threatening to lesign if something definite was not done. The speaker here (Rioted an extract from the "New Zealand Fire and Ambulance Record," published at Napier. This paper, in dealing with the Brigade trouble in Masterton, stated that it was

tho old problem of divided authority, loading to friction and an unsatisfactory state of att'-iirs. it showed that other places had had tho same experience a.s Miistertoo. Now, what bad wo in Maslcrton ? There were two Brigades—very creditable Brigades— with two men having equal power and rank. At a tire one fireman was ordered to do such and such a thing, and the other officer wanted the man do " so aiiJ so." That's where the trouble came in. He was not casting a slur on the Kurupuni Brigade. Far from it. But he maintained that a certain amount of indignity had been cast upon the Central Brigade. All honour, said the .speaker, to the Kurupuui Brigade and their Superintendent. He then gave in detail the history of the Brigade tiuuble. The Mayor ultimately took upon himself the disbanding of the Brigades. Applicants were then called for a new Brigade and thirty-two men applied, thirty of which were accepted. Two were left out. One of these had seen twelve- years service in the Fire Brigade. He always turned out at

a lire and had done splendid service.

The other had been six years in the Brigade with an equally good record. One of the men put in had never attended a lire. The two men put out were living, practically, under the bell. These two men were the delegates who had waited on the

.Borough Council. Both the men " bumped out" were leading figures in the Central Brigade. There must be some specilic object for the Council taking the action of throwing out two good men. In his opinion, the reason was that these two men were the

agitators, and the Council wanted to get rid of them, lie did not blame the whole Council for it. One councillor had the good sense to stop away from the Council meeting. A section of the Council wanted so have Superintendent Morris as captain of the Brigade. He knew for a fact that at least five of the Brigade would not acknowledge Superintendent Morris as captain. One reason why Superintendent Morris should not accept the position of captain was because he lived too farfrom the centre of the town. Another was that ho should not take a position held with honour by another man. Xow, said the speaker, here's a nice thing. Superintendent Morris sends in a monthly report on fire brigade matters.

Ho is also Chairman of the Fire Brigades Committee of the Borough Council. At a meeting of this Committee Superintendent Morris discusses the report with the other members. lie has a vote,

and, as Chairman, has a casting vote.

Perhaps there are- only three members present. Well, all ho has to do is to have an understanding with one member, and the report is adopted. When the report comes before the Council they must adopt it. That is a state of things which should not be. It was not fair and just. The action of the Council was unjust in making Superintendent Morris Captain of the new Brigade. The u'remen, those present knew, were called to the Borough Council meeting and asked questions, etc. Now, perhaps, someone had whispered through the window, or a little bird had told the liremen what was going on inside, and

they then and there held a meeting on the footpath. Some were for resigning straight away, but the long-headed ones said: "No; that will be playing into their hands." So all went in and agreed to join the new Brigade. The meu were informed that Superintendent Morris had been elected captain. Although this indignity had been put upon the Captain of the Central Brigade, he said ho would abide by it and stick to the

Brigade. When he asked why two of his most capable men had been thrown out the Mayor said the matter was closed. This was an injustice. Cr Elliott's statement that leaving these two men out was a matter of economy, was simply ridiculous. Only a short time ago this Councillor had been trying to " jamb " a .£.j,000 loan down their throats, Economy indeed! It was ridiculous. He knew the present Council, with probably the exception of one or two, wanted anyone in the Council but Goodall. " They will be so busy scratching for their own seats this time/ said the speaker, " that they won't have time to look after me." (Applause). He was the best friend the Council had—if they only knew it. The Council should give him a testimonial something after this style, " Dear Goodall, wo must thank you for not giving us enough rope to hang ourselves with." (Loud laughter). In the speaker's opinion it would not be advisable for either Captain Jenkins or Superintendent Morris to act as Captain of the new Brigade. What he would suggest would bo a paid head. We have good men such as Messrs. C. E. Dauiell and J. Pauling. lie had no authority for using their names. He would recommend that £25 or £'60 a year be paid to the person appointed. He would take charge of the affairs and would have a senior and junior lieutenant. If the Captain was ay/ay the senior lieutenant would take charge at a lire. This would do away with any friction. He would not suggest the Captain being paid by the Council. Tin's would do away with his independent working of the Brigade. His payment should be an honorarium. He hoped ho had put the matter of the Fire Brigades fairly and squarely before them. (Hoar! Hear!).

Ixo would now deal with the question of increasing the revenue of the Borough witliQUt increasing tho rates of the taxpayer. They all knew the finances of the Borough were not in a nourishing condition. No doubt, his suggestion would be " sut on," and doused with cold water by a number cf influential persons. Ho project was that iustoad of letting speculators liayo the "eyes" of tho Trust Lands Trust leases, the Borough Council should have a say in the matter. Instead of passing the lands over to private individuals to make a nice profit out of them, the Borough Council should be given a chance to take over the lands for the benefit of the town, lie knew men in this town holding Trust lenses, making- twenty per cent, profit out of them. Why could not the lands be leased to the Borough Council, and they make the saniQ profit. Most certainly tho Trust Lauds Trust would prefer the people getting the benefit in preference to the private speculators. At present the law would not allow of anything like the above suggestion being done. But the law could be altered, and, no doubt, if the matter were put in Mr IJogg's hands it would bo remedied so as to make such a transaction legal. Ho quoted instances to back up his suggestion. Sooner or Jater the Trust must work liand in baud

with the Council. He had, anyway, started the ball rolling, and it waa only a matter of time when the matter would be taken up. (Applause).

The last, but not the least, question he would deal with would be that of swimming baths for Masterton. He noticed that the fact of his holding a meeting had done some good. In the Waiuakai'a Daily Times he noticed another gentleman advocating swimming baths. Only ho had an ornamental lake in his scheme. Even if this scheme were adopted his object would be effected. He quoted Cr Jackson's remarks at the last Council meeting, showing that the matter of borrowing £2000 for a swimming baths had been put on the minute books two years previously. The speaker said he had gono into the question fully. The in Iris opinion, should be in the ~Bmm They would then be in a central position and would cost nothing. They should, in his opinion, be on the right side of the Park. With dimensions of 150 ft by 41ft, and a depth 6ft 6in they would coat X-:300 to £400. These were Mr C. E. Darnell's figures. The concreting would cost £200, plastering £75, boxing, excavating and buildings £100, making in all a total of £"J75. The main question was drainage. His idea was to drain the baths through the earth. The' sanitary objection could be overcome by placing two or three grates for the water to drain through thus letting the pure water go through the earth. The grating could be taken up and cleaned. The was an important thing. He hadgoneinto the matter, and framed the charges as follows: Gents 10s 6d, ladies 7s 6d, and family ticket two guineas. By paying an annual subscription of one guinea a subscriber would be entitled to the use of the baths for three years, and, by paying five guineas he would become a life member. He was prepared, himself, to col< lect £250 in subscriptions beforehand. The Council could be approached for £50 and the Trust for £50. He could guarantee, practically, to collect the £250 in three days. According to this schedfe he maintained, it would cost ratepayers nothing. A charge of one penny could be made to townspeople, for each bath, and threepence to visitors. The upkeep would, by this, cost the ratepayers nothing. The baths would be free to school-children. He thought his suggestion worthy of every consideration. In conclusion, Mr Goodall thanked those present for the patient hearing they all had given him. (Applause). The Chairman invited questions, but none were forthcoming. " Evidently everyone is satisfied," said Mr Coradine.

A hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation to Mr Goodall for his address, and tnc usual compliment to the chair brought the meeting to a close.