Local Body Elections

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 189, 8 May 1941, Page 6

Local Body Elections

USE OF ELECTRICITY FUNDS Reply To Mr. McKeen

NEWSPAPER REPORT QUOTED

Addressing electors last, night, the mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, reiterated life criticism of the proposal made by Mr. McKeen that electricity department funds should be earmarked to build tepid baths-as a victory war memorial. Mr. MeKeen’s reply to his criticism he described as “tepid.” “Swimmers well know that no one would support tbe project at the right time more vigorously than I,” said Mr. Hislop. “Mr. McKeen appears very indignant about my statement that he has always previously opposed the use of electricity funds for any purpose. other than a reduction of charges to the consumers. Before Mr. McKeen gets so angry and makes such vigorous denials, he should refresh his memory by referring to a report which appeared in ‘The Dominion’ on June 5, 1931. This is a report of a debate on my motion to use £lO,OOO from electricity funds to keep men in employment iu the depth of the depression. Here is an excerpt from the report:— ‘“Referring to the proposal to take £lO,OOO for the relief of unemployment from the profits of the electricity department, Councillor R. McKeen, M.P., said a principle was involved—namely, that no profits should be taken from trading departments for some other purpose. The profits should be utilized for the reduction of capital charges or the reduction of consumers’ charges. The time had come when each department should stand on its own basis.’ “I leave Mr. McKeen to make what explanation' he can of his change of attitude and also to justify the earmarking of any funds not Absolutely necessary when we have so many obligations ahead of us arising out of the war.”

Employers Must Co-operate. “What is the good of extending our manufacturing industries if we do not attempt to make some contribution to the housing problem?” asked Mr. W. H. Stevens, candidate for the council, speakIng at Houghton Bay. “The city housing scheme is useful, but not sufficient to meet the great demands of the future. 1 am not satisfied that employers generally have given thoughtful attention to this subject. If half the employers in the city would take the responsibility of providing a new house for only one or their employees, the problem would not be solved, but eased. Under the city housing scheme it would cost the employers only one-tenth of the combined cost of house and section, even if they were not able to arrange for the employees eventually to be their own landlords. Mosquitoes.

A scourge of mosquitoes had been afflicting the inhabitants of certain districts in and near the city, said Mrs. Knox Gilmer recently, speaking in support of her candidature for the city council. During the past two or three summers these pests had been worrying residents. Where were the breedinggrounds? she asked. Why had they not been located earlier and steps taken to prevent a recurrence of the plague? She hoped that the city council’s heallji department would investigate the nuSance.

Ready-made Homes. The introduction to Wellington of the pre-fabricated dwelling-house was advocated by Mr. Bryan Todd, Citizens’ candidate for the city council, at a meeting of electors last evening. "This type of house is now finding great favour in America, and I inspected a number in California,” said Mr. Todd. “Manufactured in large quantities by modern production methods, the cost can be made amazingly low, and the task of erection is simple and expeditious. These houses, like the mass production motor-ear today, lack nothing iu refinement and individuality. Here in Wellington I would advocate the council making available to home-builders either the finished houses or the pre-fabricated materials aud blue prints to enable a handy man to erect his own house. Financing could be done through the normal channels of through the council’s present excellent scheme. The pre-fabri-cated house offers a low cost solution to the housing problem."

Compulsory Saving. As an aid toward solution of the housing problem, and achievement of the ideal of every man bis own landlord, a system of compulsory saving for youug people was advocated by Mr. M. Fraser, candidate for re-election to the city council. in a recent address. By awards, he s'aid, young men and women were paid high wages, much beyond their necessities, iu most cases before they assumed the full responsibility of citizenship. Employers might be required to withhold and pay into a post office savings bunk account a fixed proportion of such wages, to accumulate for the young persons concerned till they reached the age of 21 or married. There might be sufficient then to pay the deposit on a new house or purchase furniture.

Beautifying Foreshore. There had been some agitation for provision by the Wellington Harbour Board of playgrounds and swimming baths, said Sir Charles Norwood, candidate for reelection to the board. This was a matter which really concerned the city council. The harbour board, however, had always tried to co-ordinate its policy of reclamation and improvement yvitli that of the city council, and to beautify any part of the harbour exposed to public view. Anyone who took note of the Clyde Quay reserve near the boat sheds would appreciate that tlie board was constantly improving the foreshore and creating assets in beauty for the people.

I ittidy Streets. At. a time when there was such a shortage of manpower citizens should co-oper-ate with the authorities in keeping the footpaths and streets in decent, order, said Mr. Will Appleton. candidate for the city council and the harbour board, speaking at. Houghton Bay. lie stated that street cleansing and watering cost more than £22,000 last year, and even then people complained that the streets were not us tidy as they might be. Unfortunately, said Mr, Appleton, despite the precision of receptacles in which to deposit litter, citizens generally were far too careless.

Flying-Bout Base. The opinion that before long the singleair services between New Zealand and Australia and New Zealand and California would probably have to he duplicated was expressed by Mr. H. L. Nathan, candidate for the harbour board, in an address to electors. Arrangements could then be made for arrivals and departures to 'be divided between Auckland and Wellington. lie said. This could only take place if the Wellington Harbour Board showed enterprise and provided a safe base and the necessary accommodation in Evans Bay. During the war the harbour board could make all nrelimintiry arrangements so that as soon as hostilities ceased it would be able to put. the work in hand.

Factory Building. Mr. W. Dunean, candidate for re-clee-tion to the city council, speaking at St. Thomas’s Hall, Riddiford Street, said that the district had been robbed of a large manufacturing business. Application was made to the city council to erect a model factory. Councillor McKeon objected to ■i factory going up in Newtown. In this lie Was supported by other Labour members as tbev claimed that it would create a nuisance. The company decided to build instead at the Hutt. The factory -•i beautiful one —employed hundreds

of people, so the Newtown shopkeepers were losers to a considerable extent, aud the city council also lost a good ratepayer.

Winning tlie War. “We place the winning of the war before all things,” said Mr. P. Butler, candidate for re-election to the city council, in a recent address. “We will not embark on matters which will detract from the common purpose. Our whole energies will be bent in the direction of combining with the Government and the people in making victory possible. We will not allow side issues to intervene. At the same time, we can and will carefully supervise'our existing social services and when the time is opportune after the war, we will be in a position to extend them to the greater benefit of all.”

Housing Expansion. “If I were asked to name the principal objectives of tlie next year or two. said Mr. C. M. Bowden, candidate for the council, speaking at Seatonn, “I should place housing expansion first, because of its bearing on the trend of population and the contentment and wellbeing of the people. Second would be the encouragement of industries by provision of low priced electric power and suitable sites in convenient locations, and for this I should recommend exploring the possibility of extending the city northward. Another worth-while aim is provision _ of greater facilities for tlie use of electrical household appliances of every description.”

One Man, One Job. “It is a canon of tlie Socialist-Labour policy that no man should have more than one job, or many more people would be unemployed,'' said Mr. J. D. Sievwright, candidate for the council, speaking at Miramar. When he considered the personnel of (lie Socialist candidates, ho added, lie found that most of them had good jobs and were seeking others. Mr. McKcen bad seconded a motion that salaries be reduced to £5OO, proposed by Mr. Semple, who had stated that no man was worth more. Throe figures could not hold them now. said Mr. Sievw right.

College Flaying Grounds. Speaking at Seatonn. Mr. L. McKenzie, candidate for the council, said that he was the council’s representative on the college board of governors, and the council bad a direct interest in all colleges, including the Technical College. It was largely their duty to provide sports grounds for these college activities. Strange as it seemed, every institution wanted to deprive tlie city of those grounds. Unless reason was brought to bear on the question, in the interests of the schools and colleges, the children would be forced to exercise on the Streets