MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1101, 13 April 1911, Page 5

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

ADDRESS BY MR. GQDBER, C7.TX MANAGEMENT. linn r '(n a l'i Go , r !! )er ' a candidate ior clco Mlheriii- '?■ C ?H' Council ' "ddressed » rooms ? , * iN ° rs iu his Cu,M Sl ''«* prorfdij/g t ' vcll,u l?> Mv. J. Hutcheson: alto'.ii 00 ' 1 !'* I ' , ■ Vho rDMiv ? d thr ouglioiit an th \ VVr 1 '" 18, ™ mttl in openinc, ~'/■ tort.toy the forty-eight/, anni. }« Asary of his arrival in the .Dominion. J- or many years he had been closely asso■■lated wilh (ho afiairs of this citv, and J as. in addition, he had travelled a Rood ! deal ami looked into the administration i?, 01l ! r «*>■*> '"■ considered himself tolerably well equipped to act as a councilor Reviewing tho finances of Iho Tμ 'T ■ I ' a! ' t J ' Onr ' Mk Go ' l,wf rf " m,ai;ed that Us nflairs during that period appeared to have been very economicallv 11/nnaged If returned to tho council ho α-ouki strongly oppose any increase of rales, Martins the new year in a Eofe nnd sound financial position it should bo possible to carry on the. business of thn «'.V judiciously without levvine adiii-. ■ tional rate?. On the other'hand the' speaker would not favour any immediate rotiicuon of rates. Citizens could vow well allord to let the rates stand as n't present. Available funds could be profit, ably applied to (he reduction of loans . oml to th 3 beautifying and perfecting ofi ii,°f W\v } Xhi \" ex P ross »>g » belief, that Wellington had tho best tramway M-ftom and tho cheapest fares in the Dominion, Mr. Godber contended that the management of both the tramways and i i v «. Ll 6" tlD 5 department could ha established upon a more efficient basis. On the tramways better returns could Iμ secured without any shortening of routes. 1 midline; upon details, the speaker declared himself favourable to tho pronosed extension of the tramway via Constable Mreet. As to lighting, he claimed that' it was wrensthat (he district fund should lie debited 31d. pei unit for current con- ■ sumed by arc lamps and 4d, per unit for current required for other ttrcet lamps, while Ihe council could afford to supply Hie hospital with current at 3d. per unit. I.he sanitary system, Mr. Godber said, should ho pushed on as rapidly as pos-1 Kible to completion. This done, Wellington would have the best saivitaTy system in tho soul hern hemisphere, Speaking'of baths the candidate declared that warm fea-wnter' baths should be provided by tho city., ; the existing baths should be kept open at least until 12 o'clock on Sundays and. on holidays. At present tho baths were closed too soon. The establishment'of a municipal mill; depot should bo pushed on with as rapidly as .possible. A poll ol ratepayers would have lo be taken, however, beforo the scheme could be car-' ried to finality. Speaking of town planning, Mr. Godber said that a comprehensive scheme should be formulated straight away, .it might take a hundred years lo v carry out the scheme in its entirely, but > they coiiM make a start in that direction. His hearers were all familiar with nil' area that extended from Tnrnnoki Street, 1 to Buckle Street. It was one of the disgraces of the eiiy of Wellington, the. beginning of a slum area. The city should take ovrr this area, and sweep away its undesirable features. If this were done, and proper roads made, the city might, reap a profit on tho whole operation.; All , . Godber .declared himself very much! in favour of (he establishment of a muni-! cipal fish mnrket. As to other markets, i he was doubtful, but he had an open I mind on the question. , At the conclusion of his address. Mr., Godher answered a number of questions."! - Afterwards he was accorded a unanimous! vote of thanks and confidence.

MR. CHARLES THORP. Mr. Charles Thorp, who is standing for a feat on the City Council, delivered an address from (he balcony of the Cambridge Hotel last night, when he annouueed himrelf as an Independent Labour candidate. The speaker had an audience of between 40 and 50 people, and his address was punctuated by iremiont interjections and some applause.,Being a waterside worker, Mr.. Thorp claims that he, is the correct nftn to represent the wo'rVers, and states that he feels certain that the workers will elect him. The principal planks in his platform are: The immediate erection, ef a fish market, whilo he also advocates Riving a general market a test at the Drillshsd, and, if tho test warrants it, building a permanent marketj tho imv mediate reduction of- tho dig tax, so that: \ tho household dog may reposo on the • hearth without being a burden on his , owner; motor-cars and taxicabft to have; a stipulated fare for a stipulated distance; bolter lighting for lanes and back streets;; immediate completion of all recreation, grounds now under construction, *tc. Buying his addrj's the candidate declared that the sanitary inspection of the city . ..was not. carried out as it might, be, and 1 ■instanced cases of alleged neglect in thin ' direction.

MR. MEREDITH AT SEATOUN. Mr. V. fi. Meredith, a candidate for", the -Mayoralty of Miramar, addressed an !■ audience at Scatoun last night in th 6 tea kiosk. Tho building was comfortably filled. After a inv introductory remark's [ he caustically criticised the handling of the tram service, pointing out (lie unfairness of the position that residents. should ba crowded out of their cafs by | passengers leaving the tram at Austin- , Street and the tunnel. He advocated tho abolition of the extra penny charged to ■ residents on Saturdays and Sunday?. Ho further indicated what he held to bo unbusinesslike methods of keeping tho tramway accounts, in that tho actual position was not ascertainabla from the balancesheet, and that no separate. account was kept as in other places—Wellington city, .' l'ov instance. He considered the junction car absolutely unnecessary. It should be : cut out at once. Tho money covild bo, spent on improvements, and the better, lighting of outlying streets. In dealing with the question of finance, ho stated.' that the requirements of ratepayers wero , being left unsatisfied to pay the interest, 1 on loan money spent in expensive roads that were ten years ahead of their time. The subject of King's Eoad was dealt with, the speaker commenting Oil tlio unfortunate position the council were now in. Tho council, through the muddling: of the Mayor, wore placed in the position of having to obtain a subsequent valua-. lion after tho price of the Gas Company' had been accepted. This question, in any case, was not a. vital one to the district..' Tho Gas Company were makiiiß a reasonably good deal. He anticipated that; the King's Road affair would bo madft a "catch-cry" at tho coming election, with the object of covering up th« mistakn that had been made. Mr. Meredith also, touched generally on tho question of Greater Wellington.

NOMINATIONS. The City Returning Officer (Mr. Jas. A me*) has thus fur received the nominations of seven Candidates who intend to seek election to the City Council, and of one candidate who seeks election to the. Harbour Board. The candidates and their nominators are:— Citv Council—David M'Lnren CM. E. Richmond (MM, S. 11. .Jackson, W. A. Evans); Elijah John Carey (.la?. Fairway, Alex. Tel for. E. Trege.ir. and W. Gil. berf); Michael .lolin Kcardan (A. C. Kitto, J. Ilulcheson, J. Cotterill); John Fuller, innr. (.1. 13. Speed, P. ColVey, J. A. Tripe, E. R. .Dymoek); Charles Thorpe (C. Bird, C. Phytic!;); Charles M'lntyro (E. Morris, jn'nr., T. I\ Wiren, T. 11. Sutlon); George Frederick Iteyling (IT. S. Moore, ft. M. Findlay, G. Blalhcrwick, J. Brown, Jas. Barras). Harbour Board.—George Grey Farland (\V. M. Kobinsrm. F. G. Boltoii). ;°.> nominations from oillicr council or Mayoral candidates have as yet been re(vived by the returning nfficfrs of Kniori, Onslow, Miramar, cr Eastbourne Boroughs,

All those willing to help to secure return of Mr. John Fuller, junior, ,ir« requested to attend a meeting which will be held in Turnbull's Auction Koomn, Panama Street, at 8 o'clock this ovenine, Lady supporters aro invited lo be present,