MT. EDEN'S AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 98, 28 April 1933, Page 3

MT. EDEN'S AFFAIRS.

MAYORALTY CONTEST. MR. MULVIHILL'S POLICY. PLEDGED TO LOWEB BATES. "If returned with a majority, I pledge myself to bring down estimates to provide for a 4/3 rate this year," said Mr. J. J. Mulvihill, the Ratepayers' Association's candidate for the Mayoralty of Mount Eden, in his main address at a meeting held in the Empire Theatre last evening. The candidate devoted over one and a half hours to matters relevant to the borough, and at the conclusion the large audience resolved, without- dissent, to work for the return of the Ratepayers' Association "ticket" at the poll next week. Dealing with the proposed rate of 4/3, a 15 per cent decrease on the existing rate of 4/11, Mr. Mulvihill said this could be effected without sacrifice of efficiency in any direction. Footpath maintenance would be kept well up to standard, traffic supervision would be reinstated and a comprehensive plan of borough administration established if he assumed office. Ratepayers must not be misled by any promises of early relief by conversion of loans. The benefit would not be felt this year, but on conversion being effected he was prepared to reduce the rates accordingly. Thus there was every prospect of a rate of 4/1 for the following year. He had no misgivings about meeting the full commitments of the borough and the preservation of Mount Eden's reputation as a model suburb on his proposed rating basis. Devoting some time to the financial position that would have arisen had an amalgamation with the city and Mount Albert been made, Mr. Mulvihill said that while the increased exchange rate hit the city ratepayers heavily, Mount Eden's burdens were correspondingly lightened by the 20 per cent interest relief. In other words, the strenuous and successful resistance to the amalgamation proposals made by the Ratepayers' Association secured to Mount Eden ratepayers all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of the recent financial changes. He paid a tribute to the foresight of earlier councils in arranging internal loans, thus avoiding heavy remittance charges and ensuring the re-investment in the Dominion of all interest moneys. All his plans .were based on his return to office with a sound majority, and he was confident his supporting candidates would discharge the work of the borough with satisfaction to all concerned. _ Mr. Mulvihill said his aim would be to establish closer contact not only with the ratepayers but with all borough activities. He declared that, despite the issue of specifications of a rubbish removal and sainitary contract for a term of one .year, the Mayor arid two councillors had • signed a contract for two years without the sanction of the full council. He said the work could be now done for £150 per annum less, and the ratepayers had suffered to that extent by this unwarranted action. Mr Hoppv, a candidate for the council, endorsed Mr. Mulvihill's remarks concerning the "ticket," and appealed for a full measure of support in that direction. . " The Rev. A. J. Greenwood said his main reason for agreeing to. inclusion on the "ticket" was his realisation that the control of relief work and the relief of distress called for a radical change, and he relied on Mr. Mulvihill's policy in that respect to effect a much-desired improvement. He also deprecated Mr. MeNab's unfair comparison of Mount Eden and Thames from a financial standpoint. One was a flourishing borough while the other through the unforeseen collapse of its industries and shipping was not in a happy financial condition. -