Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Councillor Joseph Myers

Councillor Joseph Myers, one of the representatives of Thorndon Ward in the City Council, is a son of Mr. Judah Myers, and was born at Nelson in 1869. He was educated at the State Schools at Motueka, and Thorndon, Wellington, and is an enthusiastic believer in the national system of education. Brought up to mercantile life in his father's firm, Councillor Myers early displayed ability of no mean order. In mutual improvement societies he has for years taken a keen interest, and owes a good deal to the educational advantages such institutions afford. He was the energetic secretary of the Wellington Debating Society for two years, and at the competition carried off the gold medal as a debater. He is now vice-president of this society. Councillor Myers, who is twenty-five years old, is the youngest member that has been returned to the Wellington Council. He was elected in September, 1894, against four other candidates, and polled nearly as many votes as the whole of his opponents. He is a member of the Market, Public Baths, Electric Lighting, and Public Works Committees. In his place at the Council, Councillor Myers advocated and succeeded in carrying a fair wage clause in connection with all municipal contracts. He is moving to replace the Volunteer corps with a permanent fire brigade, who would reside at the central station, on the Melbourne method, under which the Insurance Companies, City Council, and Government, bear the cost in equal proportions, Councillor Myers has now before the Council proposals for the erection of a fish market, and also for the establishment of public abbatoirs, making provision for the proper inspection and marking of meat intended for human food. He maintains that he has a scheme by which abbatoirs can be established and inspection provided at a trifling (if any) cost to the ratepayers. Councillor Myers has given these matters a good deal of time and attention, and it is to be hoped that his efforts will be carried to a successful issue. He has just been appointed to represent the Corporation on the United Charitable Aid Board of the Wellington-Wairarapa districts. Councillor Myers believes in every kind of reform, providing the rates are not increased. He is decidedly advanced in his political opinions, and is becoming more of a radical every day. He has a considerable future before him, and no doubt he will make his mark as a politician. Mr. Myers takes interest in all questions affecting the people. At the meeting to establish an Insurer's Protection Association, he was elected a member of the committee. Councillor Myers is a member of the United Hunt Club, and for two years was hon. secretary, and is still one of the stewards. On his retirement from the secretaryship the members presented him a handsome silver mounted dressing case. When he undertook the office, the club was £500 in debt, and the members were afraid that it was hopeless to prolong the life of the club, but in the two years the whole debt had page 282
Councillor J. Myers.

Councillor J. Myers.

vanished, and the Club's account was in credit. He is vice-president of the Thorndon Association Football Club, of the Pirate Football Club, and one of the promoting members of the Wellington Polo Club, and of the Wellington Golf Club. He is a member of the Citizen's Institute. He was a minister of the mimic parliament, and was there and elsewhere an able advocate of the female franchise question. For so young a man Councillor Myers is a remarkably fluent and effective public speaker. He is most energetic and thoroughly attentive to all duties undertaken by him. It was Councillor Myers who unearthed a great swindle in Masterton last year, and succeeded in saving very heavy losses for the creditors, who, in recognition of his tact and energy presented him with a purse of sovereigns and a testimonial expressive of their appreciation and thanks.