LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26261, 4 November 1950, Page 8

L OCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Labour Party’s Policies AMALGAMATION SUPPORTED "The Ci':zc.:s - Asocial.:s a d. v.ce*. 'i ~ chsrupMa b ay." s.\vs Mr I*. ?' ?/.. ?..’ane. SIP Labour candid’’? <r^l ;• Chr s’.chv’.’c.-'.. in rd ‘o the par?-.'? policy state- ■ • re cased for publics’:nn. ‘Pa . • ■ •; ioTvitn.cs hr*? teen aired .a • '<-> / anrr> ana proved Lot • ■ 'h'-T; ‘ha: *he C.i.zers’ Associa- • a«;rr..n <eo and dictMen to o:■ercss •.’■‘ijuc ti’u? city. Such an u. sb/'uld no longer be allowed • i ahn*i;:;sira*irn of o-r in the oest interests cf ail ciuze. s v e »< ■■.. d be controlled by people k,i ■•: sed to arr.ai?.«ma ! .ion and who rc • sdo insjce the citv boundaries. All L.- boj; • andidates live m the city." Mr M?cfa:!ane also emphasises f hot C.".zei-s‘ Association" is a m<s- - • -mcr. in reality." he says, "it is t.iei N’.-' onal Pany ;n loeM politics. Tie Lender of the National Government’ •Mr Holland* is a vice-president. a.,di F'ost ■ f *ts members are prominent .n| t <? National Party. As a Government, t'c National party has betrayed its e’.ectmr, p'. edges, except tor those ranks which ha'e benefited the veiy wealthy The cost of living is soa*inc. v r.;:e hvina standards and connit r.s ceneraily are heinc attacked b.» thi- Tory reactionary Government.” As an introduction to its City Council policy, the statement says: "Labour v.nil. wherever it is. in the City Coutici”s power, to do what it can to lessen the effects in Christchurch of mistaken National policies. Labour has a policy v h ; ch wil] make Christchurch an even better city than it is.” The blanks Labour's platform areCity voun II Housing—Self-supporting schemes: more flats for letting to the elderly at reduced rentals: sections at rea-onable prices provided by develop- i ment and subdivision of suitable land: ! the enforcement, where necessary, of the Hous ng Improvement Act: an examination of the possibility of building houses for rental. Health —To amend the by-laws to' eliminate smoke and other industrial nuisances: provide covered vehicles for refuse collection: encourage the city’s health inspectors to supervise c’osely the preparation and sale of food.

Recreation.—Adequate provision for snorts grounds c-f all types, especially in newly-set*led areas; children’s playgrounds where needed, with subsidies to enable districts to provide equipment.

Community Centres and Libraries.— Assistance to all groups who wish to provide buildings, etc., for community centres, special consideration to be g ven to assisting in the provision of centres for the elderly; the library serv ce to be extended as circumstances permit. Roads and Footpaths.—A campaign for the long overdue improvement of roads and footpaths and the provision o' channelling: should tramway administra'ion come under the control of the council, every endeavour to repair road surfaces on tram routes. Electricity—The lowest possible charges to the householder: safeguards to protect the consumer against rising costs: assistance to enable the purchase of labour-saving electrical equipment for the home. Manufacturing Industries—To encourage the further development of Christchurch as an industrial centre. Amalgamation Poll.—Electors are recommended to support the proposals of the Local Government Commission. If amalgamation is agreed to. Labour will mpkg the change-over as smooth as possible and see that the interests of 'daffs are protected. Municipal Elections.—To examine the possibility of conducting municipal ejections on the ward system so that elrc + ors will have a greater opportunity of knowing the candidates whose names will be before them on th* ballot paper. Rates,—A pledge to maintain the lowest possible rates consistent with efficient service to the people, and labour believes in the principle of rating on the unimproved value system. Centennial.—To assist in every’ way possible the success of the celebration'*. Hospital Board Completely overhaul the method of admission of patients to hospital: to give the greatest measure of support to the administration of the Tuberculosis . ct introduced by the Labour Government in 1948: to provide nonchioped end hygienic cooking and eating utensils; to provide better amenities for out-patients, including super-i vision of children whose parents are receiving out-patient treatment; to investigate the possibility of providing accommodation for aged couples in conjunction with the Jubilee Home; to as rapidly as possible provide alterna-' tive accommodation for maternity cases, at present being admitted to: Burwood Hosnital. with a view to ■ using the accommodation at Burwood for aged bedridden patients: to pro-’ vide a new entrance at the Christ- 1 church Public Hospital for visitors Rarboar Board To support the modernisation, and extension of the port to meet the future requirements of Canterbury: the Harbour Board to develop close cooperation with the Tunnel Road CommPtee for the purpose of Imoroving the approaches to and the facilities of, the port: improved facilities to the inter-island steamer express wharf, with particular improvements for the embarking and disembarking of passengers; suitable amenifies for the Harbour Board employees and other workers employed nn f.vttelton waterfront Catchment Board As the main challenge to river control as far as Christchurch is concerned is the Waimakariri river, expert 1 advice in the control of the river should be secured and implemen‘-d; to use all possible means to have a progressive scheme of afforestation started in the upper reaches of the river: to seek the co-operation of farmers and landowners in areas along the river’s course, in the prevention of erosion; to carry out a steady programme of surveys and development of areas where soil is suffering from bad drainage.