CITY, MAYORAL CAMPAIGN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 95, 22 April 1912, Page 2

CITY, MAYORAL CAMPAIGN.

MR. WRIGHT ON TRAMWAYS. Mr. R. A. Wright's address at Newtown on Saturday dealt in the main with tramway finance. ' lie believed that, the new Tramway Board (should be given the utmost possible assistance) by the council in its endeavours to put the tramway finances on a linn basis. From what he could so© of it, Mr. Wright realised that 'the- city'e tramway business required the utmost attention during the coming' Mayoral year. The policy oi' drift inu«t cease. The warnings given through the local Press that the tramway linance was weak had apparently been, without effect. Paths, drainage, duplication of the- Wainui water maius, control of reserves, and other municipal works, were also dealt with by Mr. Wright. ME. M'LAREN'S ADDRESS. Mr. D. M'Lareu spoke four times on Satin-day evening — at Newr<owu, South Kilbirnie, Boulcott-strect, ijnd Courte-nay-place. After touching on teclurietiL education, which, ho contended, had been generously supported by the City Council, he referred to municipal contracts, and favouinrl giving the bu&incMi to local manufacturers, other things being^ equal. As to tramway finance, lie pointed out that the expenditure of depreciation funds on new works had been upheld by three consecutive Mayors, flit of whom Wel'e lveognii-ed as business men. In face of thai, the cry for a business man as Mayor seemed to him to be rather strained. The functions of tho Mayor and councillors, in his view, were to deal with and concentrate on matters of policy, leaving officers in full responsibility for matters of detail. He st?ongly condemned purely commercial mr ids of governing a- city. Tho needs the people had to 'be considered, sib well as the percentages of profit. A number of services were required from which no direct profit in cash could ever be looked for. If returned, ha would give his full time i to his duties as Mayor, and pay particular attention to the interests of the outlying districts. Messrs. A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P., W. H.Hampton, and A. Witty strongly bupported Mr. M'Laren, who was accorded votes of thanks and confidence after each speech.