TODAY’S ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 183, 1 May 1929, Page 12

TODAY’S ELECTIONS

THE SEVERAL ISSUES LIST OF CANDIDATES THE LOAN PROPOSALS To-day the electors of Wellington are to determine who shall represent them for the next two years as Mayor, City Council, Harbour Board and Hospital Board. All the names of candidates for these bodies have been announced on several occasions, but the matter is so important that they are repeated hereunder: FOR THE MAYORALTY. NASH, Walter. TROUP, Georgp A. THE CITY COUNCIL. The candidates for the City Council (fifteen to be elected) are as follow :— ATKINSON, William. BENNETT, Henry Dargaville. BENNETT, William Henry. BLACK, Adam. BLAKE, Adam. BLAKE, Alexander Charles. BOYD, Frederick Walter. BRINDLE, Thomas. \ BROMLEY, Walter. BURN, Benjamin George Henry. BURNS, John. BUTLER, Peter Michael. CHAPMAN, Charles Henry. DUNCAN, William. FORSYTH. Thomas. GAUDIN, William James. HILDRETH, William Thomas. HISLOP, Thomas Charles Atkinson. HUGGINS, Herbert Augustus Robert. LEES, Henry. LUCKIE, Martin Maxwell Fleming. MeKEEN. Robert. McVILLY, Richard William. MEADOWCROFT, Frank. MITCHELL, George. MORPETH, Charlton Douglas. PARLANE, Andrew. READ, John. SEMPLE, Robert. THEW, Matthew William. THORN, James . THORNTON, Edward Onslow. TUCKER, John. WALSH, Michael. / WHIPPY, George William. WRIGHT, Robert Alexander. HOSPITAL BOARD.; Candidates for the Hospital Board (fourteen to be elected) are:— ANDREWS, William Accrington. BEGG, Robert Campbell. BENGE, Onslow Hillier. BENNETT, Francis. BLACK, Adam. BUTLER, Peter Michael. CAMPBELL, Dunean. CASTLE, Frederick. CHAPMAN, Emily May. COLE, Walter. EGLEY. Bertram. FRASER, Janet. GILL. Thomas Henry. GLOVER, John. HELLIWELL, Joseph Henry. HENNESSEY, Laurence. ' JOHNSTON, John. LUKE, Charles Manley. McVICAR. Annie. MOORE, Eliza Jane. MORAN, Jeannette. PETHERICK, George Jennings. PRESTON, Jane Katherin. READ, John. SADD, William Henry. SEMPLE, Margaret. SNOW, Sarah Ellen Oliver. THEW, Matthew William. TUCKER, John. VAN STAVEREN, Herman. WHIPPY, George William. YOUNG, Margaret. I HARBOUR BOARD.

The candidates for the Harbour Board (four to be elected) are as follow :— BENNETT, Henry Dargaville. CHAPMAN, Charles Henry. JOHNSON, John Oldham. MACINDOE, Francis Arthur. MITCHELL, George. NORWOOD, Charles John Boyd. ROBERTS, James. SEMPLE, Robert. , THE LOANS. The following loan issues have to be decided: — \ (a) Tramway track construc- . tion, Bowen Street to Tinakori Road; Tramway track duplication, Sydney Street to Karori Tunnel £49,400 (b) The construction of a new viaduct across Glenmore Road at Kelburn £24,200 (c) Erection of library buildings for eastern districts £6,500 (d) Tramway car construction, garages, and carshed accommodation ■. £85,600 THE ZOO. Another decision to be made is whether the council should be given power to make a Sunday charge for admission to the Zoo. This is a simple issue of “Yes” or “No.” POLLING PLACES. Following is the list of polling places: Town Hall, Cuba Street. Brooklyn Baptist Churchroom. Brooklyn Anglican Churchroom. Mornington Baptist Churchroom. Vogeltown: Mr. Brown’s Store. Ohiro Bay: Mrs. Moore’s Tearooms. Island Bay: Blue Patter Tearooms. Island Bay Masonic Hall. Haughton Bay: Mr. J. Laurenson’s Residence, View Road. Berhampore: Masonic Hall, Adelaide Rd. Berhampore: St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Schoolroom, Luxford Street. Sutherland Road: Melrose Ratepayers’ Hall. Lyall Bay: Grand View Tearooms. Lyall Bay: St. Jude’s Anglican Schoolroom. Lyall Bay: Methodist Schoolroom, Cockburn Street. Kilbirnie Public Hall. KilbirnTe: Church of Christ Schoolroom, Bay Road. Kilbirnie: Salvation Army Hall, Onepu • Road. Miramar Public Hall. Miramar North Tearooms. Miramar: Perrett’s Shop Corner, Broadway. Miramar: Old Borough Offices. Seatoun: Tea Kiosk. Worser Bay: Boating Shed. Wadestown: St. Luke’s Anglican Schoolroom. Northland: Methodist Churchroom. Kaiwarra: Methodist Churchroom. Karori: Mr. Field’s Workshop. Karori: Old Council Chambers. Karori: Karori Park Tearooms. Ngaio: Public Hall. Khandallah: Public Hall. South Wellington: Public Library. South Wellington: St. Thomas’s Anglican Schoolroom. South Wellington: Congregational Church. Constable Street. South Wellington: Victoria Hall. Roseneath : Orient Private Hotel. Roseneath: Public School. Kelburn: Tea Kiosk. Raroa Road: Presbyterian Sunday Schoolroom. Kelburn: Anglican Sunday Schoolroom. Upland Road. Hataitai: Methodist Churchroom. Hataitai: Hataitai Hall, Moxham Avenue. Aro Street: Mission Hall. Abel Smith Street: Gaiety Hall. Lambton Quay: “N.Z. Times” Old Offices. The Terrace: Masonic Hall. Basin Reserve Pavilion. Featherston Street: Bethune’s Auction Mart. Clyde Quay: Oddfellows’ Hall.

Vivian Street: Trades and Labour Hall. Vivian Street: Baptist Schoolroom. Tinakori Road: Kearney’s Tearooms. Tinakori Road: St. Paul’s Schoolroom. Ghuznee Street: Caledonian Hall. Dominion Farmers’ Institute: Featherston and Ballance Streets. Plimmer’s Steps, off Lambton Quay: “Dominion” >Newspaper Old Building. Kent Terrace: Presbyterian Churchroom. . Molesworth Street: Methodist Schoolroom. Sydney Street Schoolroom. Wharf: No. 17 Shed, near Ferry Wharves. Polling will commence at 9 a.m., and all booths will close at 7 p.m.

MEETING AT CONCERT CHAMBER ADDRESS BY CIVIC LEAGUE CANDIDATES Mr. J. N. Wallace occupied the chair at the Concert Chamber last night when members of the citizens’ “tickets” for the City Council, the Hospital Board, and Harbour Board delivered addresses. Regarding unemployment, Mr. G. A. Troup (the Mayor) stated that Wellington had spent more in unemployment than Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin put together. Taking everything into consideration. Wellington had expended £170,000. As to the Bond Street widening he had only been against it originally because he wanted a wider street, but now it was done he considered it one of the finest improvements ever made. The speaker charged the Labour candidates of inaccuracy as to facts. They had also held the officers of the Council up to ignominy, to such an extent that the Town Clerk had been forced to write a public letter on the matter. The Mayor said that there were two men standing for the office of Mayor, and he asked the electors to compare the two very carefully; their experience of finance and city management, general capacity, and vote for the best man. The Wellington Hospital. . Mr. C. M. Luke, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, speaking against the increased cost of our hospital, said Wellington was growing into a magnificent city, and the hospital had to keep pace with that progress. Although the Hospital had been enlarged, he. stated that there was sometimes a waiting list of as many as two hundred people; in which ease only the serious cases could be taken. The cost per bed per annum in Wellington was £176, as compared with £195 in Auckland, and £244 in Christchurch, which showed that in management they were not extravagant. Mr. Luke mentioned that last year unemployment had cost the Hospital Board £12,930. “Finest Commercial Harbour in the World.” Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, a candidate for the Harbour Board, said Wellington had probably the finest commercial harbour in the world. He had travelled a good deal, and he knew none better. He had been a member of the board eleven years, and had helped in a small way to shape its policy. They could not improve the management, as they had the best of managers and a very fine staff—one that Wellington should be proud of. “UNBRITISH AND UNFAIR!” Mr. R. A. Wright said there was a time when elections were fought in a spirit of British fair play, but nowadays that was not the case. There was not a chance missed by certain candidates to injure others irrespective of the truth and fair play. They put up men of straw simply to knock them down in. a mariner that was un-British and unfair. They were accused by the Labour candidates of being “on a ticket.” Of course they were not on a ticket. (Laughter.) The speaker said that it was the Labour Party which introduced the ticket system. An Improver. Mr. E. O. Thornton nominated himself as one of the “younger fry,” who was a supporter of the Civic League. He stood for the general progress of the city on the best lines. . Fifteen Years’ Service. Councillor M. F. Luckie said that he had been a member of the City Council for fifteen years, and could fairly claim to have had something to do with the progress of the city during that time. Attack on Council Officers. “For two years I have sat on the City Council, opposite Councillor Semple,” said Councillor T. C. A. Hislop at the Concert Chamber last evening, “and never once have I heard him object to the confirmation of the business done in the committee, and yet he goes about speaking 'on “Hush, hush” tactics” and the ‘star chamber methods’ of the Council.

LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR MAYORALTY ADDRESS BY MR. NASH Mr. Walter Nash, the Labour candidate for the Mayoralty, addressed meetings last night at Brooklyn, Island Bay, Berhampore, Newtown, Kilbirnie, Miramar, and Seatoun. Mr. Nash criticised the council for its failure to organise the city in conformity with the Town Planning Act, section 30 of which provided that one half of the “betterment” increase in the value of rateable property which was due to the carrying out of any work under the Act must be paid by the property owners so benefited, to the local authority, and section 34 gave the City Council power to refuse its consent to the erection of any building which did not conform to the recognised principle of town planning. The City Council, under this Act, he said, had power to prevent the erection of any building, and to claim one-half of the value added to property by the street widening schemes undertaken by the council. Instead of taking advantage of this Act the City Council had paid compensation to property owners in fiercer Street (£15,600), Lower Taranaki Street (£51.600). and Bond Street (£36,500). In every case the works of the council had added to the value of the properties in these streets, and said Mr. Nash, instead of paying compensation the City Council should have collected one-half of the added value from the property owners. Given the opportunity on election day, the Labour councillors would organise the city in accord with the Town Planning Act, and would pay compensation to owners whose propertv was depreciated in value, whilst collecting betterment from those owners whose values were increased by the City Council works. , , , Whilst the council had extended some of the facilities for games, said Mr. Nash, it had entirely neglected to provide either modern dressing conveniences or sanitary arrangements at many areas throughout the city. Recognising the enormous value to the. community of games and healthy outdoor sports, the Labour councillors would do everything possible in co-operation with the users of the beaches and playing areas to ensure the provision of adeejuflte dressing and other arrangements. It was estimated that a large sum was saved in maintenance costs every year on roads and footpaths which were paved, said Mr. Nash. This saving should be increased by extending tne work of surfacing the roads and footpaths, particularly in the suburban areas. A Labour council would systematically organise the construction ■ of footpaths where necessary and complete the surfacing of all footpaths and roads at the earliest possible moment. Regarding.housing Mr. Nash said there were thousands in Wellington to-day living in overcrowded conditions, and the duty of the civic authorities, in co-opera-tion with the Government, should be to take some steps to provide houses for thoaa requiring thgstL The Labour

Council for the City of Christchurch had built sixty-live houses, which were now being purchased by an average payment of £1 os. lid, per week. An important aspect of unemployment, continued Mr. Nash, was the amount expended in charitable aid. The cost of relief distributed by the Wellington Hospital Board approached £2500 per month, and the Wellington City Council was the largest contributor to this sum. It appeared that the council could either spend its money in paying wages to those at present unemployed—or it could pay levies to the Hospital Board to enable them to distribute relief to those in need. The Labour candidates would, on election, organise the city works for the purpose of providing employment for all those now unemployed, who were able and willing to work. After a thorough investigation of the accounts of the Electricity Department, it appeared that the charges made for household lighting were out of proportion to the charges made to other users. After all charges had been debited against profits for the past five years, there was still a net balance over the period of £155,025, and £51,617 of this profit was made last year. A new scale of charges was introduced in November last, but the evidence available showed that the charge for household lighting could be reduced by one penny per unit without affecting the financial stability of the undertaking. The objective of the party, said Sir. Nash, was the organisation of the municipal departments in the manner most effective for the service of nil the citizens, together with the extension of existing trading enterprises (trams, buses, electric power, lighting, milk), and the promotion of new public services when considered essential to the interests of the people. All trading departments to bo operated on the principle of service. Profits to be distributed by rebate to consumers and reductions in prices. COUNCILLOR R. SEMPLE AT MIRAMAR Councillor R. Semple, speaking at Miramar last night, referred to “the attack made on him by the ‘Dominion,’ the Civic League, the Mayor, and Councillor Bennett,” in reference to holding the position of secretary of the General Labourers’ Union, and submitting in the name of that union, the proposed new working agrement, which embodied the wages and conditions of the non-skilled workers in the employ of the council. He said that the attack was positively absurd. The fact of his holding the honorary position of secretary of the General Labourers’ Union would not make the slightest difference if the question was discussed before open council, and that whether he held the position of secretary or not, he would speak and vote for reasonable conditions for all the men in the employ of the council. Air. Semple went on to say that if the fact of his being associated with an industrial organisation of working men was a reason sufficient to disqualify him from sitting on the council, “then the same should also apply to the Civic League candidates, who represent other organisations and interests, separate and distinct from the city’s interests.-'” “Such an argument is ridiculous in the extreme,” he added.

ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS Speaking at Newtown last night, Councillor R. McKeen, M.P., replied further to the statements regarding the attendance of Labour members at City Council and committee meetings. He stressed the work he was doing in Parliament when asked to take charge of the Wellington City Empowering Bill, one of the most contentious measures. The city’s interests also had to be watched in the house when a bill was introduced, which would have undermined the municipal milk supply. He could not be at City Council meetings when such matters affecting the interests of the city were before the House. Parliamentary committees and deputations also took much time. Of the 16 councillors, eight were retired Civil Servants, and many of the special meetings for which they had the credit of attending, only lasted three or four minutes. There were also councillors who dropped in at council meetings at 10 and even 11 o’clock for the purpose of getting their names recorded, and after staying half an hour left again. It was only fair that the ratepayers should know the weaknesses of the other side. Mr. W. Nash and Mr. T. Brindle also addressed the meeting on civic affairs. Mrs. Snow spoke on Hospital Board matters. Messrs. McKeen, Tucker and Nash also addressed meetings at Kilbirnie, Miramar and Seatoun. MR. SEMPLE AND COUNCIL OFFICERS. Mr. R. Semple yesterday sent the following letter to the town clerk (Mr. E. 'P. Norman) : — “I have to acknowledge receipt of your memo, of the 29th inst., in which you state that it has been reported to you that I, on the public platform, attacked two senior officials of the council, and asking me to refrain from attacking officers who are pot allowed to defend themselves. “I admit referring to the report submitted to the council by Mr. O’Shea re- < mending that the authority given by a popular vote of the ratepayers to raise £161,000 to construct a tunnel through Mount Victoria be foregone, and that the council take another poll asking authority to raise £200,000 odd for the same work. This was a question of policy when the council had a mandate from the people to go on with the work and raise the £1(51,000, and the eity solicitor had no right to interfete with that authority or the policy of the council. He is merely the city’s legal advisor. I also criticised the city engineer’s estimated cost of the approaches to the tunnel. “I claim that I have the right, as a member of the council, to criticise any one of its officers, the estimates brought down by them, their conduct as public officers, their acts of administration, etc.. and while I am a member of the council I shall continue to do so. No servant of the council should be above criticism. . .

CIVIC LEAGUE’S REPLY TO MR. NASH I LABOUR AND THE COUNCIL Referring to certain statements by Mr. W. Nash recently, in regard to the Mayor and council in general, Mr. D. McLaren, secretary of the Civic League, on behalf of the league, made the following statement last night to a “Dominion” reporter :— “Speaking in the Town Hall, Mr. W. Nash, the Labour Mayoral candidate, said that since the incention of the campaign he had not attacked the character of any candidate. Our reply is that he is associated with those who have charged the Mayor and councillors with carrying out the financial transactions by “star chamber” methods. Further, when that was denied by the Mayor, the charge was merely repented, leaving it to be inferred that the Mayor's word was not to be relied upon. That, we consider, is a distinct reflection on the character of the Mayor and councillors wrongly charged. In his speech, Mr. Nash certainly makes an attack by implication on the character of the league’s officers. These officers have given the public the assurance that at no time did the league interfere with the judgment, decisions and votes of city councillors. Yet Mr. Nash says that it is general knowledge that the league has called on councillors to account for their votes This is implying that these officers have not spoken the truth, and that is attacking their character, more especially when he questions their sincerity in the assurance they gave to the public. “Again, Mr. Nash says, the Mayor knows that the responsibility is upon him nnd his council, and it is unfair to endeavour to shelter behind the officials. That is a very definite misrepresentation of the Mayor’s attitude, as Mr. Troup had acknowledged that he and hi*

councillors took full responsibility for the final decisions with reference to the Bond Street transaction. He at the time pointed out that the negotiations for settlement were carried through wholly by the City Valuer, thus proving that the reflections of the Labour Party candidates as to “star chamber” methods, were entirely wrong so far as the City Council was concerned. The Civic League has at all times refrained from personalities, but is emphatic in its insistence on true statements being made in regard to municipal affairs.” LABOUR CANDIDATES The Labour Party advertises its candidates for to-day’s Local Bodies election as follow: — For Mayor.—Nash, Walter. For City Council, —Atkinson, William ; Black, Adam; Brindle, Thomas; Bromley, Walter: Butler, Peter Michael: Chapman, Charles Henry: Lees, Henry: McKeen, Robert; Parlane, Andrew; Read, John; Semple, Robert: Thorn. James; Tucker, John; Walsh, Michael. Whippy. George William. For Hospital Board. —Black, Adam : Butler, Peter Michael; Chapman, Emily May; Fraser, Janet; Glover, John; Hennessey, Lawrence; Moran, Jeanette: Read, John; Sadd, William Henry; Semple, Margaret; Snow, Sarah Ellen Oliver; -Tucker, John; Whippy, George William. For Harbour Board.—Chapman. Charles Henry; Johnson, John Oldham; Roberts. James; Semple, Robert. Electors requiring cars or information are invited to ring the following telephone numbers: 21—254, 20 —250, 21— 991, 43—320. VOTE AT TOWN HAUL. As there are often big rushes of electors to some of the suburban booths near closing time, a hint is given to voters who come to town to record their totes at the Town Hall. There the staff has arranged twenty-two booths, at which 132 voters may be accommodated at the one time. By so doing they will afford a good deal of relief to those suburban polling places where the staffs are necessarily limited in number.

Several letters bearing on contentious election matters have been received from correspondents, but are withheld from publication in view of the fact that it would not be possible for those concerned to reply .before the actual voting is in progress.