POSITIVE OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1941, Page 4

POSITIVE OUTLOOK

IN LOCAL POLITICS

MR. M CKEEN'S ATTITUDE

PRESENT CAMPAIGN

"During my campaign for the Mayoralty I have endeavoured to confine myself to matters of immediate public interest, and to try and take a positive view, rather than indulge in muck-raking and pin-pricking tactics," said Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., Labour candidate for the Mayoralty, when speaking at Aro Street on Wednesday. "I have taken the attitude that the citizens of Wellington are more anxious to know what is going to be done for them than they are to listen to and read about petty personal bickering. I have, ■of course, legitimately pointed out weaknesses that I saw in the administration of the past few years, and I regret to say that on several occasions Mr. Hislop has exploded angrily at me for doing so. In an attempt to answer the criticism, which I think was faic and j just, he has had to descend to personalities and half-truths that have | been in. some instances grossly misleading. j "My main concern throughout has oeen to keep the political aspect in the background, and to put public welfare first. To that end I have outlined several schemes that I consider worthy ■)f support. I am afraid the political angle has appealed to the Mayor and the Citizens' candidates too much, and they have tried to capitalise it in a number of ways.that have done them no credit." ■ THE HOUSING SCHEME. Mr. McKeen said that his main proposal was to institute 'A a properlyplanned housing scheme, with Govern-1 ment support. Hundreds of young men! who were away at the war would want ■ homes when they returned, he said, andj now was the time (to start building them. The Government had money available at 3 per cent, for housing, and was willing and ready to co-operate with the local bodies to spend it. As Mayor, and with»a Labour council with him, he' would give the Government that co-operation, and the city its houses. It was only because the Citizens' council in the past had differed politically from the Government that Wellington had been (denied the use of that money for housing. "As a matter of fact," said Mr. McKeen "it was not until I came out with my positive scheme that the Citizens' candidates in this election gave the question any serious consideration. As he" has done in previous elections, the Mayor has been relying on promises to carry him through—promises in many cases that have proved empty. The city wants houses. I will give them houses. That is a promise that will be kept il I get the support I want. A Labour council will co-operate with the Government. If it is good enough for thirty other local bodies it is good enough for Wellington/ Mr.. McKeen referred to his proposal for tepid baths as a victory memorial. Mr. Hislop had tried to laugh the idea down, but it did not look so good for him when one of his colleague's endorsed Mr. McKeen's idea. . "My pro- j posal is that some of the profits out! of the Electricity Department should be earmarked for, say, four years for this baths proposal," said Mr. McKeen. "In view of the raids that have been made by past councils on these profits, even for the purpose of bolstering up the city accounts, no one can justifiably object to this being done for the baths." TRANSPORT SERVICES' Mr. McKeen said he would see that the city transport services were better co-ordinated, and suggested that trolley-buses should be used in the suburbs as feeder services. He would also simplify the system of fares on the feeder and main services, and would see that shelters were erected at stops where they were needed. Another little matter he would attend to, said Mr. McKeen, was the collection of refuse in the main streets during the mornings. This has been the subject of numerous complaints from business people and the public, and he would see that the cause of those complaints was removed. "These are not idle promises," added Mr. McKeen. "They can be, and will be, carried out if I get the chance. I realise that the war must be the paramount consideration, but at the same time the affairs of a big city should not be allowed to stand still on that account. I and my colleagues offer a policy of sound and sane control of the city's affairs, coupled with a pro-1 gramme of ordered development, adapted to the needs of a growing city and taking into account the special circumstances created by the.jwar."