MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 183, 1 May 1933, Page 10

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Points from Candidates’ Speeches LOCAL-BODY AFFAIRS Candidates for the Wellington City Council, Hospital Board, and Harbour Board will address meetings at a dozen points in the city and suburbs this evening, and since only tomorrow remains for the final appeal to electors, it is probable that some public interest will be evident to-night. A few Labour candidates spoke at Wadestown on Saturday evening, but most candidates enjoyed a respite. City Council Staffing “The acceptance by the council of the recommendations made by the special committee which was set up to grade and classify its staff was one of the finest things done by the City Council,” said Mr. John Burns (City Council) in a statement on Saturday. Mr. Burns said he was one of four commissioners appointed to do that work, and it had since become standardised and made permanent. Previously members of the staff never knew where they were, and frequently when someone secured promotion trouble resulted. The Wellington City Council, Mr. Burns said, was equipped with a permanent staff second to none in New Zealand.

Sports Grounds “This is the time when the sporting community appreciate the use and availability of a prodigious supply of playing grounds,” said Mr. F. Meadowcroft when discussing winter games on Saturday. Mr. Meadowcroft, who has been chairman of the council committee in charge of all playing grounds, and who is seeking reelection after ten years of service, said that there was always an element both in and out of the council chamber opposed to any big expenditure on playing grounds. It was part of his duty to supply the Director of Parks and Reserves with as much as the council could possibly spare. “It is our sports grounds that make our folk wear the big sizes in after life,” concluded Mr. Meadowcroft. Second Main Highway Ways and means of absorbing the unemployed were discussed by Mr. R. Semple (City Council). He said that many works could be undertaken and instanced a second main highway from Wellington through Wadestown and Johnsonville, going direct to Paekakariki. With, the co-operation of the Government and local bodies he claimed that quite a large number of unemployed men could be placed in useful employment. Improving the Footpaths The carrying out of as many works as possible at union rates of pay was what the Labour Party would do, said Mr. A. Parlane (City Council). He said that if there were a surplus in the Electricity the people should receive the benefit in a reduction in the cost of electric •Jigßt. The same applied to other departments. If elected he would see that better footpaths were laid down. Better roads had been provided for the motorists, but not a hundred pounds had been spent in two years on footpaths for the people who had to walk. Shorter Hours for Nurses Shorter hours for nurses and trade, union rates for the staff would be the Labour Party’s policy, said Mrs. E. M. Leniston (Hospital Board). People had heard, she said, that three wards at the hospital had been closed, but not of the nurses who had been thrown out of work. She said that economies which had been effected at the hospital had been at the expense of the patients. Future of the Harbour The question of the artificial rate of exchange and the question of some measure of centralisation in handling cargoes at ports which are adequately equipped for the rapid loading and discharging of goods in overseas ships, are two matters which Mr. R. H. Nimmo (Harbour Board) considers should be treated as of utmost importance in the coming year. Mr. Nimmo said that since the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, had announced that the Budget had been balanced, steps to remove the temper of the high exchange could not be taken too soon. Action should be immediate. Another matter was that under the fiat rate system of port charges shippers at the main ports were being taxed to make up the time and loss entailed when Home snips pick up or discharge a few tons here and there round the coast. The system had unquestionably resulted in huge capital expenditure on harbour schemes where nature never intended harbours to be. Under a rational system of concentration coastal fleets would come into their own again, and the railways would be assisted. Fewer ships would be required to give the same time-table service, and money that now goes overseas would remain In New Zealand.

HARBOUR BOARD Appeal by Former Chairman An appeal to electors n«t to disturb the sound and progressive policy of the Harbour Board has been made by Mr. G. Mitchell, former chairman of the board, on behalf of board members. "The most vital election before the ratepayers is that for the Harbour Board,” Mr. Mitchell states, “and I sincerely trust citizens will give it the thought and care which are in keeping with the importance the port is to Wellington and province, and in fact the whole of New Zealand. x What may be done in the City Council for the next term will have little or no permanent effect for or against the city’s progress, but what is done in the Harbour Board may seriously and permanently affect our general well-ebing and future prosperity. “A line harbour and a wise and farsighted policy by those controlling it has made the City of Wellington, and the same harbour and wise policy will maintain Wellington as a leading commercial centre of the Dominion. "Very large reserves and sinking funds have been built up in good years, and if we hold fast to these until maturity, in a few years’ time they will mean such a financial relief to the board and thereby to the users of the port as to attract more and more

shipping and fortify the Wellington harbour in its predominance as the shipping centre of New Zealand. “Thoughtful people will realise nt once the bearing that this will have on the city’s future prosperity. I therefore counsel citizens one and all to see that the sound and progressive policy of the board is not disturbed, but allowed to go on to fruition.” POLICY OUTLINED

Independent Candidate Tile policy of Mr. I-I. A. R. Huggins, independent City Council candidate, is contained in a statement he has made to “The Dominion.” Mr. Huggins said that the platform of both organised parties dealt generally witli obviously desirable matters upon which everyone should be agreed. As an independent and experienced councillor he was in favour of all those proposals which time had' proved good for the civic life. “I certainly favour a reduction of rates, and will, under any circumstances, as in the past, oppose any increase,” Mr. Huggins said. “Expenditure must be always carefully checked. Works necessary to the upkeep of essential services must be a first charge upon controllable revenue. I am opposed to any further reduction in wages. Profits in trading departments must be reduced to reduce charges. City trading is in essence a business of tlie people, for the people, otherwise it has no justification for existence. I am opposed to the raising of loans without a poll.” Mr. Huggins said that lie held, and had moved on the works committee that the time had come for all unemployment works to be undertaken by the Government, and that all essential city works should be carried out ity competent men at full rates of wages. He could truthfully say that during Cr. T. Forsyth’s chairmanship of works, no sectional pressure had affected the allocations. His views on local body reform, he said, were well known, and a general system would also benefit Wellington materially. The question of action should therefore be urged upon the Government, Mr. Hugfjins concluded. . LOANS CONVERSION Address by Mr. Sievwright .Speaking at a meeting of his supporters on Saturday evening, Mr. J. D. Sievwright (City Council) said that they had seen how he considered it possible that there would be a reduction made in rates this year provided the right men were returned to support the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, in his efforts to alleviate the intolerable burdens of ratepayers. There was a movement afoot, taken by the. Mayor of Wellington, he said, to endeavour to obtain a conversion of local bodies’ overseas loans along with the contemplated conversion by the Government to a lower rate of interest, of course, of all the overseas indebtedness of the Dominion. The Mayor had said that the exchange would cost the city this year about £28,000, and there was now high hope that this exchange would be saved to the ratepayers. Along with the Mayor of Auckland, and Mr, J. C. Allum, the chairman of the Auckland Transport Board, the Mayor waited upon the Prime Minister last week urging the Government to include all local bodies’ overseas loans in the scheme for the conversion of national overseas loans to a reduced interest. The Prime Minister, said Mr. .Sievwright, had stated that the Government was awaiting the result of the Washington Conference before endeavouring to arrange for the voluntary conversion of all overseas loans and a saving in interest. If action were decided upon the matter of including local bodies’ loans would be considered. On Monday, May 1, a loan ■ payable by the Wellington ■ City Council matured. The loan was for £lOO,OOO, and the question was, could the exchange be saved? If this loan had to be paid in its entirety it would cost £25,000 in exchange. The exchange, the speaker thought, could be avoided, and he believed the Mayor was working to that end. “I understand,” said Mr. Sievwright, “that the question of exchange, as far as Wellington is concerned, has been submitted to the Auditor-General, and his decision in a former case was that it was illegal for local bodies to make interest payments in other than New Zealand currency in respect of debentures issued on similar terms to those affected by the English Court, of Appeal decision. The Mayor, I believe, is nowawaiting the Auditor-General’s reply in Wellington’s case.” HOSPITAL BOARD

Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell Prominent in various local organisations is Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, barrister and solicitor, who is supported as a candidate for the Wellington Hospital Board by the Civic League, and the Ratepayers’ Association. Mr. Treadwell was appointed by the Governor-General several years ago to office as Wellington district inspector of mental hospitals, and he has a thorough knowledge of hospital administration. He holds the Order of the British Umpire, and is a member of the Council of the New Zealand Law Society and of the Council of the Associated Chambers of Commerce. The candidate is also a member of executives of the Wellington Automobile Club and the Returned Soldiers’ Association. He had four years on active service, and is at present on the active list with the rank of major, being legal staff officer of the Central Command. Mr. Treadwell is a viceconsul for Brazil. TO-NIGHT’S MEETINGS Mayor to Speak The principal speaker at the election meeting under the auspices of the Civic League and Ratepayers' Association at the Town Hall Concert Chamber this evening will be the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. He will review the administration of tlie city during the past two years and will explain the water supply loan diversion proposals. Other speakers will be: Messrs. 11. L. Cummings, M. S. Galloway, I*. D. Hoskins, R. L. Macaiister, M. F. Luckie, L. McKenzie, .1. D. Sievwright, and S. Natusch. Civic League and Ratepayers’ Association candidates will also hold meetings this evening at Khandallah, Wadestown, Molcsworth Street, and Kilbirnie. Details of these meetings are advertised in this issue. Labour candidates for the Hospital Board will speak in the Trades’ Hall this afternoon. This evening Labour speakers will hold meetings at Vogeltown, Hataitai, Happy-Valley. Island Bny, Aro Street, and in the Koiburn Kiosk. Details are advertised.