CITY MAYORALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 74, 28 March 1929, Page 9

CITY MAYORALTY.

MR. MURRAY'S POLICY.

PRESENT METHODS ATTACKED

RISE IN RATES PREDICTED.

City Council methods were severely criticised last nigjjt by Mr. W. H. Murray, when, as a candidate for the Mayoralty of Auckland, he gave a resume of the reforms he would effect if elected. His address was delivered in the Epsom Library Hall, between 70 and 80 people being present. The chairman, Mr. F. E. Jones, in introducing the candidate, said Mr. Murray intended to deliver a policy speech. Mr. Murray, who was received with applause, said the ratepayers' money T»»d not always been spent wisely or economically in the past. A man elected to the Mayoralty should make it one of his chief aims to see that full value was given the ratepayers for the money spent. The Mayor of Auckland should be a gentleman who had the confidence of the people, one capable of filling the office with dignity, equipped with a good business training, and possessing a fair measure of business acumen. The city wanted a man who could say "No" when required, and a man who could deal with council affairs in a commercial spirit. The speaker said there should be a number of changes effected in City Council methods. Tenders for all supplies should be called for, especially metal supplies. A thorough investigation of every department should be made, to ascertain that everything was 100 per cent efficient. The council should strive to confine its dealings to municipal business. Interference with private enterprise should be avoided. Before the city took in any outside areas careful investigation should be made with regard to their assets. The city was paying dearly for taking in Tamaki and Avondale. The Estimates had been reduced from £104/265 to £90,000, despite the inclusion of those two areas. Neglect and disrepair were everywhere apparent, and if things were to be put right the estimated expenditure would be tremendously increased. Co-ordination Necessary. There should be greater co-ordination between City Council departments, and between the council and all organisations having anything to do with underground street works. Often streets were no sooner repaired than they were torn up again. Mr. Murray dealt at length with the collapse of the Mount Eden reservoir. Instructions should never have been given verbally when it was found necessary to take precautions. If a ship was lost the captain would be put on trial, not the fireman, and as far as responsibility for the burst reservoir was concerned, the "captain of the ship" should take the responsibility. Mr. Murray thought the ward system was the best, as far as representation was concerned. What did Tamaki people know of men from City West, or candidates from Avondale? Dealing with organ recitals in the Town Hall, Mr. Murray said the present system was economically unsound. The organist was paid £600 a year, £600 was spent in incidentals, and the man who tuned the organ got £208. Each recital cost £70 to £80, and the gross receipts averaged £4 8/7. Was that good business? Should the Town Clerk continue to function as Auckland's musical Mussolini? (Lauaghter). Mr. Murray suggested a commission consisting of a business man, a musician and a professional man or woman to control organ recitals. Mr. Murray said he would not have time to deal fully with matters affecting the Zoo, but he quoted figures to show that the band— which played at the Zoo—had incurred a loss of £11,609 over a period of four years. That debit stood above the ' signature of the City Treasurer. Mr. Murray said he would endeavour to stop such extravagance if returned as Mayor. The candidate touched on unemployment. "One of the most iniquous things perpetrated upon the people of Auckland," he said, "was the council's action in raising the salaries of its chief adminstraitive officers during a time of stress, when workmen were being employed at low rates. It does not matter who goes back into power, next year you are going to see one of the most phenomenal rises in rates the city has known," The loan indebtedness was now £7,500,000, and ratepayers had to find the interest on that amount. The programme of expenditure mapped out for the next four years would increase the city's indebtedness to £10,661,000 if the people voted the money. The concluding portion of the candidate's address dealt with what is known as the "Murray Inquiry," the speaker complaining that he had been denied access to the typed evidence. "Had I the time, I could give you a night's entertainment from the report of the committee of inquiry," said Mr. Murray. After answering questions, the candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.