MAYORAL CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 64, 9 December 1930, Page 12

MAYORAL CONTEST

Two Rival Bodies FINDING A CANDIDATE League and Association Although negotiations for unity of action have been afoot' the Wellington City Ratepayers’ Association is still not cooperating with the Civic League to find a candidate for the Mayoralty. This disclosure was made at a meeting of the association last evening. The president, Mr. H. H. Miller, said that two conferences of ten Civic League delegates and an equal number of Wellington city ratepayers had been held. The main discussions centred round the present civic administration, and, secondly, the question of nominations for the Mayoral contest. Cause for Dissatisfaction. The joint conference at its first meeting adopted the following resolutions, unanimously:— 1. That this meeting expresses dissatisfaction with the present state of civic administration, particularly as it relates to: (a) The increased and increasing rate burden. . . (b) The dangerous system ol raising loans without first having obtained the sanction of ratepayers. (c) That a change in the personnel of the council is necessary. 2. That this meeting expresses dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Betterment Bill was promoted, and the method adopted in attempting to force it through the Houses of Parliament, despite the opposition of the general body of ratepayers. Mr. Troup’s Decision. Later, said Mr. Miller, the Mayor was waited upon by a deputation, consisting of the chairman of the Civic League and himself. After matters had been discussed Mr. Troup informed them that owing to health reasons he would not be standing. This decision was announced in the Press that day. At the second conference discussion was confined to the problem, of selecting a Mayoral candidate, and after two hours in meeting it was decided unanimously to recommend the name of a certain candidate, who was available for nomination. The Civic League refused to ratify the action of its delegates, and without further reference to the joint-committee decided to act independently by going itself, as a Civic League deputation, to ask Mr. Troup to reconsider his decision. “As an association we are still, I take it, convinced of the wisdom of co-opera-tion,” added Mr. Miller, “and should some dependable plan be suggested, I am sure we should give to it our most serious consideration.”

A UNITED FRONT?

Civic League’s Attitude NO FURTHER CONFERENCE The need for the Civic League and the Ratepayers’ Association presenting a united front was emphasised by speakers at a meeting of the league last evening, but it was finally agreed that another conference between the two bodies should not be held.. Councillor G. Mitchell, in the course of a brief address, said he thought it would be a grave error if there were any friction between bodies set up for identical purposes. There was no room for two such bodies; in fact the league had been created to obviate the danger of conflicting interests. “If there are two tickets,” said Mr. Mitchell, “it will be more or less fatal to the league’s interests and also those of the city. The league has a standing in the community, and it is reflected as a body which seeks only the benefit of all classes.” “We ought to put our pride in our pockets and send a delegation to the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association and see if some settlement can not be arranged,” declared Mr. L. G. P. Whyte. “We will very shortly be faced with an election for the Mayoral chair, and the City Council, and if no settlement is reached we may be shouldered with a Labour Mayor in the Mayoral chair next year. Although we are the parent body we ought to pocket our pride and meet the association and see if we can discuss the position. I have an assurance that the association is prepared to join up with the league if it is given a representation of six.” A member: That offer was made to the Ratepayers’ Association and it would not accept it. Abortive Conference.

The president, Mr. J. H. Whittaker, said the council of the league had appointed a number of representatives; by wish of the Ratepayers’ Association it was fixed at ten from each side, to wait upon the association’s representatives. The conference had met .and the league’s representatives had brought certain recommendations back to the council, but the council felt it could not go so fur as the association wished. The council then felt it should wait upon Mr. G. A. Troup, and ask him to seek re-election for the Mayoralty. That had been done, and it now had to wait for Mr. Troup’s decision. “I have good hopes that something will be done yet,” said Mr. Whittaker, “but the league does not feel that the matter should be rushed along.” Mr. I*. Myers suggested that the league form a small deputation to wait on certain members of the association, and have a round-table talk to sec if it would join up under the existing constitution, and qllpw it. as soon as the rules could be altered, providing the membership was sufficient, to have six members on the league. Negotiations in Progress.

Mr. D. G. Clark said he inought that would be quite a good move, and would be prepared to support it. Mr. J. 11. Biirgoyne-Thomas remarked that negotiations were in progress between the association and the league, and it would be better if the suggestion was a recommendation to the incoming council. , . Mr. Whyte: The council will not be elected until next meeting and we have no time to waste. Why not act now? Mr. N. A. Foden pointed out that the association had secured a tactical advantage on the question of betterment. It had caught the ball on the. bounce, as it were. The association claimed the credit for the “killing” of the Betterment Bill. The league should stick to its principles and not lower its colours in any way. Delegation of Four.. Mr. Myers then moved that a delegation of four from the league meet four representatives of the association with the idea of discussing the question of joining up with file league on a basis of representation in accordance with the present rules, and with a promise that a meeting would he called with the idea of making provision for increased repre sentation.

The motion was seconded. The acting-secretary, Mr, A. C. Blake, said the league was the prime mover in opposition to the Betterment Bill. Mr. T. Gray suggested that Mr. Myers should word his motion so that it would be a recommendation to the incoming council.

.Mr. Myers: I am agreeable to that. The motion was amended accordingly,

A member: When will the council meet? It is urgent to meet as soon as possible. Mr. Whittaker: The next meeting will be in January. Mr. Whyte: We ought to get to work immediately. At this stage Mr. Whittaker read correspondence (in committee) which had taken place between the league and the association. “I regret we have not heard this correspondence sooner,” said Mr. Foden when Mr. Whittaker had read the letters that had been exchanged between the two bodies. “It would be quite undignified for us to meet the association again.” The motion wits then put to the vote and defeated on the voices.