MT. ALBERT CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 191, 15 August 1933, Page 8

MT. ALBERT CONTEST.

MAYORAL POLL TO-MORROW.

CANDIDATES' ADDRESSES.

Mount Albert ratepayers will elect their new Mayor to-morrow. The two candidates are Mr. R. Fcrner, the present deputy-Mayor, and Mr. J. G. Pickens.

Both candidates have conducted an active campaign and will give their final addresses this evening, Mr. Ferner at the Presbyterian Hall, Balmoral, and Mr. Pickens at the Owairaka, School, off Richardson Road. The chairman at this meeting will be Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P. for'Roskill. Last evening Mr. Ferner gave an address at the Jubilee Hall, Kingeland. Mr. F. A. Jarrett presided. Replying to, the only objection which he said had been raised to his scheme for the relief of unemployment, Mr. Ferner dealt with the statement of Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P., that if Mount Albert were to obtain a grant along the lines advocated, all the other local authorities in New Zealand would be asking for similar treatment. "This is the best thing that could happen," said Mr. Ferner, "and ie in fact the essence of the whole plan. If a number of local bodies would commence work on similar lines, not only would the drain on the unemployment fund be relieved,, but a great many people in New Zealand would be put into employment at standard rates of pay. _ It is along these lines that the eolution of the worst problem of our times would seem to lie." Mr. Ferner said that he was in favour of the resumption of expenditure on capital works in the borough, as soon ae it could be undertaken without involving an increase in the rates. "There arc several circumstances which will enable euc'h resuniptioii tb be-'tn'ad'e," he said. "There is settlement with the Crown on the question of liability for rates on State houses. This involves Mount Albert in an annual loss of £9000, which would finance a capital expenditure on permanent works of £160,000 without increasing the rates by. one penny to the individual. There are also signs of resumption of building in the borough, and the addition of these capital improvements would raise the rating yield. For example, if buildings to the value of £100,000 were erected, it would increase the rating yield by £1400, which would be sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund on an expenditure of approximately £25,000." Mr. Pickens on Finance. Mr. Pickens, in his address at Kingsland, said that if the financial figures quoted by his opponent were correct the total income in round figures from rates was £76,000, and the total fixed charges were £6800, with a total indebtedness of £85,000. It meant that their homes were mortgaged to a total of one-sixth of their value on a high-valuation, and that the borough was paying away -89 per cent of its revenue in interest. He advocated a conversion loan at 4 per cent and the.temporary suspension of sinking fund payments. Strong representations ehould be made to the Government in connection with rates on- Government houses. If the loans were, converted at 4 per cent they would save £11,000. He.was not in favour of a borrowing policy, as the rates were already too high. After dealing with a number of economies which could be effected, Mr. Pickens said that Mount Albert, in paying 2/ per 1000 gallons for water, was paying too much, and arrangements should be made with other local bodies to discuss getting water from the Waikato River. He believed that that could be done at a cost of not more than 1/3 a 1000 gallons. Mr. Pickens said that as a successful contractor, and -one with an intimntc knowledge of the borough's affaire and its rcnuiremente, he would, as Mayor, be well able to serve the best intere-ts of the Mount Albert people.