ONEHUNGA AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 102, 2 May 1935, Page 10

ONEHUNGA AFFAIRS.

CONTEST FOR MAYORALTY.

MR. VELLA'S CAMPAIGN.

The campaign for the Onehunga Mayoralty, in which there are three candidates, was opened last night, when Mr. S. Vella addressed the electors in the Royal Oak Hall. Mr. J. O. Liddell presided, and on the platform were six candidates for the Borough Council election, who are on Mr. Vella's "ticket" —Messrs. G. E. Haydon, F. Gilchrist, N. Benfell, M. Bamett, A. Garside and

D. Ness. Mr. Vella said he had been a member of the Borough Council for six years and deputy-Mayor for three years. If the large audience was there either to hear a great oration or for some fun its members would be disappointed. He and his party had two qualifications for public office—sincerity and a grasp of the needs of Onehunga. He fiwt reviewed vthe work done on the ; streets under his chairmanship of the streets committee and exhibited a map showing the improvements make. Dealing with finances, he said there were certain fixed charges for loans, water, library and streets which could not be altered. To increase the borough revenue the council would have to increase the general rate. The profits from the sale of water to outside districts helped to keep down the general rate. The new reservoir on One Tree Hill, built to supply water to Mount Roskill, together with the necessary reticulation, had cost £0000, of that amount two-thirds had already been paid off.

Future of Gloucester Park. Referring to Gloucester Park, Mr. Vella eaid°£4soo had already been spent on it, and without arguing the merits or otherwise of -the expenditure the problem confronting the new council was to decide what was to be done with the park. If elected Mayor he would "investigate, with expert advice, the possibility of grassing the park without topdreesing it. Topdressing would cost about £5000. He pointed out that he had opposed the formation of Geddes basin into a sports ground, and that a motion proposed by him on November 28, 1932, to convert the basin into a lake was defeated.

' More work would be done in the borough by men at standard rates of pay, with the help of a weekly subsidy of 35/ from the Unemployment Board, such as was at present operating at Mount Albert, the candidate said. He favoured the total abolition of relief work, as the present system was perpetuating unemployment. He supported the metropolitan drainage scheme. If adopted, at a cost of £50,000. it would absorb most of the unemployed in Auckland and would have a claim on the unemployment funds. Mr. Vella declared himself to be a supporter of the Labour party, and he appealed to the meeting to return him on that account, and also because he was a young man. All the candidates on the platform also addressed the meeting, each member being allowed five minutes. Mr. J. S. Montgomcrie, a candidate for the Transport and Hospital Boards, also spoke. The mooting, which was most enthusiastic, concluded with a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Vella and the other candidates.

NO MAORI CANDIDATE. The fact that tlie Maori people living in Auckland lia<l not appointed any representative to contest any seat in tlie Forthcoming elections \va3 stressed tliin morning by Mr. Lou Parore. who Is at present in the oity organising the enrolment of the natives in the city and suburbs, Mr. Paroro said that ho had heard rumours that the Maoris had put forward their own candidates. He wjshed to speak for his people and say that they intended to vote with the pakea for those candidates already in the field who would most benefit the race. CITIZENS' " TICKET." The Citizens' Committee announces thnt ita candidates are under no pledge nnd bound to no party. Electors are urged by the committee to give their votes to all the candidates selected* whose names, portraits, and records will be published in the " Auckland Star" next Saturday.