THE MAYORALTY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 83, 9 April 1910, Page 9

THE MAYORALTY.

MR. WILFORD AT WADESTOWN. Mr. T. M. Wiiford's second address in furtherance of his candidature for tha mayoralty was delivered at W'adestovm last evening. There were about sft v persons present. Mr. Wilford said that as soon as the city balance-sheet for 1909 was printed, in the course of a. few d»ys, be 'would devote a whole evening to its analysis. It had been said that he was too busy to undertake the duties of the mayoralty. He pointed out that other Mayors had been members of Parliament, chairmen of Hospital Boards, had engaged in business, and thty had discharged! the mayoral duties satisfactorily. Although he was Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives, yet ho ctUl found time to attend b2 meetings of the Harbour Board, and attend to numerous details connected with th» board's business. Three years hence the people ot the city would have a right to look for a reduction to the extent of almost a fourth of their general rates. This would be due to valuable leases falling in. If the city went in for a huge expenditure, the people must be prepared to pledge their property to a greater extent. This was unquestionably not tho year for raising rates or increasing the burden of the ratepayers. In 1914, when the leases of the city fell in, there would be a large increase in the revenue of the city from that source—some£2o,ooo a year. In (he course of » year or two the cost of the duplication of the water mains from Wainui-o-mata would have to be faced. Ample provision was being made for storage ; but want of foresight in the past rendered duplication of the mains necessary. He was again* expending large sums of the ratepayers' money oo tree-planting. "This is not the time for fancy trimmings. Let us get down,' he added, "to a plaia tailor-made gown." There wore roads to be made, tram» to be . .constructed, and water services and ' drainago connections to make. He dealt at' some length* with the position of the city tramways. Had not the time arrived, he asked, when a certain sum should be placed on one side out of depreciation, and be kept m a liquid asset for track renewals, such *s must take place in tbe course of a few years? The candidate condemned tbo method of tram construction, which had resulted in such a constant din iv tho mam streets of the city. Adverse comment was made by the speaker on the complicated manner in which the city accounts were kept and presented to th*> burgesses He favoured the Fire Brigade being placed under ' a Fire Board ; at any rate, he would do his best to have the question submitted to the ratepayers for decision. Wood-blocking had been of great advantage, especially *t, far as scavenging was coucerned ; but he could not support a proposal at the present time to go in for a wholesale wood-block-ing scheme. Until the balance-sheet of the city was published and he could analyse it, it was idle to say whether there had been waste or not. A tramway had been promised to Wadestown, and that promise should be fulfilled. There was also the expenditure ol £12,000 on a maintenance reservoir. These works should be pushed on. Alluding to the initial cost of "wiring in installing electric light, he thought a system could be adopted under which City Council could guarantee the cost, allowing the money to bo paid off by deferred payments. In asking » question, a ratepayer remarked that there had been very little municipal expenditure «» W«desto«ni since the district became merged in the city, in hi? repjy, Mr. Wilford said, j if elected, be would see that Wader- ' town, 'ike other districts was fairly treated in the matter of expenditure. On the motion of Mr. Flight, seconded by Mr. E. W. Ootch, a heorty vote of thanks and confidence was passed to Jlr. w flford.