ADDRESS BY COUNCILLOR FISHER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 471, 1 April 1909, Page 8

ADDRESS BY COUNCILLOR FISHER.

A VIGOROUS SPEECH. St. Thomas's Hall' was filled last night when Councillor Fishor opened his campaign for the Mayoralty. The chairman was Mr. B. Dawson. At tho outsot of his address Councillor Fisher stated that he did not intend to hold a post-mortem on what had taken place in the council, but preferred to look ahead. Tho electors had a wide choico in connection with tho election—a doctor, two lawyers, and a politician—and he preferred tho latter. (Laughter.) Three of tho candidates were Now Zealanders and the fourth was to all intents and purposes a native of the Dominion, ho being an old resident. Outline of His Policy. His policy was ono which could be carried out; in fact must bo carried out. He submitted that there must bo no increase in rates during the next twelve months. Then again, in connection with the business of tho council, there must be no interference with the responsible officers in regard to the internal administration of their departments, and complete freedom of action with regard to employees. Further, the council should undertake the construction of reservoirs for the high levels; the extension of the. Lyell Bay line, and the completion of the recreation grounds—all of which could be done out of revenue. (Hear, hear.) He would like to see a Bill promoted to take over such private streets as might be recommended by the city engineer. Patronago was a thing which might very well bo done without. His motto throughout his public life had been: Thero must be clean administration. (Applause.) Ho had come forward because ho thought it was in tho interests of the public that lie should do so. If ho had wanted a requisition a man had offered to get him ono at the rato of £2 per 1000 names. (Laughter.) If the people elected him ho would show that his ideal was not merely theoretical but highly practical. Much good would re'snlt if the next Mayor was a man who was determined not to increase tho borrowing propensity which had been in evidence in the past, and who would make a point of seeing that thero was clean administration. (Applause.) Ho claimed to know as much about the city's affairs as most people, and a great deal more than others. Electors may have heard a cry: "Wo want ft business man." Some of the business men who had been tried had made good mayors; others had been bunglers. A good business man was a man who simply studied his own position, whilst a good public man was a man who looked after tho public business and did not seo how much he could get of it. In connection with tho campaign, it was his intention to speak on. nineteen nights. To those who had said that he was too young, he would reply that he was thankful he was not old, becauso he still had enthusiasm, energy, and the inclination to serve tho peoplo for a long time to come. (Applause.) If any man could shake the foundations of his policy from tho platform he was prepared to lose, the,,election. • ~ The Financial Position. Referring to the financial position of the city,., he might point out that the figures for the year just' ending were not yet available. The total indebtedness of the city was £2,014,000, of which sum £1,183,000 had been spent on reproductive works. Against the total of borrowed moneys there were sinking funds totalling £130,000. During four recent years, tho following amounts had been borrowed: 1904, £460,000; 1905, £22,000; 1906, £64,000; and 1907, £233,000; a total of £779,000. This year he suggested that there should be a spell. Tho city had invested in tramways, £511,000; in electric light works, £180,000; in water works, £400,000; * jin recreation grounds, £30,000. There were three methods in which sinking funds might be invested: (1) the method adopted in Mr. Aitken's time, of putting out the funds with building societies; (2) the method in vogue in Mr. Hislop's time, of advancing moneys on freehold properties, and (3) the method which was made legal last session, whereby the funds became automatically invested in the Government at the standard and uniform rate of 4J per cent. There could be no doubt but that tho third system was by far the best. (Applause.) In addition to the assets which he had mentioned, there were what were known as the corporation leaseholds, which woro constantly increasing in value. With respect to the question of valuations, he might point out that the unimproved value of the property in the citv had increased from £6,600,000 in 1905-6, to £9,700,000 in 1906-7. Owing to the fact that the rate in the ,£ had remained practically the same, the council had been able to collect twice as much from rates. Borrowing Should Be Stopped. The council at the present time employed 1236 men and women, and the wage sheet for ono year' was £166,960. Why, the whole of tho rates of Wellington did not pay by a long chalk the salaries of its officers aiid staffs. The wages sheet had, during the past few years, increased as follows:—1904, £61,050; 1905, £106,941; 1906, £120,819 1907, • £136,000; 1908, £150,000; 1909 £166,960. He did not say that that expenditure was altogether improper, becauso during the period in question the city had started a tramways system, and an olectrio light--1 ing system, and now were about to start abattoirs. Some peoplo might say that it was impossible to carry out any public works without borrowing. What ho held was ! that by prudence and economy the council ; could savo enough money in twelve months 1 to build high-level reservoirs, extend the ; tramways, and complete the recreation | roserves. He was prepared to stake his rcpu--1 tation on the realisation of his proposals. ■ (Loud applause.) It had been stated that in ! tho matter of sports grounds the present touncil had been unsympathetic. Ho would like to point out that during tho past four years the council had spent inter alia £31,000 on recreation grounds. Tho athletic ' world ■ had no right to expect that it was ; going to turn tho council into a sports body, i (Hear, hear.) He would not go into the ques--1 tion of tho proposed purchase of tho Gas 1 Company's works, because the matter was 3 before a committee of tho council, which was 3 negotiating with tho company. Wliai J lie would liko to say, however 3 was that in tho present stato of the monej a market it would bo a mistake to acquirc t tho gasworks at the present time. So fai 0 as he was concerned, the Gas Company woiilc 1 not be permitted to extend any of the privi. o leges which the company now possessed, bui e would bo kept in its place until tho corpora. • tion had the money to buy it as a going con s corn. (Applause.) o o Tramways, Franchise, Etc. e He absolved himself from all rcsponsibilit; n in connection with the tramways when -hi found that the power of administration wa< taken away from the council and put in tin hands of a committee. With regard to thi tramways, he pointed out that tho amoun J of tho depreciation account, £43,000, did no exist except on paper, bccauso it had beei added to capital account and spoilt. Hi; opinion was that if such a fund were use< lip interest should bo allowed on the money; and there should bo a roserve fund. Ho hat voted against a proposal to ieduce tho faro: on the island Bav lino, and even if ho Jos 500 votes over it ho would have tho satkfac

tion of knowing that ho had not supported a proposal that was unremunerative. Whou a municipality had billets vacant preference should bo givon to local men. Councillor Fisher went on to say that ho believed tlio Mayor should bo appointed for two years. It cost £500 a year to prepare tlio roll to bo used in connection with the election. There was no reason why a momber of Parliament should not contest tho mayoralty, but what ho did say was that a mayor should not contest a seat in tlio House whilst ho held office. "With regard to the question of the municipal franchiso, he held that any person who paid for tho exclusive uso of a room, and had paid for it for at least three months, had a right to vote. Upon the conclusion of his address Councillor Fisher was loudly applauded. Thanks and Confidence. Having answered half-a-dozen questions Councillor Fisher was, upon tho motion of Mr. W. A. Thomson, seconded by Mr. Fearns, accorded a 'nanimous vote of thanks and confidence. LABOUR'S VIEWS. The Labour Representation Committee nominated last evening the following candidates for tho City Counoil: —Messrs. D. M'Laren, M.P., W. H. Hampton, W. C. Luke, E. J. Carey, A. H. Hindmarsh, A. H. Cooper, C. H. Chapman, and M. J. Itaardon. It was also decided to "run" a candidate for the Mayoralty, and a strong deputation was appointed t-o ask the Hon. J. Rigg to stand. =====