MUNICIPAL REFORM LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1901, Page 3

MUNICIPAL REFORM LEAGUE.

The newly-formed Workers' Municipal

Reform League held their first public

meeting in tlie Wesley Hall, Pitt-street, last evening. Mr J. Fawcus occupied the chair. The attendance was somewhat didj couraging, some forty people only being' present. The Chairman, after outlining: the steps that led up to the formation of the League, said the first purpose they had j in view was to get people's names on the municipal rolls, so that 'they might partake; of the benefits of the new Municipal Act. They were desirous of getting men| returned to the Council of a different order I to those returned in the past. (Applause.) There had been too much of the conservative element, and too much attention had been paid to the interests of the rate.pu.y-I ers. There were other interests to be considered, more especially those of the rentpayers, who had certainly a stake in the management of municipal affairs. They did not. however, wish to work entirely In! tlhe interest of the workers. They wanted | at least two workers on the City Council.! (Applause.) Part of their programme would be to urge the rhunicipailaation of the every-day conveniences of 'city life, such as gas, electricity, trams, and evert: ferries. The speaker then read extracts from the new Act, showing the change in the franchise qualification.

Mr D. B. Macdonald congratulated those present on the establishment of such a great and useful organisation as the League. Let them consider one matter of great importance in the city—lighting. Auckland paid £GO,OOO yearly to the Gas Company for lighting, when they had a natural source of enormous power between the Hukaand Aniwhaniwha Falls, where' some 150,000 to '200,000 horse-power was available for the supply of electricity. Some 7000 horse-powe.r was sufficient for f.. 0 v.ep<- of t'^ n Pit", Tf they thought this source too distant they could go to the ifciUuud. xiant;t;ri iur power, borne .■££>" 'W! -would bring the electricity all ovei the city, and once there the system would pay handsomely. The advantages of electricity over gas were many. Glasgow had been able to devote the proceeds of the municlpalisation of its lighting, transit, etc., to the beautifying and improvement of the city, and it behoved Auckland to do the same. At the next election they shoud pledge the new Council to thoroughly investigate this matter of municipalisation. Mr Peet urged that municipal works should be carried out by loans extending over 30 or -10 years. Mr G. S. Stevens spoke in favour of rating on unimproved values.

Mr P. B. Cheal said that Auckland was the dirtiest city in the colony, if not in the Australasian colonies. This was because in the past the ratepayers would not consent to loans, being afraid of the Increased rates. He advocated an extensive borrowing policy to give the city the best schemes of water supply, drainage, lighting, and he also wished to see rating on unimproved values introduced. They should return men to the Council-pledged to thene reforms. Mr Arthur Rosser urged the citizens to see that new blood was infused info the Council at tbe next election.

After a number of questions had been answered a vote or. thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.