HASTINGS MAYORALTY

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 69, 23 April 1929, Page 5

HASTINGS MAYORALTY

-MR G. F. ltOACH'S CANDIDATURE. A nieeting with the object of furtliering Mr G. F. ltoach's interests in the Mayoral election, was held in St. Matthew's Hall, Hastings, last evenmg. Jt was explained tliat tlic nieeting could not be advertised because the hall could not be let for a public nieeting. About 50 people were present. Mr G. Ebbett was voted to the cbair and said that Mr Roaeh had yielded to i - request of a large number of citizeus and offered his services. . The chairman trusted that tbe election would be a friendly one and there would be no ill-will arising out of it. Mr Roacb's opponents were reputable and much respected citizeus, each quite a capable man in his own spliere and each, no doubt. quite honest in his i intention to serve tbe borough. Mr Roach's claims and qualifications for the position were sufficiently good without tbe necessity to malign or be[ittle any of his opponents. Mr Roacb, in a sliort address, said he had no desire to boast about his position or claims, but he thought that in a small way for tbe last 45 years he had lielped make Hastings wliat it was. For several years be liad been a member of the Boi ough Council and of tbe Napier Plospital Board and for ten years chairman of the Education Board. He knew there would need to be an adjustment of the rates owing to the revaluation of the farming lands in tbe borough, but he considered that i n the present position of tbe borough tliis could easily be done without imposing any additionnl rating burden on the remainder of the vatepayers. Given a good council and good officials, be did not tliink the expenditure involved for tbe appointment of a town nianager ivas justified. He paid a very high tribute to the work of Mr Maddison, and said tbe policv outlined by liim would receive his support. Mr Roacb indicated his intention to address the eleetors before the poll. A general comruittee, a transport committee and various sub-committees were appointecl and "fbe nieeting concluded witli a vote of tlianks to the chairman. Inserted by arrangement.