MEETING AT HATAITAI

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 91, 17 April 1923, Page 4

MEETING AT HATAITAI

CITIZENS' COMMITTEE CANDIDATES.

The city electors were addressed at a meeting in the Hataitai Churchroom last evening by Mrs. M'Vicar, Messrs. H. D. Bennett, C. C. Crump, J. Burns, and .7. W., Butler. Mr. A. E. Batt j occupied tii& chair. I Mr. H. T>. Bennett said lie intended to devote big remark* more particularly to the question of the . tramways.. He knew that the people, of the Hataitai district ware vitally interested in the tramways,.; because they depended altogether on■■■....tramway transport to .and from the cifcy, and they were particularly interested in, the prop*bsal with respect to a. second tunnel through the hill. Mr. Bennett then dealt, as reported in another column, with the Kelburn tram proposal. Mrs. MTScar, after mentioning her eight years" service on the Hospital Board and flour years' service on municipal bodies,, dwelt upon the increased responsibilities now devolving upon the governing 'body of the hospital, with its important social welfare side. There was much heavy wovk to be done in this, connection during the next two years, They had resolved to.extend the hospital birijdings, and the bo&rd was sending the medical superintendent to America anji England with the view of obtaining from him on his teturn the soundest advice as .to imprCved buildings and equipment. Mr. G Crump said lie favoured good, solid, Honest progress, and claimed Bupport on the ground that he was a practical man. The Labour Party was promising great things—greater than it was possible* to carry out. He was not I against Labour; in fact, he was in favour of sane Labour, f/nct supported, the payment of good waies. Aa to the municipalisatirtn of tyu/blic utilities or enterprises, whether, id was the supply of fish, milk, or the running of tram- ; ways, they should be made to pay , their own way. He mentioned his 38 years' residence in Wellington, and promised, if elected,-to dp his ( utmost to promote tha. welfare of the city.. Councillor J. Burns, after alluding to his long resid'finct; in the city, outlined the special branches of the council's 1 work to which be had devoted most • attention during, 1 'his two years' coun- • cillorship. In connection with contracts 'and in other 3/es.pects it had been his ' aim to see thfjfc the money of the citi--1 zens was. wisel.'y spent. He explained 1 the causeH of; 'the delay in connection ; witli the s<Mcmd tunnel t 0 Hataitai. Speaking as p,, member of the sub-epm- ' mittee of tljif. council appointsd to re- , port on thfi matter, he mentioned that 1 instructions; Itkl been given to the erigincei'a to nt'cjoeed '.vith the; preliminary j work 'in tie-.preparation of plans. Al- j

though the Engineer's Department was under-staffed and very busy, the work would be pushed ahead. He knew that in _ Hataitai there was a difference of opinion as to where the tunnel should be. The committee wanted to be fair to all, to consider the local requirements, and see that the tunnel was placed in the best position. He was convinced that the ttanel must be constructed; and no obstruction should be placed in the way of the prosecution of the work. He believed that in the near future the work would be taken in hand, and there was no one more anxious than he wag that a speedy decision should bo arrived at. As to lighting charges, he hoped that in the near future the largo or wholesale customer would be asked to pay a little more, and that the small consumer would be asked to pay a little less. Mr. Burns spoke at some length on the council's housing scheme, and replied to, some criticism which had been levelled against it-

Mr. J. W. Butler, a candidate for the Hospital Board, dwelt upon the work done by that body during the past two . years, and favoured the obtaining of further advice, such as would be secured from Dr. Wilson, medical superintendent, on his return from America and England, before any large fresh works were undertaken. In reply to a question as to whether he would favour froceedGng right away with the second tunnel, for which loan moneys had been raised, Councillor J. Burns said it would bo for the council to take action, but if he were elected he would do his best to push the project along. Mr. Crump spoke to the same effect. Mr. A. E. Batt, before the close of the meeting, remarked that after, three years the position in rogard to the tunnel was still somewhat vague. A lot of politics had been introduced in connec-4 tion with the Raroa road tram scheme, and he was afraid there would be a lot of politics in connection with the tunnel very soon unless something was done.