MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 178, 16 April 1923, Page 4

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

THE MAYORALTY MR. McKENZIE AT KHANDALLAH

Mr. L. McKenzie continued his campaign for the Mayoralty on Saturday night, when ho addressed a meeting of electors at Khandallaih, Mr. Desborough presiding. He stated that he was the son of a member of the original land company, who, at their own expense, colonised New Zealand. He oxnlained his reasons for wanting to follow tho example of h(s father. H« had tried hard to do so for the last twelve years, and his past work had been appreciated, as was shown by tho position he was placed in at the elections. Mr. McKenzie stated that ho had been waited upon during the week by a deputation sent from Mr. Wright’s committee to see of he would reconsider his decision to stand if ft promise was forthcoming from Mr. Wright. Mr. McKenzie stated that Mr. Wright had already given Mr. Mitchell a promise, so how could, he face both ways again? The candidate justified the purchase of the Homebush estate, and trusted that General Richardson’s scheme for the erection of baths for the district would go o» now that the corporation had set aside the land. He had heard there would be opposition, to the lean for ivafer and drainage, dhiefly on account of the increase in rates. He showed how. at Day’s Bay, tho residents paid £2 per annum for water alone, ivithout drainage, and were pleased to do it. He counselled his hearers to support the loan.

On the motion of Mr. A. Griffiths, seconded by Mr. Bevan, Mr. McKenzie was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. R. A. Wright will address the electors at the Miramar Town Hall this evening at 8 o’clock, and to-morrpw evening at the kiosk. Oriental Bay. A LABOUR RALLY MR. P. FRASER’S VIEWS, In furtherance of the candidature of its nominees for municipal office, the Labour Party held a “rally” in the Empress Theatre last night. There was a moderate attendance. Mr. P. Fraser, who is standing for the Mayoralty, discussed several matters affecting hospital administration. A lecturer, he stated, had once advanced the theory that the private doctor was passing away, and that eventually his particular patients would have to be admitted to public hospitals, with the condition that they occupy private wards. The recommendation of a commission had supported a proposal along those lines, so that even in the very presence of death class distinction would be carried on and perpetuated. He urged that the only method of preventing such a distinction between rich and poor patients was to return a Labour majority to the Hospital Board. The fight as far as the City Council was concerned was unique. “In previous years.” asserted Mr. Fraser, “the cry has always been sent out that if Labour were returned the rates would go up, and this time Mr. Wright and one or two others have raised the same cry. which for some reason has fizzled. There never was anything in the cry. It was a deliberate attempt to play on the ignorance of the people.” The organisation had obtained the opinion of men intimately connected witli the rates on the Labour proposal to levy all rates on the unimproved value. As had been confidently anticipated, such a scheme would mean a reduction for the small wage-earner who owned his own house. Of course, as rates could not vanish into thin air—somebody would have to pay them—the rates on the valuable properties would increase.

Other speakers were Air. R. McKeen. AI.P., Messrs. C. H. Chapman and J. Glover, and Airs. Snow. THE - HOSPITAL BOARD. It is not generally known by electors that the amount of the hospital and charitable aid rate is not determined. by the City Council, but is tho result of a levy by the Hospital Board. Tho City Council has to pass on the charges willy-nilly. It is most imports ant, therefore, in electing members of tho board, that candidates with sound business training and judgment are selected. This is particularly the case in connection with tho present election, because it is proposed to spend £150,000 on extensions during the next three years. Air. Will Appleton, one of th© Civic League’s nominees, who is appealing for support, is a young business man who has made good in Wellington, where ho has resided for the past seventeen years. He is a qualified accountant, and is the managing partner of a successful business house. Air. Appleton has been prominent in most movements that havo b?en for the betterment of Wellington. For some years ho was a member of the Onslow Boreugh Council, and was largely responsible for the amalgamation of that suburb with Wellington city. Air. Appleton, who is a keen student of finance, should bo able to render valuable service to the board in that capacity.