MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 800, 25 April 1910, Page 8

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

MR. CRAWFORD AT ARO STREET. THAT "£2,000,000" LOAN. Mr. C. Crawford, a candidate for the : city Mayoralty, addressed a wellattended meeting ,at the A'ro Street School on' Saturday evening. ■ Mr. Richards occupied-the. chair;' ; ;■ Mr. Crawford in his' address .emphasised the point regarding connectioris with drainage'., that every facility should be j given by the corporation in allowing Householders to pay for ■ such .connections on the time-pajrinent system. There were people who could, not face a heavy account for the work at onco, so that rather .than, defer such an important matter every "inducement ought 'to ■ be' held out to. property owners and householders mi have the con.nections made .at the earliest moment. That could be done by allowing them to pay off. tliie amount- by instalments at stated periods. ■ . ..

In connection with the general rates, Mr. Crawford was emphatic in stating that in every one' of nis addresses he had said that lie-was riot-in-favour of any increase in the rates, but rather favoured a decrease ifi it could possibly be arranged. He pointed"out that his opponent had stated that ho (Mr. Crawford) was in favour of an increase in rates. He asked those present to remember who it was who went to Parliament two years ago, to get power to raise £1,000,000," and in his speech said that he would require another £660,000, making nearly £2,000,000 in all, to - be : spent by tho Harbour Board. That . mail 'was his opponent. x What had he (Mr. Wilford), !as _ chairman of the Board, been doing with fie money since ? Squandering it on tße dock and other; works not at all necessary. The speaker added that this was duo to bad management. _ This: had resulted in a sum amounting to £17,000 a year being added to the port dues, which, together with the £16,000 interestrequired to be paid on the cost of the dodi, would mean £33,000 a year—a-, sum- which would .not be paid by the shipping companies out of dividends, but- would be collected by them in. extra, freights arid charges connected with the handling of goods for this port: What had his opponent to .say in defence. of these charges actually .placed on the oity during the last ■ two years to, th'e extent of £33,000 a year, which would have to be paid, by the' people of Wellington in increased charges for food and. other requirements from oversea.' In view of these facts, he did not think- that the, public would 'be 'in doubt as to whom, they, select as Mayor on. Wednesday ■ next.

Mr. Crawford's remarks, were well received, and. he was given' a unanimous vote of thanks arid confidence..

Mr., Crawford will address a meeting at St; Thomas'B 'Hall this evening. ■ ■'~