HUTT MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 13

HUTT MAYORALTY.

MR. BALDWIN'S CANDIDATURE,

Mr.. H. Baldwin, a camlidata far tlio Hutt Mayoralty, addressed the electors at St. James's Hail, Lower Hutt t lust evening, Mr. F. J. do Clere presided, and thero was a fair attosidiui.ee.

, Mr.._ Baldwin referred to Mio fact that it was now nine years, sinco. ho first took part- in Hutt municipal government. _ He hoped that, tho appreciation wliicli tlio elcctots kkl then 'sfcowr/l him ivould bo again forthcoming. It Was five years sine® three candidateshad stood for the Hutt Mayoralty, and ho had nothing to say against either of his opponents. Turning to rtiuiiieijwi matters, Mr. Baldwin remarked that "ho was not. going to fflako extravagant promises to catch votes. Lacking at tho last balaiice-shoet the revenue was down to £10,000, and necessary cxponditufe totalled £7000, so they only only had £3000 to come and go upon. The Hospital Board levy had been iiv creased a- year ago from .£7OO to £1000, and tlio latter figure would be charged . again .during the forthcoming year. The administration expenses of tho borough amounted to £1200. • Fjvo years ago the expenses were about the Same s but no losii money was being expended on works now, and bo maintained that the administration expenses should be cut down by a.t least £300 per year. ITo also held that tlioro should bo no sanitary accounts, as all f-lw houses should be -connected, _ Tho streets of j Lower Hutt then received tho speaker's [ attention. ' Some of them, he [ said, weto not fit for the baekj blocks. They had a steam roller but the last time thai he asked why it was not on tho streets ho bad been' told that it was needed in tlio bofoiigli yards to crush stones. He held that they should obtain iho machinery accessary to Jiavo their , roads put in order and ths saiiio thing applied to this footpaths.' A reduction in the -prko' paid by consumers 'hi tlio borough gas was advocated by tho speaker. He said it should have taken place two years ago. In .1909 the gas accounts stood at a debit of £480. In ,1913 tho aeeount showed a credit of £270; aud ha understood.tho 1914 figures had increased to a eiredit of £653.. Mr. Baldwin theft referred to criticism of t4o Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in having ptokised ten acres of tho Knight's l'lstato for a - hospital. T'iiis criticism had been made by Councillor Pufdy. Ho (the speaker) held that the purchase cculd not bo laid on tho present board., as TF was rna.de by a past ftdniiuistratfoii. Hospital levies' now, lie. ! held,. wcto Hot excessive. In aiiy caso the levy was the same as that mada in IDC9-10. while there had been a great, increase iri the number of patieiiis tfttej in. Control the Butt River was favoured by Mr. Baldwin, but he pointed out that before the llutt .Hiver Board could bo. absorbed by tho Hutt Borough Council a petition from tlis. ratepayers to take a poll on tho question was neccssary. Tho candisiato (jlso favoured aiuu.icip.al motor-buses, but did not think it advisable, at present, to interfere with the service at Lower Hvlt-t. Various other fcatteis, I such as tho construction ef nuuiieipa! I oiSees, and the widtyiiiig. of Victoria 1 Street, store referred to, tlse Speaker (favouring botli proposals. I A, vote of than-ks to Mr. Saldftin cohj eluded tlio m-£d-t*itg.