THE THORNDON ELECTION. DR. NEWMAN'S ADDRESS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 145, 23 June 1881, Page 3

THE THORNDON ELECTION. DR. NEWMAN'S ADDRESS.

At the Princess Hotel, Molesworth-street, last evening about sixty persons assembled for the purpose of hearing Dr. A. K. Newman, a candidato for the representation of Thorndon Ward in the City Conncil, express his views on municipal matters. Mr. Anderson presided. Dr. Newman, who was received with an outburst of applause, prefaced his speech by an explanation of the causes that had led him to seek election on this occasion. After Mr. Fisher had Bent in his resignation, he had waited several days to see if that gentleman intended to come forward again ; but as he made no sign, he (Dr Newman), at the instigation of friends, announced his candidature, and the following day, after an unsuccessful effort on the part of Mr. Fisher's committee to induce him to retire, the latter appeared as a rival in tho field. Mr. Fisher then came before the ratepayers and whined piteonsly because, as ho contended, they were always promoting some opposition to him. If that gentleman really m ished to test the opinion ot the ratepayers regarding his course of action, why did ho not convene a meeting and take them into his confidence, instead of resigning so abruptly and putting the city to the expense of an election ? (Hear, hear.) There was one question beforn which all others at present paled their lights— that of finance. The problem must often have forced itself upon the ratepayers, as to whether there was any probability of the present enormous rates being decreased. Three years ago, when we were all making money rapidly, and when the population was nearly as large as it wa3 now, our indebtedness was .£260,000 ; now it was .£470.000. We had been going too often to the London market : they would all agree that it was very unwise to be always borrowing. (Cheers.) Then we had lying in tho banks a sum of .£IOO,OOO, which had been borrowed at 6 per cent., and was now realising only 4 per cent., thus resulting in a clear loss of i!? 000 per annum. Only the other day, moreover, the Corporation decided to part with their interest in the wharf, and thus there was a further loss of .£SOOO per annum. Ho held that the Corporation finances should be managed on the basis adopted by all sound business men. (Cheers ) Bnsiness men would endeavor to roduco their liabilities during prosperous times, so that when the day of evil came they would be able to meet the balance comfortably, and this was whut the Corporation ought to do. It waa a mistake to retain all our assets; it v-ould be better to part with some of them, ?nd so reduce our liabilities. (Hear, hear.) Probably the next most burning question consisted of the proposal to reclaim the Te Aro foreshore. (Cheers.) He was unable to find out— and he had made it his duty to ascertain, if possible — on what ground it was contended this scheme would pay, though he did not for a moment say it would not pay. Nobody could inform him exactly what it would cost to reclaim the foreshore in question, nor the amount of compensation that would have to be granted. (Cheers.) Neither could he learn what tho land would fetch when it was reclaimed and put into the market. Here were three great elements of doubt, and yet it was proposed to carry out the work in what seemed a most unjustifiable manner. (Loud cheers.) They ought to be upright in their dealings. Only last year an Act was passed at the instance of City Councillors in which it was provided that the loans raised for a special purpose should be devoted to tha 1 ; purpose ; now it was proposed to dpvote such loans to different purposes If tho foreshore were to be reclaimed it should certainly be done in some other way than this. We held that it could not be done legally in this manner, and, therefore, should not be attempted. (Cheers.) A much better way of disposing of the unexpended balances of loans, amounting to about .£IOO,OOO, could easily be devised. It would be a better plan, for instance, to send the money Home, and buy back say worth of debentures. These could at all times be sold again in the London market when desirable Dr. Newman then proceeded to speak in favor of the abolition of the building regulations (cheers), and advocated a better system of dispensing charitable aid. He was in favor of establishing a new cemetery, also a recreation ground at the Thorndon end ; and suggested that the Corporation should next year get up an industrial exhibition similar to the one recently held horo, to encourage the smaller trades*. He would like to see the establishment of a line of steamers trading botween England and Wellington ; and. in conclusion, expressed his opinion that the watchword of Wellington should be "Progress with economy." not " Progress with extravagance," as appeared to have been the case in tbe past. (Loud cheerinp). Several questions having been asked by Messrs. Orr and Marks, it was proposed by Mr. Citbtis, and seconded by Mr. Martin, that Dr. Newman wa3 a fit and proper person to represent Thorndon Ward ; and the motion was carried amid aco'amation, inly two hands being held np against it.