DUNEDIN RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 7299, 25 August 1887, Page 4

DUNEDIN RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. The adjourned meeting of the Ratepayers’ Association, held last evening for the purpose of selecting candidates for South and High Wards at the approaching municipal elections, was attended by twenty members, Mr K. Ramsay presiding. Mr G. Fenwick, convener of the High Ward Committee, reported that Mr H. F. Hardy had announced that ho would stand for High AVard, and moved that Mr Hardy be nominated as the Association’s candidate. . Mr BahtlbmaN seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr FABQUftAR, convener of the South Ward Committee, intimated that Mr A. C. Kimbell had consented to stand for South Ward, and moved that he be the Association’s candidate. The motion was seconded by Mr SHACKLO.CK and carried unanimously, PUBLIC QUESTIONS. A letter was read from Mr C. R, Chapman, suggesting that at the approaching City Council elections it should be made imperative that the candidates supported by the Association should be pledged in favor of a free public library. The Chairman : It is very desirable that we should have a public library, but I do not think It is a matter in whicii the Ratepayers’ Association should interfere. Mr Bartleman : Nor is the time oppoitune, these being days of retrenchment. Professor Mainwarino Brown deemed it highlydesirablethatcandidatesshouldbesounded on this question. In his opinion it was a scandal and a disgrace that a town of the pretensions of Dunedin should not have a public library. If one wept to Victoria he would find public libraries in every little suburban borough, and all supported by the town councils. As he was not sure that a majority of the ratepayers would agree to the proposal he should object to it being made a test question on the part of this Association. Mr M. Cohen concurred in the opinion ex* pressed by Professor Brown, and would regret if the Association could not see their way to take action upon this matter, which would

require a great deal of agitation before it was brought to a successful issue. Regarding the question of the Dock Trust, he said he regretted that the Association a year ago refused to take that matter up when urged to do so by Mr Fenwick and himself, and he thought that even now steps should be taken to get an expression of opinion upon it. He was satisfied that if some action were not taken the result would be the levying of a rate on the commerce of this poit. Another matter the Association might take into consideration was the probable effect on the Corporation finances of the adoption of the Leaseholds Act. If that Act were adopted, the effect on the finances of the Corporation would probably be such as to render necessary increased taxation. Mr Farquhah thought candidates might be asked their opinions on the question of a free public library, and urged to have a plebiscite taken on the question, for the matter was one for the decision of tho ratepayers. Regarding the new dock at Port Chalmers, be felt strongly that it was one of tho moat serious mistakes that had been made for a long time. The Dock Trust had been appointed by the Government, ami he regarded it as being to a certain extent out of the hands of the people, but the people of Dunedin would bo justified in using every means in their power to oppose anything in the shape of a rate to pay interest on the dock. Mr Hardy said it seemed to be expected that intending candidates should have something to say on the questions that had been mooted. Respecting the question of a free public library, he had reason to believe that steps were in progress to do something in that matter, but as it would involve extra taxation be did not think the present an opportune time to call for a decision upon it. The proceedings in connection with the Dock Trust seemed most extraordinary. The clock was not wanted, and it was a disgraceful thing for people to borrow money for a work which was unnecessary. Messrs Leary and Koss, he consideied, ought to be commended for the action they had taken in this matter. As to the adoption of the Leaseholds Act, it seems to him a strange tiling to make ono law and to let properties at a certain rental and then to make another law to alter tho whole thing. He thought it would be a dangerous tiling to give power to the Corporation to lower the rental of tenants of Corporation leases, and would certainly oppose i;. Mr SIIAC'KLOCK expressed the opinion that to give the Council power to reduce rents would cause more jobbery in m unicipal matters than anything else. Mr Hardy : To my mind it is the most dangerous thing that 1 have seen put forward in Dunedin. I should oppose it certainly. The Chairman said that he was strongly’ in favor of tho establishment of a public library, but thought it would bo disastrous to the scheme to bring it befor tbo public at the present time. The new giaving dock at Port Chalmers, as Mr Farc.uhar had said, would be absolute waste of public money, and tire only benefit it would be to Port Chalmers would be to have the expenditure of tho money during a few years there. A public meeting on the question was, however, hardly necessary, since the Harbor Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and His Worship the Mayor, ns representing the citizens of Dunedin, had protested against the proposals of the Dock Trust. He did not think there was the slightest pcssibility of the community being taxed for this work, but consideied that if money was lent it must be at the lisk of the lenders. He did not for a moment think that Parliament would ever commit such an injury upon tho people of this district as to make them pay interest on the work in tho face of the earnest and solemn protests already made against the foolishness of the Port Chalmers people. With regard to the question of giving the City Corporation power to reduce the rents of lessees, he should oppose it on general grounds simply because it placed in the bauds of councillors a power, which even with the best of reasons or good motives, they might abuse ; at the same lie recognised that a number of lessees of Corporation properties, as well as private tenants, wore paying very much more money for their properties tlnn they could afford to pay. It was possible that so much undue influence would be brought to bear on councillors that he recognised that it was the duty of the Association to prevent the City Council taking advantage of the Leaseholds Act. It was agreed that another meeting should he held to consider the questions referred to, the time of meeting to be fixed by the Executive Committee of the Association.