MUNICIPAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 184, 2 May 1933, Page 11

MUNICIPAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Points from Candidates’ Speeches

Interest in the candidates for the Wellington City Council, Hospital Board and Harbour Board was lukewarm last evening, and of the 12 meetings arranged in the city and suburbs several were abandoned for want of audiences. One man turned up. at a meeting at which five Civic League and Ratepayers’ Association candidates had intended speaking, and four Labour candidates cancelled a meeting when a solitary elector presented himself at a hall full of vacant seats. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, explained the water-loan proposals to an audience of about three-score in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, and eight candidates took the opportunity to speak.

St. Helens Hospital

Credit had to be given to the Labour members for better rations, said Mrs. S. E. O. Snow (Hospital Board). She claimed that a vote against Labour for the council, Hospital Board, or Harbour Board was a vote for the Government. Labour, she said, did not stand for St. Helens Hospital being supported by the board. That was a Governmetn institution, and should be paid for out of the Consolidated Fund, and not by the ratepayers. Admission to Hospital Criticism that the policy adopted by the Hospital Board during the last vears had made it increasingly difficult for even bad cases of illness to obtain prompt admission was voiced by Mrs. G. P. Williams (Hospital Board). There was much need for a convalescent homo for male patients. The convalescent home for women should be utilised to a greater extent; She was convinced that the out-patients’ department should be reorganised and extended. More necessitous people, including many young persons and children, should get the benefit of the dentistry department. Social Welfare Work The opinion that the work of the Social Welfare Department could be carried on in a more considerate way was expressed by Mrs. S. E. O. Snow (Hospital Board). The rations could well be further improved. The Old People's Home In Ohiro Road should be raised to the standard of the Home for the Aged Needy. A maternity ward should be established at the hospital, but the Hospital Board should not take over the St. Helen’s Stonies, because they had been estabshed by Richard John Seddon specially for mothers with small household incomes, and for the efficient training of maternity nurses. “Action and Results Count” “In the management of a city, finance is but a means to greater expansion of social services and the raising of the whole social standard to a higher /lane,” said Mr. J. Tucker (City Council). “Happy homes for the toilers and wealth-producers of the city, and the .extension into their lives of some of the 'labour-saving and pleasure-giving devices now shut out by lack of purchasing power, must be given. The physical, moral and spiritual welfare of youth must be cared for. Platforms, platitudes and vain promises count for nothing; action and results tell the tale. We have before us a survey of many years of platforms and promises, but little of anything else. May the new’ council give results is our prayer,” Views of Mr. 11. A. Huggins The view that profits on electricity should be used to cheapen the supply, ■and that shopkeepers deserved some revision of charges is held by Mr. 11. A. Huggins (City Council). The candidate favours the improvement of the western access and considers that all necessary city work should be effected •n full rates of pay. Mr. Huggins considers that useful employment should bo found' by utilising £12.000 unspent money raised for city baths. He considers that every member of the present council is backing the Mayor for Wellington loan conversions. Mr. Huggins said yesterday that the record of a councillor was a better credential than the mere inclusion of bis name on some party ticket. Treatment of Sick “The best asset a nation can have Is a healthy and virile people, and today more than ever, when there is so much.distress and poverty, a greater measure of liberal treatment for Hie sick is necessary,” said Mrs. M. Semple (Hospital Board). “The best possible medical service is not too good for the poorest of Hie people, and never before has it been so necessary to have Labour representatives on the Hospital Board. The only real danger that faces the Labour candidates at the municipal poll is the apathy of the electors. Members of the Hospital Board should have administrative ability, but they should also have humanitarian instincts. The latter are immensely important, and those who live among what are called ‘the common people’ are most likely to possess them.” Rate Reduction Question While admitting l-hat he would like to see a reduction in the next rates, Mr. 11. L. Cummings (City Council) said he did not want: to see it brought about by reducing the wages of his fellow-citizens and making their position worse than it was to-day. Iu regard to cnemployment, he considered Wellington had done more than its share; and the time had now arrived when it should bo a. whole charge on the general government. He would bo glad to see a. reduction in the charges for electricity, but in times of acute distress he would depart from the principle of applying the profits to reducing Ihe charges, and would take money from the department to help the unemployed. He did not agree with the City Council incurring any further loan liabilities until the ratepayers were in a position to meet additional commitments. Deflation Policy Criticised As soon as the Government's policy of deflation came into operation the City Council began to put oft: its men, said Mr. P. Fraser (Harbour Board). He contended that apart from the Labour members the councillors and the Government went hand-in-hand, a vote for the Civic League and Ratepayers’ Association candidate being a vote for the Government. The policy of deflation bad intensified the position 'and businesses gemfrally were suffering, as the people had not the money to support them. He said that as New Zealand could not afford to buv commodities which Britain sent out Britain could not support the Dominion. It was a poor job, he said, for the council to have a surplus at the expense of three or four hundred homes. Rather than see men thrown out of work and their wives and families suffer he would prefer to see £io surplus at all-

“Better Footpaths”

The promise that if returned he would make strong endeavours for an improvement in footpaths in Wadestown and other districts was given by Mr. A. Parlane (City Council). He said that he would pay special attention to that side of the city, and remarked that several footpaths were badly in need of tar-sealing. Rate Reduction Opposed Opposition to any reduction in city rates under present conditions was expressed by Mr. J. Barras (City Council). He said he would not favour rate reduction unless citizens were relieved of the burden arising from the increase in the rate of exchange and the sales tax. He advocated the payment of full standard wages on city relief works. Shopkeepers’ Difficulties The allegation that the City Council had been sparing with sympathy for shopkeepers in the past, was made yesterday by Mr. J. W. Ranson (City Council). He said fruiterers had been subjected to unnecessary strictures. While street barrows were still in existence, complaints had been made against shopkeepers for placing fruit near the doorways. Electricity and Baths “Cheap electric power would stimulate the employment of labour in factories, and I do not think citizens should have to pay for electricity at rates which provide excess profits for other civic undertakings, said Air. J. Burns (City Cuncil). Mr. Burns referred also to the need for tepid swimming baths in the city. The council had £12,000 in hand for the erection of baths, but something always cropped up to defer action. Omnibuses Too Large Smaller and lighter omnibuses are favoured by Sir. Will Appleton (City Council). Sir. Appleton said last evening that the existing municipal buses should be scrapped, aud he suggested utilising reserve funds to provide lighter vehicles which could run as “feeders” to the tramways. Transfer tickets could be used aud the uneconomical running of buses along tram routes could cease. The buses had incurred a. heavy loss last year, and a contplete overhaul of the whole system was needed. Formidable Ballot-papers The opinion that the ward system of representation was worth consideration was expressed yesterday by Mr. F. Meadowcroft (City Council). He said it could not be pretended that it would be satisfactory to confront electors to-morrow with a list of 34 candidates. from which they would choose 15. This system could not be expected to ensure intelligent voting. The franchise was certainly not on a satisfactory footing. Salaries of Nurses If a majority of Labour candidates were returned, efficiency and goodwill would be assured, and the confidence of the people in their own hospital would be restored, said Mrs. M.. E. Oatham (Hospital Board). Reducing the salaries of the nurses was a grave mistake. The nursing staff should be paid adequate remuneration, and hours and conditions of duty should be improved. Other employees should receive at least award wages and conditions. Revaluation of Property Wanted Mr. M. S. Galloway (City Council) dealt with the burden which the ratepayers were carrying. The council elected should, ho said, take steps immediately to bring about an easement, of this burden. He thought tills could be' brought about by a revaluation of property. This revaluation should be expedited and become operative simultaneously so that propertyowners, large and small, should enjoy the benefit. Another direction in which economies could be effected would be to cut down departmental overhead expenses, in addition to more accurate costing of work undertaken. Status of Hospital “It almost appears as if efforts are being made by certain board members to reduce the stains of the hospital to that of the poor law infirmaries in Great Britain. Labour will resist that attempt to the lash ditch,” said Mrs. Mary Dean (Hospital Board). It had been established by law that any citizen of Now Zealand was entitled to enter a public hospital as a patient. Efforts, some of them insidious, some of them open, had been made to discourage patients from entering the Wellington Hospital. That policy was wrong and should be stopped. Hospital Control Citizens owed much to the Labour representatives on the Hospital Board for steadfastly opitosing the policy of cutting down necessary expenditure and services at the expense of the sick, the suffering, and the poor, said Mrs. Lucy Gibson (Hospital Board). The Labour Party stood for the welfare of the patients’ first, last, and all the time. Both the medical and nursing staffs could be considerably increased. The out-patients’ department should be overhauled and its benefits extended. The dentistry branch should be widened in scope and activity. There should be closer co-operation between the Hospital Board and the Friendly Societies. A special ward for the treatment of nerve troubles should be established. Distasteful Work Mr. W. 11. Bennett (City Council) said that, the past year’s work had been distasteful to councillors owing to the economies which bad to be effected, leading to the reduction of salaries and labour generally. The Mayor, who had done good work, was constantly urging the committees to keep within the estimates. He held that the saving of £9OOO by the works committee had been at the expense of some necessary street works. He urged ratepayers to vote for the waterworks

loan, as a supplementary water supply was needed, as were also the proposed new high-level service reservoirs and the extension of the reticulation. The Final Night Although the poll will take place tomorrow, candidates for the City Council, Hospital Board, and Harbour Board will not be particularly active this evening. Seven meetings will be held in the city and suburbs, and details of these arc advertised in this issue. Labour candidates will speak at Brooklyn, Miramar, Ngaio, and in the Trades Hall. Civic League and Ratepayers’ Association candidates will address electors at Kelburn. Newtown, and Clyde Quay. Hospital Organisation “It is disheartening to read of . the irresponsible destructive criticism, combined frequently with a confessed lack of knowledge on the part of many candidates, who offer themselves as trustees for the public for the vital services of the hospital,” said Dr. It. Campbell Begg (Hospital Board) yesterday. He did not believe that any hospital board in New Zealand had given such time and consideration to the minute examining of its machinery as had the Wellington Hospital Board. Needs of the Suburbs

The suggestion that suburban necessities would receive better consideration by increasing the Labour representation on the City Council, was made yesterday by Mr. J. AV. Ranson (City Council). Mr. Ranson quoted recent representations regarding the formation of a footpath at Island Bay as an instance of lack of action by the City Council. He said parents representing 200 children had formed a deputation on the matter. The appeal was that the footpath would assure the safety of children going to school. The failure of the object was not satisfactory to suburban residents when motor roads were being improved in all directions. No Pay for Councillors "It is not uncommon to hear people say that city councillors receive remuneration for their services,” said Mr. Will Appleton (City Council). Mr. Appleton explained that a free tramway pass was the only benefit. received by council members. In addition to attending the regular council anil committee meetings, members of the council were expected to be present at numerous gatherings. In connection with the committee work, periodical inspections of various parts of the city were necessary. During the last two years councillors had met on an average of three times a week, and the average attendance of each councillor had been very high. Classification of Unemployed The agreement recently made between the Unemployment Board aud the Hospital Board, providing for a reclassification of married men on relief works, was criticised by Mrs. J. Fraser (Hospital Board). Men classified as "O” would be the charge of the Hospital Board, and it was likely that as a result of the new arrangement married men would be sent into camps in the country. It was an insult to unfortunate men who would be classified “C” to be placed as a charge on the ratepayers. None of them wanted anything of the kind. They wanted work and payment out of the unemployment fund in the usual way. Labour members of the Hospital Board would insist upon justice for all concerned. Story of Loan Proposals “In 1920. a very expensive year for the citv. loan proposals approximating 14 millions of pounds were, placed before the ratepayers,” said Mr. 8. Natusch (City Council). “Taking it for granted that these loans were all wanted, and making no inquiry into the wisdom of the loans, to the amazement of councillors, the ratepayers passed them all. One of the councillors of the day said the council did not want, and did not expect, all the loans to be passed. They had merely included some inessenti? . loans, in order to give a fickle public something to throw out, and in the hope that the really necessary loans would then be passed. They were afraid to go to the public for a poll on essential loans only. An appalling state of affairs.” Electricity Too Costly “The administration of the city is too large a business to be decided by sentimental votes,” said Mr. P. M. Butler (City Council), last evening. Electors had too much at stake and bad lost too much by past experiments to be “again misled by specious promises.” Wellington was the highest rated citv in New Zealand. The hospital and charitable aid levy was I_l/7 a head in Wellington, and only 5/7 in Christchurch. The progressive policy of tlie Labour council in Christchurch maintained wages at a better level, ami there was less need for charitable aid in that city. The Wellington City Council had a more advantageous contract with I lie Government for the supply of electricity from Mangalmo than the Christchurch council had for the supply from Lake Coleridge, yet the cost of power in Wellington for lighting was sd. a unit, and in Christchurch it was -Ed. Heating in Wellington cost Id. per unit, ami it cost

4d. in Christchurch. The Christchurch Labour council had reduced the total currency charges by £74,000 per annum since it was elected, while ton City Council had diverted £ Jo,ooo from the electricity profits in six years instead of using this money for the purpose of reducing the price of current. Aii Endurance Test A tribute to the service on the Wellington Hospital Board of Mrs. J. Fraser, Labour candidate, was paid by Dr. R. Campbell Begg, another candidate, last evening. Dr. Begg said the work of the recent investigation comin it tec established by the board had been almost an endurance test. Mrs. Fraser’s presence at the long inquiry had given her an insight into the working of the hospital that many members of the board did not possess. Defer New Fire Station Mr. It. L. McAlister (City Council) did not agree that the present was the time to embark on the large expend 1ture proposed on the purchase of a site and the erection of a new fire station. The matter should be gone into more closely. The City Council bad to provide half the capital money and maintenance costs of the lire brigade. Hie cost of a new fire station would be about £30,000, and, in addition, if the City Council had to take back the present building it would lose revenue from it. He thought the city could carry on with the present station until the financial position was better. Must Face Parking Problem Supporting the proposals to ensure the water supply of the city, Mr. L. McKenzie (City Council) urged that it would be a good insurance to guard against a shortage during drought or other circumstances. He thought action should be taken to remove such eyesores as the rubbish tip in the gully at Karori (just beyond the tunnel), aud at the old quarry at Maranul. Wellington was faced with a parking problem which must be dealt with. Some assistance must be given, and he instanced bow parking space had been provided at Hastings. England, the revenue from which paid interest and sinking fund on the capital charges, aud would wipe out the capital in a few years. Opposed to Clyde Quay Site “A new fire station is necessary,” said Mr. P. D. Hoskins (City Council), who considered the present position unsatisfactory. He bad made inquiries into liuance. aud found that if. the Fire Board purchased the corporation yard site it would provide the money to meet the interest aud sinking fund charges on tlie City Council’s share in the new fire station loan. If that was so it would be a good bargain, and lie would support it. He would not support any proposal for tlie purchase of the Clyde Quay site while the city had unoccupied areas suitable for the purpose. He urged that the rales should be levied on the base of the revenue available, instead of estimating the expenditure and then striking the rate to meet it. Under flic present system there was little hops of bringing about a reduction in rates. Unsound Rating Principle “We are rated on unimproved value, which is entirely unsound in principle.” said Mr. Martin F. Luckie (City Council). “The only proper way of rating is on annual value, and no ratepayer should be called upon to pay rates except on the annual value.” Unimproved value. Tie said, was a gift to the big capitalist with an enormous building, and tlie people who could not afford to build big buildings were penalised in consequence. There were plenty of instances in the city where one or two-storied buildings adjoined buildings of three or four stories, and had to pay the same rates. Net the ciirr w .ig power of one building was three times that of the other, and should pay rates in proportion. He urged that rating on unimproved value had been disastrous to the city of Wellington. He strongly advocated the proposals to safeguard tlie water supplies of the city. No Double Taxation Replying to a question as to whether lie would favour a reduction of electric light charges, Mr. J. D. Sievwright (Oily Council) said there were first principles in municipal government. Civic affairs had to be administered in such n way as to take the least possible money out of the ratepayers’ pockets. After allowing for renewals and sol ting aside enough for reserves. Hie price of electric light should be reduced to consumers. A greater charge was class taxation. He did not think the city should spend money on acquiring a stie for a new fire station if the city had one which could be taken. He had visited the present station, and had found tlie accommodation for the men was not suitable or healthy. Regarding unemployment—citizens wer j._Cx’ing from £30,000 to £50,000, and the Government was taxing the people to the extent of 4-1 millions for unemployment relief. He did not think the ratepayers should be doubly taxed in that way. It should be the job of tlie Government.

CITY WATER SUPPLY

Danger of Serious Shortage MAYOR’S EXPLANATION It had been proved beyond doubt that the water supplies of the city were in danger, said the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. j Hislop, addressing a meeting at the Concert Chamber last night. If a temporary drought were experienced in tlie summer, there would be grave risk of a serious shortage. He urged the ratepayers to give approval to the proposal to bring in artesian supplies from Gear Island, in the Hutt, and to connect the Karori main with the city, so that the city could draw direct upon the supply from Orongorongo. The Mayor mentioned the sum of £113,000 unexpended from the 1920 loan, aud referred to the scheme of bringing in water from tlie Hutt River as outlined by the City and Suburban Water Board. That scheme was considered too costly, aud three local bodies withdrew from it. Tlie city was therefore faced with the risk of a serious shortage, and had not yet found means of solving the difficulty. The council sought to ascertain if supplies could not be augmented from artesian sources. Trial bores had been made iu the Hutt Valley, and it was found a dam could be constructed at a cost of comparatively a few thousands, which would ensure a supply of water for tlie next ten years. The record of the past two years would not show that be desired to spend money unnecessarily, but lie assured the ratepayers that iu regard . to the water supply it was essential that something should be done. It was proposed to put in an artesian pump on Gear Island, and also to link up the Karori reservoir with the city to enable the Orongorongo supply to be brought, to the city. At present the city supply came from Wainui, but the main from there was badly encrusted, and unless cleaned out immediately the city would be faced with the heavy expense of renewing those mains. It was estimated that Hie cost of bringing in the artesian supply and linking up the. city with Karori would be £37,120, and he strongly advised the ratepayers to approve of the proposal. The second proposal was to make further provision in the way of reservoirs and reticulation, aud he pointed out tlie need of further provision m some of the eastern suburbs. An adequate supply of water was necessary for health and fire prevention pur--1 With the present conditions they had a heartbreaking number of men out of employment, and if by carrying out the scheme proposed they could bring some of the unemployed into their ordinary occupatious, it would be doing something to help the community and also meet the requirements of the city. There had been some criticism ot tnc council's finance, aud the surplus of £24 000. It. had been necessary to obtain control of the financial position, and it was only by rigid economies that the council was now in a position to meet the bigger charges which would come before it this year. Replying to the criticism of tnc council in taking £40.000 from the electric lighting account to provide work for the unemployed, the Mayor said the city had 4000 unemployed and had no funds to carry on with. The council therefore took £lO.OOO from the electricity funds to carry on, and in such circumstances he would do the same thing to-morrow. medical committee Answer to Criticism “It is unusual, to say the least, for a medical man outside of and probably ignorant of tlie system in the hospital, to ascribe unfair motives to the visiting staff who comprise tbe uiedica committee.” said Dr. R. Campbell Begg, candidate for the Wellington Hospital Board, yesterday. Dr. Begg added that the readjustment of the lay and medical administration was approved by the medical committee, the house committee and by tbe board. The chairman of the medical committee was Dr. T. I. M. Stuart and tlie vice-chairman. Dr. .'Jardley Fenwick. Other members were Drs. P. P. Lynch, Earnest Hasty, G. F. V. Anson. Gordon Anderson and F. T. Bowerbank. The public would believe, said Dr. Begg, that gentlemen of this standing framed their regulations with a view to the benefit of the hospital and not as a subtle attack against anybody. Such assertions were ridiculous and without foundation. Insinuations in semi-political campaigns should not be made against members of the hospital staff whose position prevented them from answering.