ST. HILDA MAYORALTY

Evening Star, Issue 18258, 24 April 1923, Page 3

ST. HILDA MAYORALTY

ADDRESS BY MR R. W. HALL. A PROSPEROUS BOROUGH. Mr R. W. Hall, who is a candidate for the St. Kilda Mayoralty, addressed a meeting in tho St. Clair Presbyterian Church Hall on Saturday evening, and in a speech of a little over an hour traversed the affairs of the borough. Mr H. Wilton, who acted as chairman, said he had known the candidate for some considerable time as one who took a deep interest in the welfare of the borough, and one who, if elected, would do his very best in the interests of tho electors. The attendance, ho added, was no doubt small on account of the rough weather. Mr Hall said he was one of the three candidates for the office of mayor. Ho had contested a previous mayoral election and been unsuccessful, but on this occasion ho had been persuaded to stand again by a large number of electors, including three ex-mayors and some members of the present council. Having served for two terms—four years—as a councillor, ho felt he some claim on the electors’ support. For five years out of the eight years ho had resided in St. Kilda he had acted as librarian for the borough as well as being a member of the committee. When there was danger of the beach being encroached upon he had taken a prominent pari in the St. Clair and St. Kilda Citizens League, which was formed to further the interests of the borough, especially in regard to protecting the beach. Ho was elected vice-president of tho league. Among other benefits obtained by tho league were tramway improvements, and he thought it should have remained in operation to further watch the borough’s interests. Ho was vice-president of the football duo and of the cricket club. “I believe St. Kilda _is a very good place in which to live,” continued Mr Hall. “In the borough wo have much to be proud of, and 1 believe that with improvements which can be oftected tho borough will be even better and more prosperous.” The speaker went on to deal with the finances of the borough. The financial position, he claimed, was sound, the indebtedness of the borough having been reduced by something like £2,0(.U during tho past two years. The Local Bodies’ Finance Art had made it necessary for local bodies to liquidate thou overdrafts. Under the Antecedent Liabilities Act the borough had had to raise » loan to cover its overdraft (£8,0C0). The indebtedness of the borough in loans was £64.000, raised at various times _ for a variety of purposes. The £20,5C0 raised by the borough some years ago for works had, with the exception of £1,500, been taken up. Certain necessary works wore carried out with that loan, such as the formation of roads and footpaths and ker time and channelling, but as the result ot tho influence of the war, the amount was not sufficient to, meet the allocations distinctly’ specified when the loan was raised. A small amount of work was done nut or rats money, but the most satisfatory way was by loan. Last year the council spent £7OO on permanent work-work other than repairing* roads, tarring and sanding innrpaths, and other repair work. ihe amount of interest on the various loans, some of which had sinking funds, was £3 484. He believed that m the raising of’loans there should always bo a condition that a sinking fund should be provided Towards the loan raised last year of £B,OOO there was already an accumulated credit of £240. The various sinking funds stood to credit at an amount equal to £7,760. Under the Antecedent Liability Act councillors were liable to a penalty of £IOO if at the end of the financial year the amount of the overdraft exceeded the amount of outstanding rates. The total annual income of the borough, said Mr Hall, was £14.000, out oi which numerous expenses bad to be me . water obtained from the .City Corporal on cost the borough approximately £2,600 a year. Under agreement the City Oorpoiation was required to give, an adef l uat ® supply of water at a cost ot 6d per 1,000 malloiie. In the past there had been complaints about the borough—particularly the St. Clair end—not getting its proper supply; but ho thought the water mipstion was now settled, and that everything would be right in the future. At any rate, no complaint had been received trnm any part of the borough during the past three weeks. The St. Kilda Fire Brigade had recently been called to a fire at west avenue* and had found the water supply good enough to allow them to make a good save. A few years ago such would not have been the case. The Ocean Beach Domain Board received a contribution from the St. Kilda Council of £6O a year, which Mr Hall thought was money well spent. A great deal of improvement bad been effected about the sandhills and beach, and more would be done in the future. No man was deserving of credit for what had been done more than Mr J. H. Hancock. Mr Hall referred to the success of the groynes, which had brought about a great, improvement, in the beach. The annual expenditure on the fire brigade was £223: the St. Kilda Band was granted £6O; and street lighting cost tho borough £BOO per annum. There were. 109 gas lamps and twenty-six electric lamps. To the Drainage Board the. council contributed £2,000 a year, and in this connection the borough was in a. proud position compared with a. few years ago. There were 1,900 houses in the borough, and not on© was unconnected with the sewer. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board rate collected in the borough totalled £2,502 per annum. For collecting these rates the borough was paid £SO. “ There are only fifty vacant sections in the whole of St. Kilda.” declared MiHall. “Last year over sixty permits were issued for new buildings.” He went on to point out that in a short time there woisld be no vacant sections in the district. This satisfactory condition of affairs he claimed to bo brought about by the system of rating in tho borough—rating on the unimproved value instead of on the capital value. It did away with land speculation, but did not penalise the man who spent money on building a house on his land and improving the surroundings. In some parts tho rates were higher than in others, but that was due to the high purchase price of the places. The present system of rating had a great deal to do with tho prosperity of the borough, and was in the interests of the majority of its people. In his concluding remarks Mr Hall referred to certain drainage works which would be carried out in tho borough in the future. It had not been delayed through any fault of th© council, but the council had to work in harmony with the Drainage Board. When an up-to-date storm-water system was installed in Park Ward the ward could be beautifully laid out and made a' model place. While in previous councils he had always endeavored to watch the interests of the electors, and if elected on this occasion would again do so. He had time to devote to the borough's affairs, and had had business experience. He thanked those present for their patient hearing. In reply to a question regarding amalgamation with the city, Mr Hall said that four years ago he had spoken against the principle of amalgamation. Things had changed considerably since then, and, while he was now in favor of the principle of amalgamation, he thought it would bo better at, the present time not to take any part in furthering amalgamation. . . . Under amalgamation there were some who would benefit and som© who would not. After all, it was a question for the electors to-decide. If a petition were forwarded to' the council signed by 16 per cent, of the electors asking for a poll, tli© council would be obliged to sanction a poll In reply to a further question, the candidate said that, personally, he would not. at the present time do anything towards bringing about a condition of amalgamation. Mr Hall .was accorded a vote of thanks for his lucid address.

has been found, so there is still hope. In the meantime, when wo open our Shakespeare in this year, 1923, we should remember Heminges and Condell of the ‘ First Folio.’