THE MAYORALTY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 173, 10 April 1923, Page 8

THE MAYORALTY

LABOUR CAMPAIGN OPENS MR. FRASER ON NEW RATING SCHEME

Mr. P. Fraser, M.P-, the official Labour candidate for the Mayoralty, opened his campaign at tile Concert Chamber, Town Hall, last night. Mr. J. McKenzie, chairman of the Wellington Labour Representation Committee!, presided over a large attendance.

Municipal politics were not regarded as of the same importance as national politics, said the chairman, who affirmed that they were eq>ally important, and that the city electors should endeavour, through concerted, organised, communal effort, to secure the return of candidates well fitted to administer the affairs of the corporation. Labour was opposed to the policy of tho previous council, which, he said, was to aid and abet combines, in forcing up the prices of commodities, and forcing down the price of the labour that produced them. Mr. C. H. Chapman, a Labour member of tho council, claimed that the prospects of a Labour .victory at the municipal elections were greater than ever. The members of the present City Council were doing their best for the city, but were unconsciously biased against tho working class. As illustrating this bias, he said that an increased rate of one arthing in the £1 on the unimproved value would have produced £15,554, and wiped out the estimated loss of £13;600 in the council’s revenue; but, instead of that, they took the line of least resistance, and reduced the wages of general labourers by ss. per week, and the privilege, that averaged 3s. per week, of being paid during wet or fine weather was withdrawn, to save £9700. A further £2500 was filched from, the returns of trading concerns, by paying them less than a fair rate of interest. The wages were Bs. per week below the rate paid in Christchurch, where there were seven Labour councillors. Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of the New ’ Zealand Seamen’s Federation, said he was after three jobs—the City Council, tho Harbour Board, and tho Hospital Board—and would contest any other boards that were about. (Laughter.) He urged the construction of a graving dock at Wellington, such as nt Auckland, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers. The only dock in Weilington. was the Patent Slip,, owned, through the Union Steam Ship Company, by the P- and O. Company. He stood for provision .for the ships of 100,000 tons of the future. Indoor. and outdoor treatment at public hospitals should be free, except in the case of an employer. (Applause.)

Mr. Fraser’s Address. Mr. Fraser, who was cordially received, expressed pleasure at “causing consternation in the opponents’ camp.” He questioned whether any people had ever said and done such . ridiculous things. He wished to avoid the personal reference, but to be regarded as Labour’s selection, as against Mr. Wright, who was selected by a majority of 2 votes, out of a total poll of 16 votes. Opposition economic interests were just as rampant in muni-, cipal as in national politics, but the present was a straight-out issue-yLab-our versus anti-Labour. Mr. Wright’s financial genius entitled him to a partnership with Pierpont Morgan and Rothschild. (Laughter.) It was not generous for him to endeavour to fasten responsibility for the antecedent liability on his predecessor, after indulging in fulsome flattery about Sir John Luke. Mr. Wright always prevented a Labour councillor frcm her'omin'T a member of the finance committee. Mr. Mitchell blamed Mr. Wright and his fellow-members on the Finance Committee for the financial confusion in the council’s affairs. It was but a family quarrel. The extraordinary antics of the Civic League, the comifiittee of ex-Mayors. and many other features led to Mr. Wright “counting heads” and submitting to a ballot, only when he knew he would get the selection. The speaker condemned the attitude of the City Council towards proportional representation, which had been so successful at Christchurch. Labour would be delighted with preferential voting for the Mayoralty, as Labour did not desire success on a minority vote. He reviewed Mr. Wright’s statements in regard to Labour’s platfoi.m. “I wish particularly to deal with rating, and to breast the charge laid by Mr. Wright, that a Labour victory in the council would result in an increase in the rate,” said Mr. Fraser, as he passed to a review of the rates and finance. Mr- Wright had plenty of money to come and go on. The revenue for 1922 totalled £284,936, compared with £242,846 in 1921 —an increase of £42,090. The estimate for 1923 showed an increase of £45,911. The estimates for the year just closed forecasted a deficiency of £6324, but tho expenditure, at February 28, for 11 months, was £339,788, or £58,632 less than the estimate. The speaker could 1115 understand, with such reduction in expenditure, why Mr. Wright should have created a scare when he knew there would be no deficiency, except that it was to add kudos to Ins posture an a financier. Labour stood for all the rates to lie on the unimproved value. They had seriously considered the question, and, while they realised that it might not be a perfect system, yet it was the best available, whose weaknesses could bo guarded against by wise by-laws and proper control of city areas. The effect of the rating on unimproved values, was explained by Mr. Fraser, who quoted numerous illustrations in various city and suburban properties. ’ln a suburban house at Island Bay, for example, whose unimproved value was £3OO, the owner would pay 16s. lid. loss ill rates than now. The reduction on tho houses of. the working class or people with limited salaries would amount to: —Hataitai, 12s. Id.; Karori, 17s. lOd.; Ngaio, 15s. Id. A. worker’s dwelling at Miramar would pay £2 10s. Bd. less in rates than now. The owner of land that was at present held up, so that it could fetch a higher price, and exploit the people, would have to pay a hifher rate. A house in Kensington Street, whoso unimproved value was £660, would pay £1 7s. Id less than was paid now, but a section of vacant land in the same district would pay £1 7s. lOd. more. A bank in Lambton Quay would have to pay £1 6s. sd. less, and one of tho bestbuilt businesses in the city £34 2s. 2d. less, but a hotel in Lambton Quay would pay £52 os. 4d. more A shop in Lambton Quay would pay £l3 13s. Gd. loss, but a big shop in Cuba Street would pay £l9 13s. 5d more. The effect of the proposal was to shift the incidence of the rate on to the shoulders best able to bear it.

Replying to a question asked him in tho Press, Mr. Fraser said that the law at present allowed the City Council to appoint to their committees men who were not on the council. They could therefore appoint tramway employees to the trainway committee, a proposal that he thoroughly endorsed (Applause.) A hearty vote of confidence was passed in Mr. Fraser, and all tho Labour candidates.

MR. WRIGHT 'AT MELROSE • Mr R- A. Wright addressed a wellattended meeting at the Meirose Hall last night. Mr. S. Munn was voted to the chair. , The speaker said he must again refer to certain inaccurate statements made by Mr. McKenzie. lhe later candidate had stated that he (Mi. Wrieht) or his committee had made a promise two years ago that if Mm McKenzie stood down then he (Mr. fright) would not be a candidate on the present occasion. This statement was absolutely incorrect Mr. McKenzie had now changed his ground. He had stated at Ins Karori mating that a statement had appeared in the paner Wright) mdy torm rie’saidjho could not find, although -he knew was there. Could anything be uiiLiv , 9 rf statement ha<l S vSii-1 ii found P Mr. McKenzie also said that said cmrl-atically that no such comP Mr" wS boratcl - v Y ith the motion of tho ratepayer to show that while the rates were paid direct j by the ratepayer, yet an increase i. the rates affected every man, woman, and child in the community All taxation in the cities was passed on to the consumer, and any increase the rates bv the council would be passed on to the consumer whether ho was a rentpayer or only a lodger. If the his rent was increased. If . the lattei, the inceaso was passed on in the cost of living. Mr. V< right referred to local needs, and pointed out that he was the first member of the City Council to take a real interest in the Melrose district. _ , , A unanimous vote of thanks ana confidence was accorded the speakci.

TO-NIGHT’S MEETINGS. Mr. R. A. Wright will address the electors at tho Kaiwarra Methodist Hall to-night. To-morrow night Mr. Wright will speak at the Parish Hall, Brooklyn- A committee meeting is called for to-morrow evening. Mr L McKenzie will address tho electors at the Town Hall, Miramar, to-night.