THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGN.

Evening Star, Issue 14035, 16 April 1909, Page 3

THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGN.

CR WALKER •The campaign for the mayoral seat in the City Council was opened by Cr Walker at the Howe Street Hall last night. Among those present were ex-Mayors J. Loudon and G. Lawrence and Cr H. H. S. White. —A Protest.— Mr Geo. Fleury (who presided) introduced Cr Walker. He referred, to him as an old Stone School boy, a keen business; man, who deserved the office of mayor.— (Applause.) "I was surprised," he added, •' to see him opposed by Mj M'Donald. At the declaration of the poll last year Mr M'Donald stated that Cr Walker was an excellent councillor, and he expressed the hope that at the next mayoral election the ratepayers and citizens would return Cr Walker unopposed. He also stated that at the installation. I was there myself, and much to my surprise he is the only person in the Council to oppose Cr Walker." Cr Walker stated that he was glad of the opportunity of again meeting the electors of Leith Ward, and there opening his campaign in connection with the mayoral election. Re purposed to briefly go into the working of the various departments controlled by the City Council, and endeavor as far as lay in his power to explain them in a lucid manner. The question of most importance to the citizens was the financial one. as on the buoyancy of that de--1 ended largely whether many works could i>o carried out The details of this department had !>een clearly explained in an article in ijie 'Fvenihg'Star'by Cr Small, and j a? the figures were quite correct in his| opinion, it would he superfluous to reiterate them, and he would simply state that the citizens were greatly indebted to that geiitbnrm for the amount of work he had ]crformed in connection with the finances of the City. He thouaht that it was to be. legrettcd that the City was to lose Cr Small'.- services, for he had always been willing to help anyone in trouble ' and to' give his best services to the ratepayers.— (Applause.) " j

—Tramways Department.—

It was satisfactory to know that thiis -lcpaitment was being economically and weli lun. This was especially giutifying in that the department had been saddled with the Lee Str.-.-im and the old horse trams. The iiipincial result showed a gross profit of £5.200, and a net profit (after deducting renewals, interest, sinking fund, etc.) of £3.2C0. This result was largely due to a fact that he had no heHLition in proclaiming—that there was no department in the Dominion better officered than the Dunedin tramways.—(Applause.) However, he Thought that there were still some reforms which might be taken into consideration. During the discussion which occurred some months ago in regard to St. Clair farts ne had advocated that it would he excellent for the people who used the trams if the management could issue twelvetrip tickets for 2s, which tickets would enable the holders to travel on any three sections twelve times. He believed that this would meet a want much felt at the present time.—(Applause.) This would be a/great inducement to people to reside in the suburbs, and presently people would need to go there, so quicklv was the town contracting. He felt that the working man should Ixs ahle- to go to St. Clair and such places for 2d—to take his wife and family out. to the seaside for that sum per head". In Mornington and other suburbs a person could travel up for 2d and back for Id. '• If you popularise the trams in that way," said Cr Walker, "you will not lose revenue. On the contrary, you will add to it." It was also necessary (the speaker went on) that destination boards should be put up at each tram section, so that a passenger arriving at any one section—sav, Frederick street—should be able to see at what time the next tram was due. Again, it was absurd and unheard-of that people could not purchase tickets except in town; that a man should have to go to town to get a ticket. —Water The revenue resulting from this department was steadily increasing, and the water sold to the suburbs was proving a great factor in this advancement. The net profits derived from this department during the year amounted to £9,000, and out of this it had been decided to transfer the sum of £3.000 towards- the municipal account. The mayor had stated publiclv that it would be necessary to borrow £IOO.OIO cr more to utilise. Lee Stream for the purpose of providing a further supply .'or U:s City's requirements. This misrht be his opinion, but he felt certain the"good sense of the citizens would be absolutely acainst such a proposal, as tending to increase our indebtedness when there was no occasion for same. The present Waitati-Leith s-te for a reservoir was an admirable one, and by reducing the holding capacity of s me to below what was originally intended it would be large enough for many years to come. The rights had all been secured, and the water,' for quality and quantity] was in every way satisfactory, and he ■would strongly oppose further" borrowing and any more money being spent on Lee Stream. Should further water conservation be required, the Silverstream reservoir could be very much increased, at a minimum of expenditure, and a lar<je amount of water could be saved by a strict supervision of taps, fittings, etc.," the consumption in Dunedin being abnormally high, averaging between sixty and seventy gallons per head per day. —Reserves.— The City reserves were in very capable hands under Mr Tannock's management. and the methods of carrying out the various works were both excellent and economical. Our Gardens were second to none in the Dominion, and were very largely patronised by the general public, one very stron/ attraction being the handsome Winter Gardens, with their lovely and rare plants, so generously donated by" Mr Glendining. He was extremely pleased to note the amount placed on the estimates towards improv.ng the Northern Recreation Reserve, and would strongly urge that this amount be supplemented by allowing the workmen to give it a certain amount of attention throughout the year, and that a hedge should°l;e planted inside the present fencing. The citizens in the north end deserved failtreatment, as they had spent a considerable amount on the grounds, and it was very largely used by the residents in the neighborhood and the school children. The other" grounds used for athletic purposes should be kept in good order, and every facility given to meet the reasonable requirements of those taking part in the various games. —Electric Light.— The electric light and power department was proving a big factor in the success of the manufactures connected with the City and suburbs. Careful and able manaje"ment was proving that in the should rank as a revenue-producing fa;tor in the finances of the City. The net profits for the last twelve months, after paying interest, but no sinking fund or depreciation charges, was £I,OOO, and < heprobable revenue for the coming ve.ir would he £23,000. When the extra 2,000 np. was available it would make a considerable difference in the profits. ■ and justify the expenditure of the large amouit ol money involved in the scheme, a-xj greatly reduce the maintenance and other charges on the undertaking. —Public Conveniences.— In a letter to the daily papers a few weeks ago the mayor stated that he had given a promise to the citizens twelve months ago to have the above erected, but owing to lack of funds, he was unable to have the same carried out, and that he had now arranged with two business firms and the Carnegie Library Committee to let their conveniences be used. The inser tion of this letter, to his mind, was most unfair to the majority of shopkeepers, who had m the past freely and willingly made their premises free to those who required them. In regard to the Carnegie Library the whole of the Committee were in accord with the alteration being placed in front of the building. What was required in Dunedin -was public conveniences for both sexes convenient to the centre of the City.

—Swimming Baths.— The erection of swimming baths was one of the strong planks of his opponent's platform last year, but the question had been shelved on the score that there was no money available for the purpose. Swimming baths of a size and construction could be erected if the matter were given serious consideration and proceeded with on less elaborate lines. In his opinion, what was wanted were two baths, one at the north and one at the south end, with a pool capable of carrying 100 people, with the necessary accommodation, the baths to have l no roof or heating appliances. Of course, a hot bath could be procured on the premises if necessary. The sites could be arranged, one in the Oval and the other in the Gardens, a nominal sum to be paid for admission. On these they could be erected cheaply, and for many years they would be of great advantage to the citizens. The position of Dunedia as a seaport town rendered it imperative that something should bo done, and if only one life was saved through acquiring the art of swimming the cost was justified. —Public Market.— There would be a consensus of opinion that the erection of a public market was necessary in our City, ;is in many cases a working man with a family had a difficulty in muking both ends meet, and when work was not regular this difficulty was accentuated. The position of a site was now under consideration, and when that was determined on it would have his earnest support. * —Superannuation Scheme.— The question of a superannuation scheme for all employees in the . Corporation service was a right and proper one, and had his best support. The Government purposed legislating during the coming session, and the scheme of amalgamating the various bodies into one group and setting up a board to embrace them all would be on right lines, and should prove of great assistance to the workers. —Conclusion.—

He would like to take this opportunity of thanking them for their attention and the consideration they had extended towards him. Though he had received no requisition from them, the same as his opponent had received one from the south end ratepayers, still he believed they would support him loyally, and his many friends would work hard "to secure his leturn. His opponent stated publicly "that he was only just beginning to get into complete touch with all the City's huge business concerns," but if that "were »-o he must have neglected his opportunities of acquiring the information before accenting the mayoral chair, as every councillor should be conversant with the work U at came before the Council. It was the right of every citizen to aspire to the oi'ice of mayor, and at the same time it was i uly fair to assume that if a councillor gave a large amount of time and attenti m to the affairs of the City, then the citizens would recognise that on the polling day. The majority of the present members were fully competent to fill the position of mayor, and they had a right to expect that if they served the City faithfully the citizens would recognise that, and that it would be unfair to them that one man should fill the position for more than one year unless under very special circumstances. During his term of office he had endeavored to consider the citizens' interest, to act fairly and justly to all, to pay a necessary wage of 8s per day to all employees in the service, and he felt certain that they would return him to the mayoral chair on the 23th inst., and if they did so it woidd be his duty to take every care that the expenditure would be confined to within the amount of the City's income.—(Applause.) Air C. Chadwick moved—"That Mr Walker is the most fit and proper person to represent the City in the mayoral chair during the coming year." This was unanimously carried. NORTH-EAST VALLEY. Cr H. P. Harvey had the privilege of addressing the best-attended meeting of the present mayoral campaign at Barron's Hall last evening. Emphasising official figures by large illustrated cards, he made it impossible for his audience to fail to grasp their fidl intent and meaning. He touched, in the course of his address, on all matters of present local municipal interest, and in replying to the various charges made by his opponents for the chair, refuted all, to the apparent satisfaction of the audience. Both his opponents were present at the meeting, and MiRhodes, at the invitation of the chairman, came forward, and defended his statements and policy with strength and candor, and was kindly received. "Then Cr Harvev proceeded to demolish Mr arguments, and, seeking corroboration, asked Mr Isaac Green, Mayor of North-east Valley, to speak- This Mr Green did, and having given the desired information, urged the claims of Cr Harvey on the ratepayers of North-east Valley. A number of questions were asked and answered, and then the meeting on the motion of Mr Green, seconded by Mr W. Morrison, carried a motion in their opinion, Cr Harvey was thi person most fitted to occupy the position of mayor of the borough. Mr Henry Duncan was chairman, "and the meeting, although opposing factions and interests had obviously come together, was very quiet and orderly, anrl, on the whole, very partial to Cr Harvey.