NEW LYNN MAYORALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 85, 11 April 1929, Page 11

NEW LYNN MAYORALTY.

FIRST SHOT IN CAMPAIGN.

ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED

Tnere are four candidates few the honour of being returned at the first Mayor of New Lynn, and the opening shot in the campaign was fired last night by Mr. Oakley Browne at St. Thomas' Hall. There was a large attendance. Mr. Marshall Lang, chairman of the Waitemata County Council, presided. The candidate received an attentive hearing. There were no interruptions. and when questions were called for at the conclusion of the address no one raised a query. Mr. Browne criticised the administration of the Town Board and asked why. without consultation with The electors, the board had recommended to the Government that the new borough should be restricted to six members, when, in nearly all instances, there were nine as allowed by statute. It savoured of '"hole and corner" methods, especially when it was realised that the present council had called in four residents, in addition to the clected members, to devise a loan scheme. The candidate advised a cautious policy for the future. It was a question of what the ratepayers could atford to pay. not what was required to make Xew Lynn a Remuera by one stroke of the pen. The £73.000 sewage scheme threatened to be an intolerable burden on the people. It had been pushed to completion far too quickly. The scheme should have been spread over a term of six to eight years. As many properties in Totara Avenue had been damaged by the collapse of the main tunnel he advocated a full inquiry to fix the responsibility in the same way as had been adopted bv the City Council when the Mount Eden reservoir burst. The money now misspent for road maintenance should be in permanent work. He pointed to the valuation roll commenting upon the incidence of taxation. This bore harshly on the resident owner as compared to the bis industrial concerns. Full inquiry in this direction was necessary. The hospital levy of over £800 was" inequitable. Payment should be on a per capita basis. He was opposed to fantastic loan proposals, and in all matters affectinsr the ratepayers he believed in full and open discussion and a policv that included foresight. Transport was vital to the district and must be considered from a reasonable and practical standpoint. He did not believe in committing the ratepayers and calling a meeting after the damage was done. That was not hi? conception of local body responsibility. Mr. Browne dealt with footpaths. road«. water supplv. the Kelston merger, rates, service and manv other matters.

At the conclusion of the address a resolution of thanks and confidence was proposed, which, on a show of hands, the chairman declared '"carried unanimouslv."'

CITY COUNCIL. NOMINATIONS

So lar the only nomination" received for the Auckland City Council are Messrs. .T. Dempsey. Hallyburton Johnstone. and M. .1. Covle.

Mr. ( oyie stated this morning that he would nominate for the Citv Council but not the Auckland Hospital Board, of which he ha? been a representative for 20 year*, as member for Eden. He eaid that if he were again returned to the City Council his time would be fully taken up m:h council matters and trans'porr.

BIRKENHEAD MAYORALTY.

Mr. J. P. McPhail. in addition to being a candidate for the Mayoralty of head, will be a candidate for a seat on the Waitemata Power Board.

OXAHUHU MAYORALTY,

Mr. T. Clements has signified his willingness to be nominated for the mayoralty. So far there are no other aspirants for the office announced, but several new names are being mentioned for council honours.