MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 95, 23 April 1891, Page 4

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

MR. H. B. VOGEL AND THR THORNDON RATEPAYERS. Mr. H. B. Vorol, one of the candidates fo r the vacant Thorndon seat in the City Connoil, addressed a meeting of ratepayers in tho Sydney-f-trect eohoolroom last evening. Mr. W. H. Millwnrd occupied the chair, and introduced tho candidate. Mr Vogel on coming-forward remarked npon tho small attendance, ai,d observed that it seemed to him a great deal too much apathy wag displayed in regard to municipal matters. Doiling first with tho question of a rocreation ground for Thorndon, ho thought that a reserve ought to bo set apart for that purpose, but ho did not altogether favour the proposal to reclaim a certain portion of the Botanical Reserve. The spot which in his opinion was most snitod for a recreation ground was the land which had been reolajmed by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. He understood that one greut obataole in the way of acquiring this was the question of expense Still, if tho Govornmont, oh was reported, intended to tiko over the line, it miehr nlso 6eo its way to take over this piooe of land, which might ultimately be acquired by the Tl'orndon people for the purpose suggested. (Applause.) After alluding briefly to the estimates brought down at tho late meotiog of tho City Council, Mr. Vo»el passed on to tho obaritablo aid rate, whioh he considered to be a most unjust ono as at present levied, inasmuch as it imposed too great a burden upon the occnpiors of small holdings. It ought to bo borne equally by overy person in tho colony, and should be based upon tho property tax, with tho £500 exotnution swept away or roduoed to £100. Tho oomotery question had now to a oortain extent been settled, but he might say in pas3ing that he regarded with favour the proposal made to build a crematorium. Touching next upon tho drainage Bchomn, the candidate expressed himself as being very mnch Hi favour of it, and said that if oleoted to tho Couno'l he would agitate in support of ib, until the scheme was aotnally oarried out. Some amendment he thought was necessary in the prnaent system of voting. Absentees most assuredly ought not to be permitted to vote upon such large questions as tho ono just mentioned. Ho would lot disfranchise a person who was merely iway from tho oity on a virit, but thought it night bo arraogod so that tho voto in such a iase could bo taken by proxy. Worn tho Irainage loan oarried, a sum of £12,000 vhioh had boon spent on drainago would >o repaid, and part of this fund ought o he givon towards the recreation ground The present system of rubbish collecting .nd street scavenging was simply dis•raoeful, and he uas glad that some imirovemont was about to bo effected. It ;onld add much to the beauty of the oity if rees were planted along fomo of tho boronghfaros, as w'm done in other ountries, and come provision might be made )r this. Although ho bad not fully studied ho proposal to tax according to street ■ontage, he did not see how the present lethod could be improvod upon. Tho Free ibrary might now be considered an aoootnlisbed fact, and ho hoped that it would onriah. Referring to the oleotrio lighting iheme, Mr. Vogel said he believed mt tho city had obtained a very jod bargain, and ho quoted figures to iow that under the present system tho oity feoted a saving of £700 when compared ith what it would oost to -work thi mps with steam power instead of ith water power, and a saving of £850 t tho cost of lighting tho city with gas. He \b opposed to the city being bound under 0 proposed Electrio Lighting Bill until it ia fonnd that the company wore providing c best and least expensive method tamable, and he was also against anying tending <o create a monopoly, to Rftß also ought to bo run by the Corporam for tho good of tho peoplo, and not bo in 3 hands of a privato company. If retnrm rl would inßistthat the electric, lighting wires jujd be carried underground, as a matter of blio safety. Tn conclusion, Mr. Vogol idioted that Wellington had a proanerous .ure before it, and he considered that >ry oitizeu onght to put forward his best ■>rts in securing this prosperity As to reasons for seeking municipal honour?, I was ambitious, hoping that it was only a p to ahigher position. It was not an honour ich, if obtained, he would cast indiffctly asido, but would honestly do his best he interests of the ratepayers. He trusted t in giving their votes they would overi his youth and also his profession, to oh it seemed there was some objection, plaoe him at the top of the poll, plause ) I Ir. G. W. Chandler proposed, and Mr. H. Curtis seconded, a motion to tho effect i Mr. Vogel was a proper person to •oseut the Thorndon ratepayers in tho ' Counoil. ho motion was oarried nnanimously. ; r. Vogel briefly returned thanks, and tho J toedinßS terminated.