THE COUNCIL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 23273, 23 May 1939, Page 2

THE COUNCIL ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Allow me to congratulate the Citizens' Association —Reform Party—on the choice of its candidate, also the candidate on his splendid maiden speech. I can truthfully say that my congratulations are sincere, for I consider Mr E. Anderson's speech must meet the desires and demand of the most ardent Tory. In his speech he makes it quite clear that he is not too big to come down to the level of the tyro, and not too small to fight an individual or a group. To use his own words, " he has never been beholden to any group or creed," and " I am not going to bo dictated to by anybody." Such a man, if he is honest to himself, is the type of gentleman required for tho council. His words, if they mean anything at all. reflect him as"a man who is prepared to co-operate with a party so long as it is going along the patti*of truth and justice—in other words, so long as the party's demands and desires do not clash with his conscience.

As I, am very much interested in men and parties I’ wish to see returned a man who will try to rectify the wrongs that are taking place. Judging from Mr Anderson’s speech he is not aware of anv injustices committed by our council. He seems to be an admirer of what has been done by past councils, other than the Labour Council. Speaking of file trading departments, he informs us that the administration of these departments has been the envy of the Dominion, and even of Australia. Ho tells us that we have the biggest and most successful trading municipality in New Zealand, and he thought it would be sound to do everything possible to enhance the scope of the trading departments already in existence Ho informs us that the revenue from the trading departments last year was £052,815, and that they provided £25,77-1 to assist the relief of rates. For the benefit of Mr E. Anderson, who Is a tyro in municipal poll-

tics, allow me to point out that the difference between the two parties, the one that he is standing for and the Labour Party, hinges round the use of the trading departments. Since 1911 the trading departments have not been used for the purposes for which they were intended —i.e., to give the best services possible at the lowest possible charges, and to prevent exploitation by unscrupulous business men, but have been used for excessive profit-making and to bolster up exploitation by private enterprise, through such methods of high charges for services given. A case in poipt was the bolstering up of the Kaikorni tramways several years ago by raising the fares on our municipal tramways, a thing we are paying dearly for to-day. Another method adopted was and is to carry over a part of the profits from the departments to the general account under the half truth of helping the ratepayer. If Mr Anderson understands how the trading departments have been used and how the rating system has been abused I feel sure he would have litte admiration for the class of men that have occupied our council benches. I feel sure he would be like the writer, sorry for them.

In case Mr Anderson or any. reader, should think that the above remarks are too severe, I wish to draw the attention to what the late town clerk, Mr G. A. Lewin,. said away back in 1919. In reference to the carrying over of profits to the general account, he says: “ It seems to me to be less difficult to justify the practice than would be the case if our incidence of local taxation were more equitably based on the broad principle of ability to pay.” In other words, the fact that our rating; system is not based on a just and moral foundation made it more easy for him to advocate a greater extension of plundering the poor. Twelve years afterwards we nave a concrete example given ns of how this widked policy works out in practice on the people. It will be of interest to quote the late city electrical engineer, now Cr M. C. Henderson. He says: “In the last 20 years the sum_ of £250,000 has been paid away in this way, while only £IBB,800 has been put back into the undertaking. In other words, it has been necessary to borrow £250,000, on which interest and sinking fund charges have to be paid. For the past year alone this represents over_ £16,500.” In conclusion, I wish to point out to Mr Anderson that he is contesting a seat on the council to take the place of a gentleman who, I believe, has resigned because he has found out the effect of the above policy on the poor people. Therefore, on behalf of the citizens, I must ask Mr Anderson to state clearly through your columns whether he is prepared to support the present policy of transferring profits to the general account, when money is required for extension purposes, _ and then borrowing money to do extensions, etc.—in other words, to do what Or Henderson condemns, and which is still being done. By the way, Mr E. Anderson states that £25,774 has been carried to the general account this year, as the council is on the market tor loan money. In effect, it means that we are this year going to give to the few property holders £25,774. and then borrow it hack and pay interest thereon. I shall await with interest to see whether Mr Anderson is a man of his word. 1 etC ” C. M. Moss. May 22.