MAYORAL CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 11

MAYORAL CONTEST

‘Extravagant Promises’ MORE ABOUT RATES City’s Trading Concerns “I appreciate fully the necessity for the greatest care and caution in the control of the finances of the council during the next few years,” said Mr. Martin F. Luckie, when he spoke in furtherance of his candidature for the Mayoralty at the Kelburn Kiosk last evening. Mr. Luckie was accorded an attentive hearing and in the main his speech was on the lines of previous addresses. Mr. A. Wylie presided. “I claim that I have given some good service to the city extending over eighteen years,” added Mr. Luckie, “and if the prize I am asking is the reward of service I say I am entitled to your consideration. But that is not the ground on which you ought to make your decision. The deciding factor should ,be who is the fitter to occupy the office.” Referring to the expenditure on reserves, Mr. Luckie denied that too much had been spent in this way. It was true there was no financial return, but there was the advantage that had accrued to the health of the community. That was the answer to those who said the expenditure was not justified. The advantage that had come to the community as a whole was something that could not be estimated in £ s d. “You have heard a lot about extravagant promises of large reductions in the rates,” said Mr. Luckie. “I consider that the man who aspires to the position of who will be expected to carry out his promises, is not justified in promising things he cannot logically carry out.” The trading concerns of the City Council were also referred to by Mr. Luckie. Wellington, he said, had more trading concerns than any other New Zealand city. The tramway department had never been a burden on the rates, and although it was passing through a difficult period at present there was no fear that it would be. The electric light department had also been a success. It had always been a profitable concern and always would be. Another profitable concern was the milk department. He claimed some little credit for the institution of that service, although it could never have been established as it had without the industry put into the project by Mr. C. J. B. Norwood. At the present time the station was the only municipal milk distribution station in the world, and was giving entire satisfaction. Reduction of Wages Some confusion has arisen as to the views of’ Mr. Martin Luckie, Independent candidate for the Mayoralty, on the question of reductions of salaries and wages of council employees. Mr. Luckie has made his position clear in the following statement made to “The Dominion” yesterday :— >' “I hope,” said Mr. Luckie, “that there will not be any need for reduction in wages or salaries, but if the Arbitratiou Court does reduce the rate of wages of those working under awards and in consequence the council makes any readjustment, then the whole of the staff that is not governed by award wages should participate in the readjustment, including his Worship the Mayor.” MR. HISLOP’S VIEWS Sure Rates Can be Cut Policy matters were dealt with by Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, Civic League and Ratepayers’ Association candidate for the mayoralty, when addressing the Ratepayers’ Association meeting held at Newtown last night. Mr. Hislop restated his conviction that they could cut the total rates of the city by 5 per cent, without impairing the citizens’ convenience in any way, merely by a policy of cutting down unnecessary expense and eliminating small wastes which bad crept in here and there into the administration. He was sure of his being able to do this, since he had carefully considered the matter and had also discussed it with the heads of the various departments concerned.