THE MAYORALTY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 87, 14 April 1910, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

MR CRAWFORD'S CAMPAIGN. Mr. C. J. Crawford addressed a large meeting at the Victoria Hall last night. Mr. IJ. Dawson presided. In the courFe of his remarks the candidate &poko against tho pioposal to earmark rates for each street. At the present moment the city expended over £12,000 a yeav in what he called office expenses, but if such a proposal wa« earned out those expense* would be very largely increased. As to the old horse tramways loan, it bad been said there- was no sinking fund, but ho pointed oUt that the horses and plaint were sold for £5200 and the land was valued at £6000, and those sums had been set apart as a sinking fund for th© repayment of tho loan. On the subject of the city's Electric LigH Department, Mr. Crawford pointed out that the purchase price was £160,000, that the capital expenditure upon the» last figures wa3 £186,000, that the existing overdraft on this- account was £16,254; that owing to the introduction of metallic filament lamps it was obvious that it would be very difficult to nv»k« £ne department pay, and it was alpo obvious that it would be quite impoF>sible to pay off the existing overdraft out of profits. There was no question that the citizens would do everything they conceivably could by the lessening of the requirements of the underwriters and by pushing on the extensions of their businw^es, but it was obvious thalt it was bad business on the citizens' part to be paying 5 per cent, for their 1 heavy overdraft when they could borro.w money more cheaply, and it was obvious thn.t if this business was to be extended the citizens would have to vote morp capital not only to pay off the overdraft, but to provide working capital for necewarv extensions. The candidate waa accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Wilford will Bpeak in tho Island Bay Schoolroom this evening. To-morrow night Mr. Crawford will address tho electors at Nortiknd. MIRAMAR CONTEST. Mr. J. Brodie, a candidate for the Miramar Mayoralty, addressed the electors at Worser Bay last evening. The candidate took the opportunity of answering a criticism that he had done jiothjng during his term ae. councillor to warrant his election to tho higher office. He instanced his suggestion that tho council should acquire the ferry steamere nnd run a motor 'bus sorvice in conjuration with them. The fcoheme was to have been Dlaced before the ratepayers for approval, but within three days of this being done the Mayor managed io come to an arrangement wiUi .tho Ferry Company. He took an active part in getting the foreshore road formed, opposed the cutting up of the park, and generally had strenuously worked in otiher direction* for the advancement of the borough's interest. Hft advocated n, proper water supply and drainage service, and urged mat th© Miramar Borough Council should cooperate with the Wellington City Council in asking the Government to form a road between Lyall Bay and Breaker Bay. As part of the road line was defence property it was only right the State should inak© the iroad. Replying to the chirge that from £4000 to £5000 was annually loet on the tram-ways, the candidate declared that this was absolutely wrong. He ridiouled the idea of concession tickets for refcid-enfis and two penny tickets to trippers, which would h»ve an immediate and future weakening effect on the tramways. At> the- conclusion fch& candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Townsend will cpeak in the Hppe Hall, Miramar, to-night.