THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. MR. M'KENZIE AT THE ARCADE.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 58, 7 September 1881, Page 2

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. MR. M'KENZIE AT THE ARCADE.

Between 300 and 400 porsons assomblad at the Arcade, Manners-street, last evening for the purpose of hearing an exposition of the views of Mr. Thomas M'tienzie, a candidate for the representation of Te Aro Ward iv the City Council. Mr. Edward Dixon presided. Mr. M'Kknzie. who was cordially received, allnded at the outset to tho late Wellington Eeform Association, of which he had been a member. This association, ho said, had been promoted for the purpose of keeping an eye upon municipal matters, and on various occasions during the poriod of its existence numerous suggestions for tho benefit of the citizens had been brought before the Council by this body, some of which had been adopted) and others rejected. At length the Conncil began apparently to get tired of the representations of the Association, and said it the opinions entertained by the Association were similar to those held by the ratepayers generally, the members ought to take steps to get elected to the Council. This led to his appearance on that occasion ; he did not wish to b« accused of "showing the white feather." (Applause.) His views on municipal matters had been briefly set forth in his puulished address, and ho now came forward principally to afford tho ratepayers an opportunity of asking questions of him. He was, and ever had been, anxious for the progress of the city. As was well known, he was in favour of the Te Aro reclamation scheme— (applause)— as also in favour of tho construction of a dry dock. Moreover, he advocated a modification of the building regulations, (uoud applause.) With others he had endeavoured to bring about this desideratum. Remembering the earthquakes of 1815 and 1848, when tho Hospital and Weßloyan Church were shaken down, ho would never consent to sloop in a brick building. He further held that the Fire Insuranoe Companies ought to be made to contribute to the maintenance of tho Fire Brigade. (Hear, hear.) If elected, he w< uld endeavour to prevent tho lavish expenditure of the ratepayers' money. The utmost efficiency with tho strictest economy would be his motto. He would have no more cats than would catch mice, but would pay every man well, and expect him to do his duty. If sent to tho Council, too, ho would not walk out of the Council Chamber when a subjeotoame forward that required to be voted upon, fie* ferring to Mr. Andrew Young'B retirement from the contest, he said there had been no collusion between that gentleman and himself in regard to the action they were to tako, and he wai ignorant of the faot of Mr. Young's retirement until it waß announced in the newspapers. He was grateful to Mr. Young for the land mannor in whioh he had referred to him (the speaker), but would havo been quite ready to meet him, and leave the issue in the hands ot the ratepayers, by whoso verdiot he was prepared to abide. (Loud applause.) Questions being invited. Mr. J. Peiherick, jun., read a long string of questions to tho 1 olio wing effect : — Was the candidate in favour of a reduction of tho municipal expenditure, especially in connection with the salaries paid to tho Town Clork, City Treasurer, City Valuer, City Collector, City Surveyor, Assistant Surveyor and ohamman P Wonld ho bring under the notice of the Council the unsatisfactory manner in whioh tho nightsoil contractors carried out their contract, and tlioir high charges P And, would he advocate a combination of the offioes of Town Clork and City Solicitor? Ho believed tho duties of Town Clork ould bo performed as well as now for a great deal less money ; and as regarded the City Surveyor, there was not a more incompetent man in all Now Zealand for the position. (Laughter and applause.) Mr. M'Kknzie was unable to enter into details regarding the salaries paid to tho offioers mentioned until he had fully investigated the matter. He pointed out that if the nightsoil contract was not being properly fulfilled, thjse who had complaints to prefer possessed a remedy : they should lay their complaints before the proper authorities. In large places like London it had been found convenient to retain a barribter as town clerk, but he did not know whether it would be possible to get a good solicitor here (laughter) who would be willing to fill the office. Respecting our present Town Clerk, he had heard him highly spoken of as a oourteous, efficient, and obliging officer. (Applause.) Mr. N. March ant here ascended tho platform and claimed to be the father of tho building regulations, whioh he hoped Mr. M'Kenzio would stand up for. Those regulations wore not the outcome of his (the speaker's) brain, but bad been collated from the metropolitan building regulations of London and, in fact, all over the world. He had tried his beßt to mako them suitable to a colonial city, and he stood or fell by them. He wanted Mr. M'Konzie to ptomise the meeting that he would do his utmost to make this wretched, dirty, little woodenshanty village of ours the— not in word, but in faot— Empire City of Now Zealand. (Applausa and laughter ) The Chairman here interrupted Mr. Marchant, asking him to confine himself to questions. Mr M'Kenzib, in reply, repeated his viewa respecting the building regulations. He was sorry Mr. Marchant claimed their parentage. London was not liable to earthquakes like Wellington, consequently comparison between the two cities in this ) espeo t was out of the question. In' Lambton Ward Messrs. Laery & Campbell wished to expend .£I2OO in improving their promises, but these regulations prevented their doing so. He did not know who was the architect of those premises (langhter), nor of the Dri Shed and Fish Market. (Great Laughter.) Mr. Maechant enquired if, in the event of the site offered by the Conncil for the proposed dock not being found suitable, the candidate would be in favor of the donation of the value of a site to the Harbour Board by the City Council, with a certain proviso. Mr. M'Kenzik hoped the Harbour Board would see its way to provide funds itself, but would give the Board overy possible assistance. Mr. Thomas Dwan hero ascended the platform, and eaid he was not a candidate for the Mayoralty, or any other offioe th ; s season. (Laughter.) He wished to ask the candidate, whom he supported, whetuer he was in favour of the abolition of taxes in unoccupied houses in To Aro Ward. Had ho (the speaker) been standing for the Mayoralty, he did not think ho would have brought the matter forward, but he did so now because ho was "on travel." (Laughter.) He came before them as a gentleman who could sptak grammatically, conjugate a verb, or decline a noun. (Laughter, and cries of " question.") Ho had asked a question in a grammatical manner, and he demanded a grammatical answer. He was a literary man himself, although an auctioneer at present, and got his living by it. (Interruptions, and cries of " chair.") The chair was right enough. (Langhter and disorder.) Mr. M'Kknzie said he was in favour of equal rights and equal laws, and did not think exceptional laws could bo made iv favour of any particular ward. He was not going to promise anything and everything. He did not come to toll them that he would be a father to all their children and a husband to all their wives. (Loud laughter.) He was sorry there were unoccupied building*, but thii otate of things wonld not last he felt sure, were the building regulations relaxed, the Te Aro Reclamation proceeded with, and a dry dock constructed. (Applause.) Mr. T. K. Macdonald aßked whether the candidate's attention had been called to tho proposed alteration in the conditions of leases under whioh the sections on the reclaimed laud wore now held, namely, that persons could erect brick buildings and have valuation at the end of the term. Mr. M'Kenzck replied that ho was not fully conversant with the proposed alteration to give a satisfactory answer, but would investigate the matter. Mr. Macdonald next enquired if Mr. M'Kenzie woul 1 be in favour of altering tho rating laws, so that instead of a man being rated for the improvements he effected, the rating would be done on the basis of a frontage rate. Mr. M'Kenzie said he was not acquainted with the full bearing of the question, but would give the matter his best consideration. At first blush, he was impressed favourably with the suggestion. Mr. Michael Quin then proposed a vote of confidence in the candidate. Mr. John Smith seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Tho proceedings then ended.