A MAYORAL CONTEST.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13098, 24 April 1908, Page 6

A MAYORAL CONTEST.

Wellington is at present th© seen© of one of the keenest Mayoral eloctaoms that have taken place in New Zealand for a long time. The candidates are the present Mayor, tho Hon. T. W. HSslop, and Mr J. G. W. Aitkcn, M.P., who was his opponent's predecessor in tlie Mayoral chair. The vigour with which each is prosecuting the campaign is most refresliing. Willy-nilly, every resident of Wellington has Iris attention forcibly directed every day to the fight that is going on, the newspapers devo + jo columns in each issue to the candidates' speeches and the letters of their supporters and critics, and for the time being ail other questions seem to have sunk into insignificance. Tho energy of the candidates is something phenomenal; they are credited with a desire to oovcr th© whole electorate twice, and having held supporters' meetings in every corner of the city, thoy have now entered upon a series of public meetings. Mr Aitken's first "policy speech" on Tuesday evening oovered a great deal of ground. Much of it was oonoorned with the numerous side issues that have sprung up during the past month's campaign, and a good deal of time was devoted to replying to criticisms of his own administration during the five and a half years ho occupied the Mayoral chair. But there was also much solid policy in the deiiveranoe. In Mr Aitken's opinion the burden of rates has beoom© too heavy in Wellington, and tho time has come, ho thinks, when the .total amount of rates drawn from the citizens should not bo increased. If the city values were further raised, then tho rates per £ should bo reduced pro rata. He quoted some startling figures showing how enormously the city's revenue lias increased in the last few years. In 1901 the income w>as £99,920, in 1905 it was £139,790, and this year it was £206,439, of which the rates were represented by £137,580., or nearly double tho amount they produoed seven years ago. Most Wellington ratepayers, we imagine, will agree with Mr Aitken's assertion that the time has come to cry "halt."

Wellington must not, however, stand still, and Mr Aitken's programme contains proposals for tho extension of th© tramway system and tho acquisition of the Kelburno tramway, the improvement of th© streets and footpaths, tho establishment of salt water and tepid baths, tho improvement of the Botanical Gardens, and additions to the city's playgrounds, municipal control of the milk supply, th© iminicipalisn/-

tion of tho gas works, and the erection of workmen's homes. In connection with the streets., it may bo of interest- to Christchurch people to learn, on Mr Aitken's authority, that the wood-blocking of certain streets has saved upkeep, and has paid more than interest and Braking fund on the cost of construction. As regards the Gas Company, he was in favour, after giving twelve months' notice, of the Council purchasing the undertaking at a price to bo determined by arbitration. An Act of Parliament would be necessary to enable this to be done, and Mr Aitken pointed out thai during his Mayoralty a Bill was introduced for this purpose, but time dad not allow of its being dealt with. Mr Hislop has yet to hold his first general public meeting, though he has addressed inminie>rable sectional meetings. So far, he has based his claims to re-election on the business-like oh-araoter of his axkninistration, on the financial operations a_nd public works he has carried through during the past three years, and on the fact thai lie has reduced the cost of municipal management. He, too, favours tlie municipalisation of tiho gasworks, and, apparently, stricter regulations for conserving the public health. The contest, no doubt, owo6 somo oP its keenness to its undoubted political flavour, but apart from this it is creating much interest, and iVhotever Wellington's experience in tho past may have boon, there is now none of that apathy in regard to municipal matters which we have had cause to regret in Christchuroh. It will be a wholesome sign when any Mayoral election in this citv excites something liko the active interest that is being raised by tho contest in Wellington.