CIVIC HONOURS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 13

CIVIC HONOURS

POINTS FROM SPEECHES

VIEWS OF CANDIDATES

THE KINDLY TOUCH.

. "You cannot run a hospital successfully with an eye solely on the treasury," said Mr. W. J. Mason, a candidate for the Hospital Board. "Alter all the hospital is primarily charged with the onerous task of making the sick people of the community well. At the risk of adding to the cost I want to minimise as far as possible, any tendency to institutionalism in any department of our great hospital enterprise. I hate the thought that si.ck and distressed people should be caused any embarrassment through overmuch routine and publicity, although I recognise that in any large undertaking a certain amount is essential. Still there ought to be "that little' human touch of sympathy and kindness in dealing with patients and their relatives that makes all the difference in the world. "It is just that bit of personal attention and specialisation that makes for the successful, and no doubt profitable, operation of the many private hospitals, and I do not think it beyond the bounds of practicability, that more of the same touch could, with advantage, be introduced into our public hospital. That same touch should also be evidenced in our treatment of the aged needy, who are in our care, and everything possible should be done to brighten up the last years of these dear old people who are denied the comforts of home and loved ones." A FULL-SIZED JOB. Councillor Will Appleton, speaking at Molesworth Street, said that few citizens had any real appreciation of the work which was done by the Mayor and members of the City Council. The capital value of the city and suburbs was over fifty-three million pounds, the area 241 square miles, and Wellington was ,one of the most dimcult cities to administer. The receipts of the city, including trading departments, were in the vicinity of £1,700,000, so that the councillors had a very heavy responsibility. He outlined the manner in which the affairs of the city were controlled, and stated that the main work was done by eight committees, although there were a large number of other committees which had to deal with subsidiary matters. When the present Mayor came into office in 1931 the whole position had been reorganised, with the result that the main work of the council was done, during ten working days iri each month. "Of course," said Councillor Appleton, "there are special meetings, and councillors are expected to attend a fair number of civic functions, besides which it falls to the lot of many councillors to represent the city on various outside boards. Altogether a councillor who does his duty by the city has to put in an average of about ten hours a week or roughly 500 hours per year. Some councillors devote a great deal more time to the work than this." j-j*"*1' Mr. P. D. Hoskins, a candidate for the City Council, also spoke of the magnitude of the Corporation's business and of the need for trained and experienced men at the council table. LABOUR SUPPORT FOR LOANS. "I am not an advocate for the raising of loans," said Mr. R. McKeen, MR, a candidate for the City Council and Harbour Board, when speaking at a meeting in Post Office Square yesterday, "but owing: to the limitations placed on local bodies in the matter of increasing their incomes there are times when loans are essential to safeguard the health and general welfare of the community. The three toans at present before the ratepayers—drainage and street works, central library, and tepid baths—provide for essential and important works. The loan for drainage and street works'is of vital importance and will provide for only the most urgent part of the job. Eventually the whole problem will have to be faced in a systematic manner. The loan for the new central library is also urgently required, and this eventually will not be a charge on the ratepayers at all. There is no question of the urgent need for an up-to-date central library in Wellington." Mr. McKeen also spoke strongly in support of the loan for the erection of tepid baths, which, from the viewpoint of health and sport, would become most popular, especially during the winter months. The Labour Party, said Mr. McKeen, was supporting the loan proposals, and urged ratepayers to support them. LED THE WAY IN*WaGE REDUCTION. Speaking at Houghton Bay on Thursday evening, Mr. C. H. Chapman, M.P. (candidate for City Council and Harbour Board), said that Wellington City Council was the largest employer of labour apart from the Government in the Dominion. This council, together with the Harbour Board and Hospital Board, was among the first local bodies to follow the lead given by the Government in the policy of wage reductions. The example was followed by private employers; many of whom regretted that the policy had ever been inaugurated. It had resulted in the withdrawal from circulation during the past three and a half years of from ninety to one hundred million pounds; consequently the depression had been made infinitely worse. A reversal of this policy by restoring wages and thus giving back •■ purchasing power would help towards restoration of prosperity. TRANSPORT TO SUBURBS. Transport was vital to suburban citizens, and should be established and maintained equal to the needs of each suburban district within the city area, said Mr. J. Tucker, Labour City Council candidate,' at Houghton Valley. "The co-ordination of tram and bus service is not only essential," said Mr. Tucker, "but from the point _of economy in preventing overlapping and wasted energy, is a necessity. Present obsolete buses should be scrapped, and the £48,000 reserve fund belonging to this department used to provide more modern buses. The efficiency in some of our present buses is less than six miles to the gallon. Kevenue per bus-mile for the MelroseHoughton Valley service is BJd and expenditure Is 4d. Buses should be feeders only to the tram service, and an up-to-date bus service provided for every suburban district where a tram service is impracticable. Full, cheap, and efficient transport service for all suburban districts can be effected by co-ordination of services, with the introduction of a transferable ticket covering bus and tram." Tar-sealing and path-making of roads in Houghton Vailed and many other suburban areas was a real need, said Mr. Tucker. SYSTEMS OF RATING. Comparative rating figures under the unimproved value and annual value systems were given at Wadestown on Wednesday evening by Mr. A. Parlane", a Labour candidate for the City Council, to show that the annual or capital value system penalised builders of homes. Mr. Hislop favoured a reversion to the annual value system of rating, said Mr. Parlane, and doing away with the idea of ratepayers determining for themselves what system of rating should

apply. The Mayor evidently wished to do away with that democratic principle, and wanted to have the reverse effected by legislative enactment, in which case all improvements would be rated. The rates on a section valued at £200, with £800 of improvements, equalling a total value of £1000, on unimproved value in 1934 were £4 17s lid. Had this property been rated on annual value, the rates would be £9 17s 6d. The owner would be penalised for building a house. Rating on anaual value, it was evident, would discourage anybody from improving his section or building a home. Mr. Hislop had said that he would endeavour to reduce the charges for subdivisions, in order to encourage building, but the reduction that • could be given on such charges would be very small when compared with the ultimate annual sum that would. have to be paid if he succeeded in bringing back rating on the annual value. Mr. Hislop would encourage building a little, and discourage it a lot.