THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 6

THE MAYORALTY.

SPEECH BY MR. WILFORD. St. Mark's Hall was fairly well filled last night, when Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., a candidate for tho Mayoralty, gavo his opening address. In introducing tho candidate, tho chairman (Mr. F. W. Haybittlo) explained that the accuracy of all the figures quoted was vouched for by tho Oity Treasury, Mr. Collins. Mr. Wilford explained that ho was not a novice in public life, but ho was ohairman of the Harbour Board. Ho was chairman of tho board by election by his fellows, and ho wne on tho board as a'Parliamentary representative. In tho event of his election, ho would immediately resign his scat as Govornmont roprcsontativo on tlio board, and take his seat as Mayor of tho city, by yirtuo of his office. (Applause.) If ho did this, ho did not doubt that his; fellow members would place him in the same'position. It had been asked: How could ho attend to tho combined duties if returned P His reply was that he had not noglccted any public duties he was entrusted with, and if anything suffered it would be his own business interests only. (Applause) Ho had enough ambition to lot his business suffer if necessary, so that whatever the cost the citizens would be ablo to say, as they did at the Harbour Board, that ho had done well. His Platform. Mr. Wilford then read the following platform :— (1.) The advancement of tho city on safe lines, having regard to the immediate interests and obligations' already incurred. (2.) Safeguarding the ratepayers from future increased , calls by careful administration under efficient organisation. (3.) The giving of an opportunity to the ratepayors to decide whether the Fire Brigade should be undor tho control of tho council or the care of the board. In tho latter case, a saving to tho ratepayers of £4200 a year, approximately, would take place, with just as efficient a brigade. (4.) The setting aside early of such sums as may be available in order to repay those loans already incurred which have no sinking fund provided. (5.) That the future construction, of tramway extensions bo made on the sleeper system as at Island Bay, thus effecting an annual saving,- after construction, on the life of the rail road. (6.) The canying out of the obligations of the city to Island Bay, Kelburne, Brooklyn, Northland, and Roseneath, in respect to drainage, water supply, etc. (7.) The speedy construction of the Wadestown tramway, in order to carry out special obligations, and also for the purpose of as-! sisting many of those in need of immediate "employment. (Applause.) (8.) The obtaining of statutory authority for tho compulsory purchase of the property of the Gas Company (hear, hear), and the definition in such authority of the principles ; of purchase, in order that the ratepayers might have placed before them au approximate estimate of the cost to them of such purchase before any poll was taken on the subject. (Hear, hear.) (9.) The creation of a scheme for a joint superannuation board between tho City Council and the HaTbour Board, under the provisions of the Local Superannuation Act, in order that the whole of the employees of both bodies may be enabled to secure the benefits of the scheme on retirement. (10.) The immediate negotiation with the Harbour Board for the acquisition, on favourable terms to the city, of sites for a milk depot, fish mart, and an area for the erection of new baths in the near future. (11.) The speedy completion of recreation grounds for occupation and use. (12.) The taking over by the council of those private streets, tho .construction of which was allowed by the authoritative governing body, at the time of the forming of those streets. The City's Finances. These planks, continued the candidate, were comprehensive and extensive, and he would explain each item. He would put before his ' hearers. some figures regarding the finance of the city to show how far the Tevenue would allow the prosecution of the works within the next twelve months,

The only available balance-sheet was tliat up to the end of last year, as this year's was not ready. ■ The whole receipts, except from tramways .and lighting, came to £200,121. In the balance-sheet, it appeared £20P,000 odd, but the £9000 must have been earned forward' from tho previous year. The receipts from tramways were £122,994, and lighting £25,064, a total of £348,179. The expenditure, including wages, material, interest, and sinking fund, came to £195,777; tramways, £117,425; lighting, £24,148; a total of £337,351. If the receipts were as stated, the credit for the year was only £10,828, and he wanted to say that it wasabaurd to talk of instituting new schemes, : costing hundreds of thousands of pounds/ to' be paid for out of revenue. (Applause.) '/,"; With this balance, he asked, wa3 it wise to work with such a small credit? He thought it wise to do eo ; and to give all possiblo concessions, consistent with sound finance. This did not suggest an unsound method of carrying on operations. ' The Harbour Board's profit was under £5000 a year, and it was endeavouring to give what concessions it could, but not to carry out a spendthrift policy merely to please the pcopio if the money was not in the bank. (Hear, hear.) It did not mean that the council had only .£IO,OOO to 'spend for the year, as there were loan moneys waiting to be expended. For the year to como, if they only had £10,000 for works, the city had in the -hank £80,000 to work on in connection with drainage in Melrose, and £70,000 for water supply systems. Also, £40,100 would be raised for Wadestown trams and water services. Consequently, an ample sum was in hand for expenditure on public works. Regarding the depreciation fund, about which a good deal had teen said lately, Mr. Wilford explained that the object of such a fund was to provide for loans on capital arising through the wearing out of property representing capital expenditure. Therefore, the expenditure of a depreciation fund in capital works was proper as keeping the original capital value. He heartily approved of the policy of the City Council in expending this fund on capital works. The Cas Company. Mr. Wi'Jord believed in tho municipalisation of lighting, water supply, and tramways. Tho municipality should run the gasworks, as they were- not looking for a huge profit, but to provide a good service, irrespective of whether it would pay a 10 or 15 per cent, dividend. (Hoar, hear.) The company could not bring mains into the city through MelI'oso without the consent of Wellington City. Although the city could refuse this permission, they had not a compulsory power of purchase, and what was to be ilone? The solution was that, in order to clear up tho question of having no compulsory right of purchase, a Bill should be put through Parliament the council to acquire tho property and defining tho principles of purchase. Other Matters. He wished to congratulate Councillor Luke on his spirited reply to tho criticisms regarding recreation grounds. Those undor construction should be completed as soon as possible. Tho bowlers had beautified somo of the filthiest spots in the city, and they shoudl also have consideration. It was a matter for regret that an area of twenty acres at Ohiro Bay, which in time would be reached by a tramway, was not purchased by tho city. He did not think thero should be a hard-and-fast rule in regard to tram fares, and if a cheap tram coold be put on it should be done. Ho complained of a want of organisation in the system, as on occasions only one car met a packed boat, and there was an excess in the main streets. In any schemes for reclamation, the Harbour Board and the City Council should bo joined together. If he won the election, he, as chairman of the Harbour Board, could help the council materially, and instead of his position being a drawback, it would be an advantage. (Hear, hear.) Ho cordially approved of Dr. Frengley's milk report, but did not agree with the financial arrangements proposed by the council for raising the money for tho proposed milk sta-

tion. Ho desired to say that ho never indulged in personalities, and never mentioned his opponents' names. (Loud applause.) After answering soveral questions, tho candidate was accorded a vote of thanks .and confidence. MR. FISHER AT PALM GROVE. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.1 , ., a candidate for the Mayoralty, addressed an audience of about 100 at Palm Grove, Berhanipore, last night. Dealing with tho milk supply, the candidate pointed out that it must not be overlooked that tho question had never yet been satisfactorily handled by any municipality, and tho committee's report should bo thoroughly and exhaustively gone into before the ratepayers «cro committed to any expenditure. Whilst he urged that tho tramo should always bo run on a paying basis and no concessions should bo made to influenco ratepayors during an election, ho was satisfied that tho tramway sections should be fixed upon a ; fair and equitable basis. In reference to providing work for the unemployed, Mr. Fisher said that the council already had in hand a £47,000 contract at Wftinui-o-mata, and'would shortly make a start with tho construction of the Wadestown tramway, and that the ordinary works of drainago and water supply, round tho suburbs would bo continued during tho year. Considering tho fact that so many of tho unemployed were imported by tho State to walk about the streots and look for work, ho thought tho responsibility of finding those people employment should be taken by tho State, and not thrown upon the ratepayers. In reply to questions, tho candidate stated that in Ins opinion in every case where it was possible tho supplies of the council should bo secured by public tender, and not by private treaty. While he was in favour of the same facilities being given tramway employees as were granted State employees, when travelling, ho was against the issue of tramway, passes to.outsiders, as if issued to one, they would have to be issued to others.At the conclusion, a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried, and Mr. Fisher was asked to give a further address in tho district.

MR BOLTON AT NEWTOWN. About fifty electors listened to Mr. F. G. Bolton's address at S,t. Thomas's Hall last night. The chair was taken by Mr. Reuben Morrish._ Mr. Bolton's speech, was generally on the lines of his previous addresses. He first referred to his previous public experionce and his qualifications for the position of Mayor. In criticising the platforms of his opponents, the candidate- asked if Councillor Fisher was able to keep expenditure down and yet carry out works, why had lie not done so in tho past while he was a councillor ,and a member of tho Financo Committee. Dr. Newman's policy was also subjected to criticism. Speaking of tho rates, Mr. Bolton stated that so far as ho could tell, calculating from the figures for 1908, an amount of about 55.. in tho £ was paid by ratepayers, and they should see that this large sum was expended properly. Touching on municipal loans, tho speaker stated that he was not going to pledge himself not to advocate a loan if ho thought it was for an investment which would prove reproductive. He was not in favour of a milk distributing centre, but he thought that tho council should have power to deal with the milk at the sourco of supply in order to see that it was pure. The question had recently been raised as to whether the City Council should permit tho Town Hall to bo used for Sunday concerts. Ho held that the Town Hall, as the property of the citizens, should not be used on Sundays to make money for any outsjde speculation. The use of tho hall should be restricted to concerts for charitable purposes, and tho programmes for these should bo carefully scrutinised by the Town Clerk in order to secure, as far as possible, that the music was of a sacred charactor. Tho matter of recreation rosorves was also dealt with at length, the candidate advocating that a share of tho control of tho Hutt Park he secured, and also that an endeavour should be made tosecure the return from tho Government reserves which had been taken for a particular purpose and not used. In conclusion, Mr. Bolton urged that sinking funds should bo provided for all loans. They had at present loans amounting to almost £250,000 for which there was-no sinking fund, and this meant that they wero bequeathing a heavy burden to posterity. After questions had been put and answered, Mr. G. Miller moved, and Mr. J. Fanning seconded, that a hearty voto of thanks and confidence bo accorded tho candidate. This was carried unanimously..

THE LABOUR PLATFORM. The Hon. John Rigg, M.L.C., who has docided to contest the Wellington City Mayoralty in the Labour interest, will give his opening address to-night. Mr. Rigg holds himself bound by the platform put forward by the Labour Representation Committee, and generally, he explained to a reporter, to advocate a prudent and progressive policy. Among tho planks of the Labour platform are the municipal control of milk, public markets,, tho establishment in tho city of a public health and cleansing department, the provision of house accommodation so as to prevent congestion, tlie ..provision of water supply for the high levels, attention to the requirements of the suburbs in the matter of street lighting, drainage, sanitation, moans of transit, etc. Lieutenant-Colonel Hume, who is retiring from tho position of Inspector of Prisons, has been asked to become, a candidate for the City Council. Colonel Hume is considering tho request. Dr. Newman will speak in the Island Bay Hall to-night at 8. Dr. and Mrs. Newman invite the ladies of Wellington to meet them at the Sydney Street Schoolroom at 3 p.m. to-day to form a ladies' committee. The Hon. J. Rigg, M.L.C., will open his campaign at tho Druids' Hall, Taranaki Street, to-night. Mr. P. M. 13. Fisher, MJ\, will speak tonight at Wadestown. Mr. I l '. G Bolton, a candidate for the city mayoralty, will address meetings at St. Paul's Schoolroom, Tinakori Road, to-night, and at Palm Grove, Berhampore, to-morrow night.