THE MAYORALTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2455, 20 March 1909, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. MR. W. MILLER CHOSEN AS CANDIDATE.

Townley’s Hal] was filled last evening when upwards of seventy influen-tial-rateijayers met for tlie purpose of choosing a candidate to oppose the present Mayor (Mr. \V. D. Lysnar) at the approaching Mayoral . elections. Among those present were Messrs 0. A. deLautour,'F. T. Morgan, R. Johnston, A. F. Kennedy, A'. F. Matthews, E. H. Mann, J. AY. Bright, Dr, Williams, V. Barker, 11. DeCosta. G. Stock, AV. F. Anderson, and AY. Miller, while an apology was received from the Hon. Captain Tucker. Mr. C. A. deLautour was voted to the chairs: and said the points the meeting should consider were whether it-was desirable to have a change in the Mayoral office, whether a candidate should he brought out against the present Mayor, and if so to select a candidate, jhe people of Gisborne had rather been spoiled by the long and faithful services of Mr. Townley, and had almost forgotten that it was a prerogative of the Mayoral chair that it should be a rolling" one, and that the Mayoral ofhce should go round. A change had' been made last year, and it was now lor the people to say if they required a Mayor that would be able to carry out the wishes of the citizens and obtain the best results for the town. The result of . the election last year had been disastrous. for the Mayor and the Council had been unable to puli together., a year of wasted energy and long burning I of the midnight oil had been the result. The welfare of the town had been neglected, and the position was most unsatisfactory. It must be admitted, however, that Gisborne had in Air. Lysnar a Mayor of great tenacity of purpose, and a most able Council, but for some reason Air. Lysnar had been unable to obtain the leadership over the Council that was so essential to the Alayoral ofhce. In choosing a candidate the ratepayers should select a gentleman of whom they were certain he would have the confidnce of the people, and the respect in municipal matters of the Council.-.v He thought the best method of proceeding wpuld be for some person to move a motion that it was desirable that a contest should take place. Mr. A. F. Kennedy said he was pleased to hear the Chairman speak so well of the present Alayor, Mr. Lysnar. who was a personal friend of liis (Air. Kennedy’s), but at a time like the present he "did not think personal friendship counted for everything, and that if a candidate was to be chosen it might be put aside. Gisborne had had a dull municipal year. No progress hau been ■,made, and" the question of making .a change in the Alayoral office had been threshed out. They would hare liken > have had the services of Air. deLau-t-our or of Crs. Pettie or Bright as Alayor of the town, hut each of those gentlemen had been able to find an excuse. In looking around for a worthy gentleman to fill the position, the right man had been chosen, and he would propose a gentleman who would fill the Alayoral chair of Gisborne with credit to himself and honor to the town. He was going to propose his old friend, Air. AY. Aiiller—(Applause)—for he had known Air. Aiiller for over eighteen years, and he had never known him to fail in .any undertaking. Air. Aiiller was a craftsman in managing men, he had a marvellous organising power which had been demonstrated by the way he had organised the Gisborne Club, and the boys of that club, Air. Aliller’s boys, had nobly refused a charter when they could have obtained one from the Chief Secretary, preferring to keep their chib fvee from intoxicating drink. Air. Miller had known only success in all his undertakings, and he would be equaily euccessful in the high office of Alayor. He (Air. Kennedy) was certain that as Alayor he would be able to maintain an even balance, would be able to tell the Council what was right or wrong, and devote his whole heart and soul to the interests of the ratepayers. He had much pleasure in proposing "That the meeting choose Air. Aiiller as a candidate for the office of Alayor of Gisborne.” (Applause.) x l)r. J. AY. AYilliams said it gave him great pleasure to second the motion, for lie was forced to admit that it was desirable in the interests of Gisborne that a contest should take place. If Mr. Aiiller would consent to be a candidate lie was confident the ratepayers would elect him. Air. Aiiller had shown that he had ability as a man of finance, and such a man was needed as Alayor for the financial position of the Council was anything but bright. Still more serious, however, was the bad sanitary condition of the town, and the need that something should be done to effect a remedy. He was sure Air. Aiiller would have the confidence o'f the Council in all that lie brought forward, and that an improvement in the health of the. people would result from Air. Miller’s term as Alayor. (Loud applause.) In supporting the motion ? Air. J. AY. Bright said that as a Councillor he took a share of the blame for what had been done wrongly or what had not been clone at all. "During the year the Council had struggled against the odds of a Alayor who did not possess an ounce oi' tact, and who wanted to rule every Councillor his own way.. The result had been- an undesirable position as had been time aiid again pointed out by the press, and the Councillors were faced with the financial difficulty that all the money had been spent and no new works could be undertaken until the rates for next year, which had just been struck, were collected. Aioney had been spent upon machinery that was piled up in out-of-tlie-way places until it could be put into use. and the Council were in a measure to blame for that. It was found impossible to work with the present Alayor, and it must be plain to everyone that a change was desirable. Air. Aiiller had been a successful man. and he (Air. Bright) was sure ho worild be equally successful as Alayor. If Mr. Aiiller would accept the nomination of the meeting he could assure him, that while there might be a. keen contest, that his supporters were confident they could place him in the Mayoral chair. (Client's.) Ho asked Mr.' Miller to consent to place himself in the hands of the meeting, and all present would work hard to secure his return. (Applause.) AH. J. F. Sheridan also supported the motion, for ho ielt certain that if Air.'Miller would accept nomination he would be elected, and would not only fill the chair with dignity and honor, but- t-o the credit, of those who worked to secure his return. Air. Aiiller possessed the art of being able to get the very best results from those with whom kc worked, and he was confident that if Air. Miller was elected Alayor of Gisborne the people would never regret it. Air. Aiiller was naturally a bashful man, and perhaps felt a little diffident in the anattor. but lie (Air; Sheridan) sincerely hoped ho would consent to stand. Air. E. H. Alann also supported the motion. _ . The Chairman asked if any person. AA'-A « -! • '-A .'A A : 'A.. '' . A -

present had any other nomination or an amendment to propose. . Those -present asked that the motion ' r- put, and on its being submitted m was carried with loud applause. • The Chairman then asked air. Aiiller. to accept the nomination of the large : meeting- of ratepayers for the office ot ,dg Mayor of Gisborne, and said that n<~ felt sure that whatever was the results |i G'sborne would have the opportunity .; ■ of electing a gentleman who was emi- .3 Dontly fitted for the high Mayoral-ofnee. Mr. Miller was in the prime of hie, a keen'business man, and he had miieopleasure in asking him to accede to the wishes of the meeting. . Mr. Miller, who Was received wit.a.applause. said ho would rather - .| some other gntleman nominated by the’ meeting, for he felt a certain amo girt of‘diffidence in consenting to be a candidate. H<' had to thank the speakers for the kind things that had been said, and would remind them that any suecess that might have been his was due to himself but to the loyalty <H those who worked with him. tie recognised that the time had arrived when the people of Gisborne must take uioir municipal affairs seriously. ar/J that not been done during the past year. The Mavor should, be a man able to c-et the b.'.t results cut of the Council, and if tbrt had been the case the posi- / tkm might have been different. He had a great- respect for Mr.- Lysii4 r , they had been boys together, but m- - had misgivings, of his ability as a. Mayor Before giving his answer to tne- - leanest lie would like to take until Monday next to consider the matter, for Lae election meant six weeks' hard v.oi.-. and strong support if he was to ne ieturmd * Mr. Kennedy said lie thought the • meeting should appoint a committeeThe meeting had come to support -1.Miller, and he would ask him to make up his mind quickly 3nd at once. Mr Miller then said he would place himself in the hands of the meeting. ~ (Loud applause.) ' The Chairman said he would like =ee a working committee appointed. Mr. Yardley moved that all present form into a committee pledged to >.e----r-ure Mr. Glider’s return. , . Mr. W. Lissant Clayton seconded the motion, which was unanimously ecu- ,J- ---!* A.! l present then handed in their i names to the Chairman as a generar ;; . i committee to supervise -Ur. MiUe. » campaign. ah MR. LYSXAR’S CAXDIDATCKE. ;•/ Over fifty of Mr. AY. D. Lysnar’s sup- | porters met him at the meeting called * last night at the Farmers' Ciub rooms, jg and a number of apologies were receiv - m ed from persons uuable to attend. Mr Lvsnar addressed the meeting C<n.Vf his last 'year’s work as Mayor of the ; town. He stated it. had been a h* _,. I struesle to get or - miporta'aeey-k j pushed through/ but he hoped that ir J ho was again returned with a progressive Council that substantial work could be achieved, jiitbcflt pp+tina any fur- • tlxCr rates on the people tlian were I! h" Cposed last year. He also dealt with .tiie harbor question, as the Mayoral office carries with it an ex officio seat . on the Board, claiming that what his party had ben able to achieve by being ■in a bare majority in the Board,. Bad resulted in no rates having been struck for two years and wharfage reduced. The meeting was a most enthusiastic one. .and all present allowed their names to be taken as members of a»d-| general committee. All executive of 20. :.] was chosen, with executive officers. Air. i AY. F. Crawford was appointed 'chair—"r*. mail and Air. AY. J. Henntssy vice- j chairman, with a secretary. Tile meeting passed a resolution ac- j eopting with pleasure an offer of a j ladies' committee, details of which were left in the hands of the executive. The Chairman impressed on the meei~e|| ing that the roll closes on next. 24th insfc.. and that all- housej-)|i holders and their wives who phy £IO,oiSC upwards a year rent are entitled to/h have their - names put 011 the roll rfkdj they have been resident here for thre|fg; months, as well as -every ratepayer freeliolder. iwl