CAMPAIGN FOR MAYORALTY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 15

CAMPAIGN FOR MAYORALTY

DR. GUTHRIE'S FIRSH

SPEECH

POLICY OF CITIZENS'

ASSOCIATION

FIFTEEN AIMS OUTLINED

The Christchurch Citizens' Association opened its campaign last night for the Mayoralty, the City Council, the North Canterbury Hospital Board, and the Lyttelton Harbour Board with speeches by its Mayoral candidate —Dr. John Guthrie —and four other candidates. The opening meeting was held in the Radiant Hall. In spite of the stormy weather, the meeting drew an attendance of more than 200, who passed by acclamation a motion of confidence in the association's candidates. Mr F. W. Hobbs presided. Fifteen policy points were outlined by Dr. Guthrie as being the basis of the campaign by the association's candidates. They were pledged torCD Keep the rates as low as possible, while giving desirable progress to civic development. (2) Secure majorities on all local bodies. ~ . .. (3) Complete the tar-sealing of city streets in the next three or four years out of revenue. (4) Oppose the extension of municipal trading that might interfere with fiie rights of citizens. (5) Go further into the reduction of electricity charges for all consumers. (6) Improve street lighting, particularly in the suburbs. (7) Pursue a modern policy of education and regulation of all forms of traffic. . _, „ „ (8) Beautify the Avon and Heathcote rivers. (9) Call public tenders for all contracts, except in special circumstances. (10) Provide more conveniences. (11) Liberalise the supply of water to householders and, as finances permit, reduce water charges. (12) Eliminate smoke, dust, and other menaces to public health. (13) Improve parks and buy parki and playing areas for districts not adequately served. ... (14) Co-operate m any rational proposal for the housing of old-age pensioners and the necessitous. (15) Encourage and work for a Greater Christchurch. Dr. Guthrie remarked that a doctors life was not conducive to the cultivation of politics, but he anticipated nothing but a 1 clean and straightforward contest with Mr Macfarlane. During the 20 years he had been on the honorary staff of the Christchurch Public Hospital he had come into touch with every section of the community, and he could say that most of his friendships during that period had been made people. Problem for Next Council The next three years of the council's life would be more difficult than the last three, he said. There was an annual average expenditure of £76,000 in wages, and £24,000 in salaries, and the council faced an additional expenditure of £BOOO. which was not of its making. It would take a good deal of skill to come through the next three years with anything like the record of the last three. Discussing the roading policy approved by the association. Dr. Guthrie said that roading was dealt with by the council as efficiently as was possible. Up to the present it had not been possible to seal 28 per cent, of the roads in the city, but it was hoped that at the end of the next council's term of office there would be very few unsealed roads. Some people thought that there was favouritism in authorising the sealing of roads. Actually, sealing was carried out according to a definite plan, quite impartially and on the advice of the City Engineer. "I am not going to say much about milk now because it is not a party question," Dr. Guthrie continued. "We are all pretty well agreed that we cannot continue using milk that is not safe. The association of milk with certain disease has become so prominent that the pasteurisation of milk is taken as absolutely necessary. You can have as careful a watch as possible, but even then you cannot ensure a safe supply. The only way is to pasteurise. The whole question is: how can we pasteurise milk and give a safe supply without putting up the price? That is the question that in the end is going to be decided by yourselves, because the council has decided that this question must be put to a referendum." After speaking of the need for the elimination of the smoke nuisance in the city and of the steps taken by the council and some business people to bring about an improvement, Dr. Guthrie went on to speak of the disposal of refuse by controlled tipping. Much of the opposition to controlled tipping, he said, had come from a group of people who did not realise what was meant by controlled tipping. The opposition had quickly died when those who were critical saw that there was nothing of which they need be afraid. A very great advantage of controlled tipping was that it cost less than half that of incineration. Referendum Not Favoured

The suggestion had been made that tipping should be the subject of a referendum; but this was utterly ridiculous. The council, in any case, had now committed itself to this method of disposing of rubbish. But if there should be a mistake in carrying out the scheme, he would be the first to ask that it be discontinued. However, the only way it could fail would be by lack of attention to the rules, and that was a very remote possibility.. There had also been a suggestion that a referendum be held to decide whether Christchurch should-have a town hall. A town hall was a splendid addition to a city, but he was inclined to think that there were-times when a move for a town hall should not be in the forefront of the association's policy. But if at any time he was convinced that a considerable section of the community wanted a town hall he would consider it his duty to promote a referendum. The association's candidates were pledged to co-operate in any rational proposal for the housing of old-age pensioners. There were certain slum properties in the city that were being used to house old-age pensioners and very poor people with no bargaining power. Some were paying 10s 6d and 12s a week for places that were not fit for human habitation. These people, however, could not be ejected until reasonably good accommodation was found for them. The Government had offered money at a low rate of interest for building homes for Pensioners and indigent people, and if the council could find a reasonable scheme it would give the fullest support