MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10759, 12 September 1900, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

ADDRESSES OF CANDIDATES

At St. John's schoolroom yesterday evening : (Messrs William Wood, and William Congreve, two of the candidates for the South-east Ward, addressed a number of ratepayers. Mr W. H. Cooper was in the chair.

Mr Woods referred first to an article in "The Press," in which some of the_coiincillora had besn termed "dunderheads," but "The Press" should have named the "dunderheads" included in the Council, or left them alone altogether. The dust referred to had been caused by using read scrapings ■far binding the metal. He admitted that the dust and refuse had bean left on ihe roadside, and, as regards the street watering, the Council, whan he was a member, had done as much as they could with the money, and he was in favour oi the caits being multiplied if the money was spent in that direction, instead of unnecessary new bridges, such as the Hospital bridge. The removal of sewage would never be successfully 'carried out until the drainage and high-pres-sure water scheme were completed. In the meantime the present carts should be mounted oh springs. The destructor -should be placed as far off as possible, and the outside boroughs should have the use of it. Ths city rubbish should be collected in two carts; on. to pick up useless matter, and the other to gather rubbish-that could be of use afterwards and profitable' to the ratepayers. The article in "The Press" had said that better men should come forward, but the (ratepayers should say what sort of men they wanted. For years past "The Press" had be_n telling them Avhat sort of men should go to Parliament, but the public had not listened to them, and the men "The Press" wanted did not get there.- The speaker stated that when he was on the Council two .desirable central /»rds could have been pseured at reasonable prices, but the chance was lest. New Council horses shouM always be examined by a veterinary surgeon before being purchased. Greater Christchurch would never b. got while the city did not show due respect to the boroughs. The speaker then went oii to point~out the waste involved at present when remetalling the streets, and declaimed at some length as to the way in which the South -east Ward had bs-on neglected lately, referring especially to the grievous state of the Ferry road. The reorganising of the City Council staff should begin at the top. The speaker concluded by approving of the establishment of abattoirs. Mr W. Congreve said that the subject of Greater Christchurch chiefly depended on the ratepayers. In the Old Country it had proved a great success. The expense could be spread over fifty or sixty years, so tha. posterity might pay its fair share. The drainage system should be completed and with that'the high pressure water supply, and ths Council should have power to enforce connections. At least one large public bath should be erected, containing a warm plunge and a number of small baths. He would strongly support, the electric light, and would suggest that the supply be keot in the hands of the. people. The gas supply should also belong to the people, but. fair compensation should be given "when the supply is transferred. Greater Christchurch should certainly control the tram system. The cost of keeping tbe streets in repair was greater in tlw end than laving down granite blocks once and for all.' There was plenty of room for improvement in cleaning the streets : there should bs more horse brushes, and the boys with handcarts should ba done away with. Then the streets could be cleaned each morning before eight o'clock. He was in favour of all permanent improvements. Replying to questions, Mr Woods said he woiild like to see a permanent inspector of dairies, and would also be in favour of municipalising tbe tram lines. Mr Con-g-eve said that he favoured the appointment of women en Charitable Aid and Hospital I Boards, and was also in favour of paving i the minimum wage to all the Council em- ! ployeeß. He would also support public i abattoirs.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.