LABOUR'S BID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 11

LABOUR'S BID.

CITY MAYORALTY.

MR. MASON OPENS CAMPAIGN.

POINTS FROM POLICY.

Declaring that the municipal elections were a fight between Labour and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. H. G. K. Mason, M.P., the Labour nominee for the city Mayoralty, submitted his policy to a largely-attended meeting of electors in the Leys Institute, Poneonby, last night. "It is a battle between anti-Labour and Labour at every stage," said the candidate. Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., deputy-leader of the Labour party, who presided, said that if Mr. Mason were not qualified to fill the position of Mayor of Auckland there was no other man capable of holding it. "That, however," added Mr. Savage, "is not what you want to know. It is what we propose to do. I say at once, we have been talking too long. The time has come for action if the people are to be saved from absolute starvation." (Applause.) Mitigation Only. "We must get down to realities," eaid Mr. Mason, "but at best a Mayor and council can only mitigate to some extent by their efforts the severity of the depression as. it affects Auckland. The general economic condition of New Zealand is determined far more by the actions of the Government than by the actions of a local body. If I were standing for the Prime Ministership I'would be able to undertake that, within three weeks, there would be, as a result of our policy, a perceptible change, and that within a few months there would be an utter transformation, with very little of the depression left. (Applause.) There are, however, in the field, of municipal affairs directions in which measures can be taken to mitigate the severity of the depression." "Extravagant Salaries." While opposed to reductions in the wages of the ordinary worker, Mr. Mason declared that in the higher-paid positions the City Council in the past had paid extravagant salaries. He expressed the view that the scale set for the heads of State departments, £800 before the reductions were made, should be taken as a guide by the big municipalities. Payment in Auckland of salaries of twice that sum had arisen from. a sort of vanity to demonstrate civic greatness —a policy of extra vagance which 1 should be opposed. All that had been saved by reductions in the wages of the workers amounted to very little. It had to be remembered that the part of the rates which went toward the payment of the council's fixed charges was greater than the part which went toward the payment of wages. Accordingly standing charges had to be looked to for relief—they were the substantial item—and if rates were to be reduced the question of fixed charges had to bo tackled. Sinking Fund Payments. In Mr. Mason'B opinion relief could be afforded by suspending for one or two years the payment of sinking funds, which in the case of Auckland represented £106,000 a year. The present Mayor, however, had failed to support that proposal. A Voice: The sinking funds* are reducing liabilities. Mr. Mason: Yes, from the bookkeeping point of view it ie all right. The money is not being wasted. These liabilities, however, are due in 10 or 14 years' time, and it is to-day that we want urgent relief. (Applause.) The city could do well if It paid its way under present circumstances without wiping off one penny of its liabilities. He was not concerned with the destination of the savings that will result from the suspension of sinking fund payments, because the funds were certain to be spent in .the purchase of necessaries or in other directions which would produce business activity. They would go into circulation, and not remain in cold storage. The increased business activity would increase employment, and it was only by that means that the council could do anything to check the eeverity of the economic storm. He was not dealing with small matters. It was not a question of saving a few pounds from reducing wages and sending money out of circulation, but of effecting savings which, while leaving the liability to bo paid on another occasion, would stimulate f the business activity of the whole community. That wae tho foundation of his policy. Initiative Wanted. In matters such as the suspension of sinking fund payments, the initiative had to be taken by the local body, and a lead from a municipality such as Auckland must be a serious element in determining the attitude of the Government;, but if the Mayor threw cold water on the scheme it followed that the chances were seriously jeopardised. Mr. Mason criticised also the attitude of the present Mayor regarding the payment of oversea interest. The candidate claimed that it was utterly unfair that the City Council should 'have to pay the .increased exchange on its external debt service, and he suggested that if sufficient determination were shown in dealing with the Government, it was possible that relief would be obtained. The case the city could make out was just and irresistible. In all such matters the Mayor must display initiative, and that was wha. was absent at present. Zoo Maintenance. • Criticising past administration, Mr. Mason recalled that in prosperous times a loan of £20,000 had been raised for the establishment of the Zoo. If there were one thing that should be paid for in prosperous times, or not financed at all, it was a zoo. However, a past council bought the Zoo and left the obligations to the present difficult period. The loss on its running was £4000 a year. Forage and food for the animals cost £1683 in 1932, notwithstanding that some of the citizens went short of a meal. In addition £383 had been spent on the purchase of new animals, which had to be maintained. "That was during the term of the present Mayor," added Mr. Mason. "Not only has he had to feed the existing animals, but he has added to their number. I don't say that the heads of the animals should be cut off, but I am one who does .not enthuse over the imprisonment of birds and animals in Mr. Mason defended the holding of Mayoral office by a member of Parliament, and cited what had been accomplished in Christchurch with its Labour council and a Labour M.P. as Mayor. "If elected," he added, "I should try to do what was done in Christchurch, with the grave reee*va*ifl» that it would not

be so easy to-day to make the same bargain with the Unemployment Board. It may be too late to get in with as good a bargain as Christchurch did. However, one could try." Loan Works. Holding that loan works should proceed, Mr. Mason said that necessary undertakings still to be carried out included the cleaning up of the slums, in connection with which the municipality should at once prepare a plan. On the milk question, he contended there would never be complete satisfaction until a municipal supply was instituted. The difficulties might be insuperable, but, as a start, a conference should be held between representatives of the local bodies in the area affected. There should be harmony among the local bodies in the metropolitan area, all working for the common good. He believed that ultimately the present boundaries must be oltered and finally would probably disappear. In reply to a question, Mr. Mason gave it as his opinion all borrowing overseas was stupidity. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks, the mover of the resolution expressing the hope that Mr. Mason would top the poll.