MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 122, 21 April 1927, Page 4

MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

MR EDWARDS AT OPERA HOUSE. CANDIDATE’S POLICY: OUTLINED. Mr R. Edwards opened his Mayoral campaign at the Opera House last night,, addressing an attendance of about 200 people f.nd dealing comprehensively with bormgh affairs. Mr A. W. Sutton was in the chair. In addressing the assemblage, the chairman stated that, in standing for the Mayoralty, Mr Edwards was responding to the requests and representations made by a large and representative deputation which had waited on him a long time ago. His decision in the matter was one that was appreciated by the public of .Palmerston North, and the speaker had no hesitation in saying that, of the three candidates offering, Mr Edwards was the most capable man. During the terms that he had served as a councillor—and once as Mayor — Mr Edwards had always done his best to promote the interests of the town and to protect the ratepayers against extravagant expenditure. He was one of the oldest residents of the town and had always taken a lively interest in public affairs, and, in addition to' these qualifications, as an engineer he was well fitted to look after the business of the borough. The speaker thought that he could say without fear of contradiction that the whole of the borough’s expenditure was wrapped up in the engineering department, and, that being so, Mr Edwards, with, his life-long practical experience, would prove of inestimable value to the borough as its head. He was undoubtedly a man of integrity—honest and straightforward, and never hesitating to give his opinion on public affairs. (Applause).

INTEREST IN BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

After referring at the outset to the excellent attendance, Mr Edwards stated that this fact seemed to betoken a turning point in the apathy of ratepayers concerning municipal affairs. In the past Palmerston North had suffered greatly from that lack of interest. Obviously, the public was becoming dissatisfied with the way its affairs 'were being conducted. The Press of the town had always given the speaker a fair hearing, and, with the excellent reports that were given of matters pertaining to the administration of the borough, the public knew that they would always' be able to read a candidate’s views in the papers and, consequently, did not attend meetings as they should. “I am going to take the gloves off to-night,” the speqjcer proceeded, “but I want it to be understood that lam not going to be personal. I am a severe critic, but it is a mark of our civilisation that a man can disagree with another and no ill-feeling be left. I am standing as an independent candidate. I belong to no political party or faction, and, as a matter of fact, have no friends except the ratepayers.” MR MILVERTON’S GIFT. Speaking then in regard to the gift by Mr YY. Milverton of a section of land for the purposes of a park, the speaker stated that the bequest had been made on several very distinct understandings. Firstly, the site was to be known as Milverton .Park. Secondly, it was to be absolutely iree to the general public ot the district for recreation and nmusement purposes. Thirdly, at the earliest possible moment the site was to be laid out in an artistic manner, planted in shrubs and trees and substantially fenced; and finally, the Mayor and councillors were not to delegate their powers to anyone. Tho council, proceeded the speaker, had accepted the gift and agreed to the conditions laid dowr. by the donor, notifying him accordingly. “I maintaiA,” Mr Edwards continued, “that it is almost a public scandal that those conditions have not been carried out. Possibly £ISOO would have done all that was required. We know that the council had not the money, but I suggest that, if a loan had been submitted to the ratepayers not one man would have voted against it, seeing that it was a matter of policy to encourage people to be public spirited and do as Mr Milverton had done. I consider that the council has shown a want of public spiritedness and an inability to grasp the situation. How can we expect other people to come forward and make substantial presents to the municipality if they are treated in this shabby manner? It is within my knowledge that, owing to the way the council has failed to realise its duty in respect of Milverton Park, one resident of this town intends to alter a clause in his will regarding a gift ta the borough.” RATING MATTERS.

Touching then on rating matters Mr Edwards expressed the view that the rates in this town were abnormally high. Citing as an example that portion of the Square from the Union Bank to the. Bank of Australasia, the speaker stated that frontages of from 14 to 16 feet were paying between £7O and £BO per year in rates —an amount which he considered much too high. It was impossible to compare the rating of one town with another on a basis of so much per £1 ; for this method gave no true indication of how high or low the rates really were. The facilities and the public services offered had to bo taken into account. “We have in Palmerston North,” stated the speaker, “a total indebtedness of £900,000, and we collect rates to the amount of £70,000 —a very large sum for a town of our size, 6eeing that there is so little to offer for it.” The capital cost of the gasworks, including tire new mains to town, wa's £212,602, and the loan . indebtedness £165,000. No depreciation had been allowed in respect of this undertaking, and with that policy the speaker disagreed —and so had the auditor. The capital cost of the electrical undertaking was £200,761, and the loan indebtedness £185,000. These two undertakings were now covered by the one account, and, allowing a depreciation of five per cent, on the indebtedness, £8250 per#annum in the case of the gas undertakings and £9250 in the case of the electrical, the total loss on the year’s workihg, including the amount shown in the gas account, £6186, had really been £23,686. Five per cent, was a very modest amount to allow for depreciation on machinery and plant of the nature under review, for this provided for renewal after 20 years, whereas there were many things connected with both undertakings that required replacement inside that time. Moreover, with the improvements that were being made every day, it was sometimes desirable to scrap machinery before the end of its period of usefulness. The auditor had emphasised the necessity of allowing depreciation in regard to the gasworks, and that, the speaker maintained, should be done,

as also with regard to the electrical undertaking. “The general rate is 2d in the £1; special rates amount to 4 5-126 d in the £1; water is charged for at the rate of 3 per cent, on the annual value (which is equal to Id in the £1), and the sanitary rate is equivalent to 1 l-3d—that brings the total rates in the £1 up to 7 l-3d, an amount which, in my opinion, is far too high.” THE HOUSING LOAN.

Going on to deal with the housing loan of £IO,OOO, the candidate stated that this had been raised on the distinct understanding that each applicant to the borough for a loan should have a section to the value of £250, and that public tenders should be called for the works. As a matter of fact, alleged Mr Edwards, loans had been granted on tho security of borough leases, on which the applicants paid £lO or £l2 per year, and, further, private tendering had been allowed for the work. This, he maintained, was a breach of faith with the ratepayers of the town. YVe have built houses on our own land, and that was not what was intended. The council, in this matter, has disclosed a great lack of business ability, a lack of abilityt hat has marked many of their other dealings.” YVATER REQUIREMENTS.

On the subject of waterworks, Mr Edwards stated that a scheme which would cost £148,000 had been twice submitted to the ratepayers, “and,” he added, “thank goodness it was turned down each time. On being elected a member of the council, I made severe attacks on the scheme itself, with the result that Messrs Holmes and Son were engaged to report on‘the scheme drawn up. In several very material points they have disagreed with that scheme, and I maintain that the council has not shown good management in submitting a loan that they were not sure of. “I consider that a small dam should be built at tho top of the present one in order that the latter may be cleaned out. Further, the reticulation of tho borough should be so enlarged that a good supply of water will be available to every part of the town. The present mains are too small for the distance they have to take the water, especially to Milson and the Hospital locality. There the pressure is abnormally low. There is plenty of water coming to the Fitzherbert bridge, but, owing to the nature of the reticulation, it is not distributed as it should be. However, if the population grows as it should, the borough will have to go further afield for an extra source of water.”

There was, Air Edwards added in relation to waterworks matters, no shortage for fire-fighting purposes, for the present engines could supply an amount which was quite adequate. However, if there was any necessity for increased pressure in time of fire, the water could be “by-passed” at the filterhouse, or a pump could be installed on Pratt’s Hill at a cost of £BOO. The expenditure in regard to the latter would be, say, £2OO or £250 per year, but this would be much cheaper than paying £15,000 for a big pipe going up the hill. The speaker’s suggestions had not suited the council. “They wanted loans; they are loan mad, and, if you don’t take more interest in the management of your own business, thetown will go to the dogs.” SEYVERAGE AND FLOODING. In regard to sewerage, ho was of the opinion that if more information had been supplied, tho last loan would have been carried. During the last flood he had personally inspected the Mangaone area and had found that, even below Wood Street, the water had been pouring into the gully traps, the result being that the sewers surcharged. Mr Milverton had put forward an excellent scheme for the prevention of flooding, and the speaker was confident that, if it were carried out, it would do all that was claimed for it. THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. “I was opposed to tho McHardy property loan, but the ratepayers carried it, and I am prepared to carry out their wishes, but only if I am satisfied that the is going to establish a full agricultural college here. I want to point out that, if the property is bought and handed over, the cost will be much more than £IO,OOO. YVith the money at 5 jier cent, and a sinking fund of'l per cent., the loan will cost £17,300.” Referring to the circular sent round by the Mayor seeking authority from the councillors to complete the purchase, the speaker stated that he had refused to sign as requested, maintaining that the matter should be" discussed at tho council table. That had eventuated, and the position had been plainly outlined—that the ratepayers had voted for the loan on the distinct understanding that the property was not to bo purchased and handed over unless the Government went on with the full college scheme. PRIY r ATE STREETS. There would have to be better provision in the making of private streets. He considered that many of the streets that had been put down within the last few years would cost the ratepayers an enormous sum of money to bring them up to anything like good standard. The law relative to the making of private streets would have to be amended; as it now stood it was quite unworkable. The council could not even carrv out its own conditions, and the speaker had arranged with Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., to obtain an interview with the Prime Minister relative to the whole matter, with a view to having the law simplified and made workable. POLICY SUMMARISED. Mr Edwards concluded by summarising his policy. In view of the town’s rapid growth and' development, there was a necessity for an improvement in the water supply and an extension of the present sewerage system. He stood for improvement in the streets and footways and for a more economical administration of the engineering department. More money should be spent on pick and shovel work—possibly double the present amount. The old Fitzherbert bridge would have to be renewed; he was not in favour of tho new bridge proposals. YVith regard to reserves, he was against their being cut up and roaded, as he considered that thifi was not the intention of the Act. The reserves had been given solely for recreation purposes. “Ratepayers can see from what I have Said to-night that there are many loans ahead that are necessary to provide work that must be carried out. Therefore, we must get the best value for what we spend and be very careful ivhat we do; otherwise, with our pre- | sent indebtedness of nearly £1,000,000, we will be ruined.”

QUESTION TIME. On questions being invited, Mr Edwards was asked whether he did not

think the present library a standing disgrace. Replying, he stated that the matter was governed by the ratepayers •- hemselves. “I have no doubt that, if 1 get in, there will be no difficulty ir getting a loan for a new library.’ , ... Asked where the council was getting the moi ey from to pay for the new bus ban , the candidate stated that he could act tell off-hand. ' He would, he told another member of the audience, do Iris best, if elected, to relieve unemployment this coming winter by the provision of more pick and shovel work and raising money by the staging of concerts. If th > business people objected to cars being parked in front of their premises, he thought that their wishes should l e given effect to, tho candidate informed another member of tho audi“Hcw can an increase in the town's populf.t on come about if the rates go up as stated?” was another question. .... “It v on’t come about,” was tho reply. Que st med as to whether ho favoured the e:ct msion of the sewerage to ull parts ot tho town,'Mr Edwards stated that Ire would not mind spending “a few thousands” to give everyone proper facilities. Mr Edwards was then nccorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address and a vote of confidence in him was carried unanimously. / . ME, BENNETT AT TAKARO. Anctlier step in Air A. E. Bennett’s Alayoial campaign was reached last evening when he addressed the burgesses of Takaro area. There were between ; 0 and 40 present over whom Air F. Orossley, who briefly introduced the 6 o<aker, presided. Air Bennett’s address was on the same U ios as those previously delivered by him at Terrace End and West End, but he dealt more particularly with the lo< ality in which he was speaking. At the conclusion several electors questio led Mr Bennett on matters relating o the fire brigade and drainage scheme, and to all the candidate gave satisfactory replies.