THE MAYOR DEFENDED

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 125, 29 May 1928, Page 10

THE MAYOR DEFENDED

TRADES HALL STATEMENTS CIVIC LEAGUE VIEWS Defending the Mayor against' what is regarded as a concerted attack in regard to the unemployment question, the secretary of the Civic League (Mr. D. M'Laren) made a statement to-day on behalf of the league in which ne al-1 hided particularly to remarks by speakers at the meeting held ii: the Trades Hall last week. "The officers of the league," said Mr. M'Laren, "wish to make some comments on statements made at the Trades Hall meeting at which the unemployed were addressed by members of the Labour Party. After reading the newspaper report, it appears to us that something in the nature of a concerted attack is being made on the Mayor, and wo are of the opinion that that is very unfair indeed. Last year there was probably no other Mayor in the Dominion who worked more' earnestly on behalf of the unfortunate body of citizens who were out of work than the Mayor of Wellington. Not only so, but Mr. Troup has shown his deep interest in the subject of unemployment by putting forward a gen eral scheme which at least has the one merit of affirming the principle which Mr. Semplc has been pronouncing— that of providing work instead of charity. Indeed, that is the fundamental principle of the scheme put forward by Mr. Troup. At'a special meeting of the league held recently the plan was considered on a memorandum being received from tho Mayor, and the league endorsed tho general principles embodied as being on sound lines if a scheme of general insurance is adopted. . , UNFAIR ATTACKS. "One thing we desire to protest most strongly against is the action of Councillors M'Keen and Semplo in attacking the Mayor, and ~ the rest of the council, outside of council meetings. This is a practice we cannot understand these gentlemen adopting, for the reason that they themselves object very strongly—and rightly—to members of the Communist Party belonging to labour bodies going , outside and making attacks. We think it is equally wrong that these councillors should make indiscriminate attacks outside, and apart from meetings were they could bo immediately answered. "Tho suggestion of Councillor Semplo that ordinary works of the city, such as road works, were put in a separate class from the estimates in order that they might be carried out at reduced rates of pay is, we think, distinctly unfair to the body of the council. * The cutting down of estimates was not done for the purpose of showing any particular shrewdness, but, as most people know, simply ii- order to avoid increasing the general rate. It is a curious position to be demanding that work be put in hand at once and to quibble over the class of work that i is to bo The Works Committee and tho Engineer's Department can only give work that 'has to be done. As a citizens' leagne we wouid prefer to see more road work done rather.than add to tho number of reserves, for the reason that the making of numerous reserves must entail a considerable increase in annual charges, and that the reserve vote- for some years past has been growing to such an extent as to require serious thought, not the idle disposition ef allowing it to mount higher. ' NOT IN THE ISSUE. "We .think that it was very unfortunate of Mr. Frascr to mix up the question of the Dominion Museum and Art Gallery with tho unemployment issue. ■ He must have been well aware that the question of the Museum and Art Gallery, which is of national as well as of civic importance, has been befoTe the citizens for some considerable time, and it certainly was not pushed forward in order to conflict in any way with the relief that is to bo given to the unemployed. As an organisation of citizens, wo protest that others besides Mr. Fraser and members of his party have as much regard for flesh tind blood as they have. Last year, when the- co-operation of the,citizens was found effective in gfving considerable relief to the unemployed, Mr. C. H. Chapman said he was pleased to see evidence of an- increased social consciousness; Wo are strongly of opinion that the same' social consciousness is still in existence in Wellington, but it is not assisted by idle and indiscriminate attacks on tho councillors of Wellington or by presenting the issue from a purely class standpoint. AMOUNT OF CITY LOAN. "With reference to the proposed loan of £30,000, our league has considered that matter after consulting the Mayor. We recognise that a loan is probably necessary this year, but we think that full care should bo taken to ensure that it shall not be larger than is absolutely necessary. Tho adding of loan after loan for this and for other purposes gives us concern, and the matter should be looked at from the poiut of view of how many actual city residents will have to bo relieved by way of unemployment works. This should ; be taken into consideration in estimating tho amount of loan to be raised by tho council. Tho amount of £30,000, if subsidised by tho Government £ for £, would give a total of £60,000, and that appears to us to bo probably more than is required. Another fca--ture that we have considered is tl/t the giving of publicity to tho idea that Wellington is going to spend very b.rgG sums of money in relief works will bo calculated to attract unemployed from all over the countiy into the city. That is very undesirable, and we consider that the principle should be laid down strictly that moneys expended' should be for the relief only of those who have been at some time resident in Wellington."