MAYORAL ELECTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 15478, 28 April 1914, Page 7

MAYORAL ELECTIONS

DUNEDIN. Cr Marlow addressed bo me 150 electors in the Town Hall, North-east Valley, last night. Cr -Begg presided. Th© candidate devoted ft good deal of attention to one of his opponents, Cr Green, whom he hand od in' good-humored fashion. Mr _ Marlow ’a remarks. throughout were cordially "e----celved, and at the close of his address it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr Harris; “ That, Having heard the address so ably given, the meeting are of opinion that Cr Marlow is the most fit and proper candidate for the office of Mayor.” Or Menaies presided over Cr Green's meeting in the Wakari Hall last' evening. The candidate gave an address extending over 90 minutes, in the course of «hich he dealt with the wa,ter supply, the electric power and lighting department, and the Waipori road. After questions had been* answered, a very hearty Vote of confidence was unanimously passed in Cr Green as a fit and proper person to represent the citizens of Dunedin as their chief magistrate. MOBNINGTON.

CR BOLT MAKES COMPARISONS. Mr Bolt, who is contesting with Mr EC. E. Le Orbn the mayoralty of Mornington, addressed ft fairly well attended meeting in the Presbyterian Church Hall last night. The Mayor (Mr Solomon) presided, and in his introductory speech said that Cr Bolt wfts reliable, had his own opinions, and had the courage of them- > Cr Bolt said he Stood at the express wish of many ratepayers and eight out of nine councillors. Having been in the council for six years, and served on the Finance Committee five years, he was well acquainted with the borough finances. Intimately related with that was the, question of tramways. When he entered the council the Elgin road branch was running at a yearly loss of £I,BOO, while the Maryhill line was losing £BOO. The handsome profits from the main line were insufficient to cover this annual loss of. £2,606, and the Elgin road line had. to be stopped'. However, the council kept faith with residents by substituting a motor bus service, and the loss (after paying interest) on the Elgin road and Maryhill services was only £542 for the year just ended. Thus a saving of £l,lOO pet annum had been made. His opponent had criticised what had been done by the corporation since he had left the council in 1909. Ho (Cr Bolt) would put the position thus : In 1909 the number of passengers carried on the trams was 932,999; in 1913 it was 1,574,981. The service had ben changed from a quarter-hour one to a 10-minute one, with five-minute cars at rush hours, and the number of car miles had risen from 65,000 to 88.000. Yet, despite the considerable rise in wages made by the Arbitration Court (equivalent to about £SOO yearly on the old wages sheet) wages were only £2,943, as against £2,908. This was an excellent result, considering that half a million more passengers had been canned. Altogether, taking into account the reduction in fares to Id, he found that nearly £5,000 had been saved td Momington by the tramways adminitrstion, and the service was more frequent and convenient. In fact, the tram service how was a real public benefit. In the last year or so the Maryhill line had been relaid, at a cost of £750, and two new trailer cars had been purchased, meaning an expenditure Of about £I,OOO, Which had been met out of revenue.

These results could only have been achieved by good management. Prior to the establishment of the penny tram fares property in Momington was a ding in the market. But matters were very different now. and since the change property had appreciated by an aggregate of £150,000. (Applause.) Or Bolt next dealt with the question of public lighting. The system inaugurated five years ago comprised 73 lamps, costing £1,870, of which £936 had been paid off! Now 31 more had been added, at a cost of £575. The annual cost of iicbting was £232 in 1909, and now it was £3'2. DefP Te that, however, the 3d lighting rate had been abolished, the cost being met out of the general rates. But the streets had had to go short, especially as nearly £6OO had been expended On the new fire brigade. Mr Lo Oren had said the clerical staff Of the corporation was costing too much. As a fact, the tramway management expenses had beer: reduced by £4O per annum since 1909—from £670 to £630. Again, Mr Le Oren found fault with the expenditure on Elgin road. When the motor bus was bought, and while the road was being formed. Mr Le Gren sat on the councT, and approved the scheme. He thought it was impertinent Of Mr Le Cren to come back now and blame others for the very thing he had helped to Carry out. In reply to questions. Or 801 l said that the overdraft had been reduced from £9,848 in 1909 to a little over £5,000 on 31st March last. He believed an expenditure of £2.000 to £4,000 was needed for street metalling, and £2,000 to £3,000 for more motive power for the trams. Then £5.000 would be needed for widening Mailer street. Bub all these Would have Vo be met Out of loan money, and before the loans could be raised a poll of ratepayers Would he necessary. A unanimous vote- of thanks vras passed to the candidate.

MR G. BUTLER AT MAORI HILL. About 60 ratepayers assembled at the Maori Hill Cwohafcien Hall last night to hear an address by Mr G. Butler, the retiring Mayor, who is seeking re-election. Mr P. L. Clark was chairman. Mr Butler said that he had not apologies ~fo toeeking re-election as Mayor. Heheld that it was the privilege of every man in the borough to plaoe the best he could give at the’disposal of the ratepayers, and they were the ones who should say whether or ‘not he was right in coming forward Again. He proposed dealing with the works of the borough last year, and With the financial position. Before doing so he wanted to say that his record at council meetings both in the capacity as Mavor and councillor would bear comparison with that of any other man who had served the electors of Maori Hill bn the council. He merely mentioned thus to show that the affairs of the borough had at all times received his close attention. During last year the council had been unable to do much work because they wer hampered by a want of finance. The bank overdraft m North Ward for 1913 was £BB, a» against £lll for this year. For South Ward the overdraft in 1913 was £390, and for 1914 £758, while in East Ward it was £255 this year, as against £2OB for last year. The overdraft in West Ward this year waa £22, and this year only £B. The expenditure on the general account had increased from £570 to £693, and this had necessitated heavier drawing from the various Ward accounts. The moneys expended on works in the borough in 1913 amounted to £639, and this was spread 6VCr the various wards as follows Ward £SO, South Ward £451, East Ward £lOl, and West Ward £37. There had been ahhbst an equal amount of money spent last year, but some wards had benefited perhaps a little mote than others, this was dUe to the fact that same were in a Wohte condition than others, and consequently the expenditure wag absolutely necessary. In North Ward £76 had been expended this year, and in East Ward £139. South Ward had had £4OO spent on it, aiid West Watd £B. During the year the bank overdraft had risen from £S22 to £1,387. The increase was largely due to the works Which they were compelled to carry on, notwithstanding the shortage of finance. The interest was growing larger year after year, and it now almost equalled fee sum available for works. The total indebtedness of the borough hi the Way of loans was £10,130. However, during the past year the council had requested the Government to make a fresh valuation ot the borough, and this bad just .biteii completed. It was expected that the eouficoi would got ah increase in its revenue as the result of the revaluation/ and would feus be able to put its finances on a sounder footing. Referring to public works, the speaker said thbte were A number of works Which required Carrying but, and he was as anxious as anyone to see them pm in. hand? But what could they do without finance? An increase in the ybtb would not meet the requited eipendi-

, 1 V' 1 tore) , bat tbs only. way to cany <mt tpe •works was, by meins of ft loan. Bo believed that a loan of about £2,800, of a little'mor©, would do all that was required, and thus enable the ratepayer* to have convenience* in the way or footpath* and clean streets, which they were entitled to. Catmlngton road was a disgrace, and, if elected, he would promise to take steps in the council to have a loan raised duruttf the coming year to put it in order. He would do his utmost to see that every attention was paid to matters concerning the conveniences of the ratepayers. The Chairman said Mr Butler did. not desire a vote of confidence, but was content to leave the matter in the Muds of the ratepayers.

NOTIFICATIONS. —This Evening.— Cr Marlow, in th© Art Gallery. Mr J. B. Shaddock, in Sow© Street Hall. ’ „ . Cr Green, at Albany Street Gymnasium Hall.