MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 123, 22 April 1927, Page 2

MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

CANDIDATES’ ADDRESSES.

MR EDWARDS AT TERRACE END.

Mr R. Edwards continued his Mayoral campaign last evening when he addressed burgesses at the Coronation Hall at Terrace End. Mr J. Raleigh presided, and in introducing the candidate said that Mr Edwards had been requested by a number of citizens to contest the election for chief citizen. Mr Edwards, was a member of the present oouncil and he would give a review of the administration of the borough. Mr Edwards spoke, on the same lines as at the Opera House the previous evening, reiterating that he was standing as an independent, tied to no party, and that he trusted to the intelligence of the burgesses to place him at the head of the poll. A point made by the speaker was that the council was not providing any depreciation for the electric light and gas undertakings and he criticised at length this policy, maintaining that the life of the machinery and poles was of such duration as to make adequate provision for their replacement an absolute necessity if the cost were not to be met out of a further loan. It was good business to do so. Dealing with the water reticulation of the borough the candidate charged his opponents with “stealing his platform.” The town, he said, in explaining the hydraulics in connection with the supply of water, had outgrown the present reticulation. At the request of a member of the audience Mr Edwards dealt with the roading of Seddon Street, explaining the by-law in regard to the formation of streets .It would cost the ratepayers £6OOO to finish, this street, said the candidate, who added that a gentle* man in Palmerston North was getting a legal opinion to see whether the action of the council could not be iipset.

In a reference to the engineering department Mr Edwards said that if elected —and he felt confident he would be—he intended reorganising this branch of the' council’s activities. *

He urged, in conclusion, that the ratepayers should see that, generally speaking, they got full value for their money. They must be economical in the administration of the borough for there was a big programme ahead. He did not intend to speak of himself; they knew his record on the council and his cards were on the table.

Which way should the drainage at the gas works go? asked another member of the audience, Mr Edwards stating that the pipe there should be put down to the bottom of the lagoon and allow the water to flow out over the road. They should not interrupt the flow of the water; they were running the risk of a lawsuit and this was unnecessary. There was only one way for the water to get away and that was across Napier Road into a depression and thence to the river. He would rectify the matter if elected to the position he was seeking. Another questioner desired to know the cost the engineers estimated to give an adequate supply of water to the town and hospital area.—£l47,B3o, said the candidate, who added he would guarantee to give a better flow for less than that sum. He proposed an improved reticulation. /Mr Edwards contended that the. Hospital Board itself should assist in getting a good supply of water at the hospital, for there was never yet a water supply ; which did not at'some time or 'other go wrong. On a questioner pointing out that there was no fire fighting equipment at Terrace End and that the neW station should have been erected in a more central position, Mr Edwards expressed concurrence with' this view, terming the station a “red elephant.” It cost the borough £2200 a year. The' old station should have been kept and an engine stationed in a building in Terrace End. The present engines would give a pressure of 750 gallons a minute and would send a jet of water over any three-storey building. The council had not expended portion of the unemployment loan on a crushing plant at tire pit, replied the candidate to another questioner. Such a plant had been purchased but was not very satisfactory and the council was getting crushed metal from a private plant at tho river-bed. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and confidence to the candidate

MR BENNETT AT OPERA HOUSE.

Mr A. E. Bennett, one of the three candidates for Mayoral honours, had a fair audience at the -Opera House last ev’ening to hear his election campaign policy expounded. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., presided and stated that, during his term of office as Mayor, Mr Bennett had served four years as a councillor, displaying a sound knowledge of borough affairs and serving particularly well’ as a member of the public works committee. Then, when the war broke out, Mr Bennett had calls other than attention to municipal matters on his time, patriotic actions and money-raising for war purposes making large toll on his leisure hours. Mr Bennett was now seeking Mayoralty honours, and, if elected, his past experience in municipal affaire would stand him in good stead.

Mr Bennett spoke on lines similar to his previous addresses at Terrace End, Takaro and West End, condemning the outgoing council’s policy and criticising the ” engineering , and other departments. Mr Bennett regretted that the Deputy-Mayor had not replied to any of his (the speaker’s) criticisms, thus allowing him' to break fresh ground in his remarks. .Mr Bennett urged that the old regime b© swept away, otherwise stagnation was staring the ratepayers in the face. “If the ratepayers are satisfied with this old regime let them vote for Cr. Graham but if .they want reform and improved methods of administration they should vote for me,” stated Mr Bennett in conclusion.

“If elected would you be in favour of locking the North Street ’Park off Edgeware Road at night, and erecting a notice: ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’?” was the .first' question put to Mr Bennett, who, in reply, stated that he was quite in agreement with the request. People in the vicinity had made complaint, and. the gate that really needed locking -was - the , main one in North Street.

Mr Bennett stated that, he was not in favour of scrapping the’ local ’buses and introducing a tram service. He had been abroad, he told a questioner, and ’buses everywhere were the .'tiling. In reply to a question as to; whether he was in favour, of paying married relief workers 12s and single relief workers 9s daily, the same as was the Premier, Mr Bennett said that as far as he was concerned he thought the standard wage shoiald be paid.. Mr H. Vile wanted to know where a sum of £17,000- of-' an £BO,OOO loan raised to tar seal the ’‘bus routes had gone to. Mr Bennett in reply said that the town clerk had produced, a statement showing an expenditure of £63,092, But several of the councillors had stated that there was not a penny left. “I oan assure you that if elected

I will go int the matter,” stated tho speaker. “Why hs.s not Fergusion Street, a principal 'hu route, been tar-sealed, and why does the road roller go up and down it once a year?”—“l can’t tell you what ha; been happening. I have had a fi ger in the pie,” replied Mr Bennett.

A vote of onfidence in Mr Bennett was proposed by Mr H. Vile and carried. A vote f thanks to Mr Nash for presiding coi ffuded the meeting.

Mr Arthur Bennett’s committee will meet at the Committee Room, Broadway, to-morr< v night at 7.30. 1 Owing to a misunderstanding in the booking of i! ae Hokowhitu ' Sunday School Mr It. Edwards will not address the burgesses there to-night.