FEILDING AND DISTRICT NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1902, 23 April 1913, Page 3

FEILDING AND DISTRICT NOTES.

(Our own Representative). THE MAYORALTY CAMPAIGN. MR ONGLEY OPENS. Mr Ongley, a candidate for the Mayoralty, addressed a large audience last night under the presidency of Mr J. G. Cobbe. Mr Ongley, in opening his address, stated that when it was first mooted that he should stand, people asked "What will your policy be." In a small town like Feilding they had no great schemes or works that would give much room for difference in policy. He was at first a bit puzzled. His platform planks were "e'conomy and hones y." His cause was that of the people against the clique. He meant honesty in administration, fairness of expenditure, and like treatment for rich and poor. He maintained'these principles were unknown to the other side. The Borough Council had been run by a clique for their benefit. It was by that rule of the clique—the aristocracy—and by the autocrat that at present occupied the cnair, that he was here to light. He had nothing ; to gain and mucli to lose by fighting \ the election He had matie enemies j by opposing schemes which benefited j the few at the expend of the com- j munity. He had faithfully fulfilled i his duty as a Councillor in opposing i any movement detrimental to the ' town. If elected Mayor he would act as \e had done. There was nothing clever in reducing overdrafts if rates had to be raised to do it. For the year ended 31st March, 1909, the balance sheet showed that total rates levied were £5885 14s 2d. Last year £8265 lis Id, an increase of £2400. They were now paying £2400 a year more than ago. Had benefits and conveniences increased accordingly? General rates, licenses, permits, fees, etc., in 1909 totalled £3069 14s Td; in 1912, when Mr Goodbehere was Mayor for three years, £4477 18g 3d. In 1909 the maintenance account was £991; in 1912 (under Mr Goodbehere), £974. Mr Goodbehere collected £I4OO more than the previous Mayor (Mr Trewin) did In the water account in Mr Trewin's last year rates and charges amounted to £1351 17s 3d; last year it was £1977 13s 4d. If thete had been economy it would not have been necessary to squeeze this sum out of ratepayers. THE OVERDRAFT. In 1911 (under Mr Goodbehere) the overdraft jumped from £2871 4s 2d to £4893 15s lid. Could they wonder thht people were leaving the town. The town had gone back for the past j four years. People were paying rates j aaid not getting fair benefits. If elected he would see that the rate was wiped out. In 1912 the overdraft was reduced by £IOOO, which did not prevent rates being increased by If Mr Goodbehere was economising and running the Borough on £IOOO less than previously he 21io\dd reduce the rates by This year, when £970 extra was required they were told the overdraft had been reduced by £I2OO. He had defeated the subsidy for a probable water supply and an extended cycle track along Kimbolton road. He had saved £BOO out of £I2OO which it might have incurred. THE STAFF. He also criticised expenditure on office staff. Six men were getting £IOOO per year. There was no need for it; £7OO would do. If they were paying six men to do the work of three where was the economy. One of his first efforts if elected would be reorganisation of staff. Instead of economy there had been extravagance in administration. Mr Gbodbehere had had two terms of office according to Man&watu Times. He had definitely retired in li! 09. Mr Goodbehere. he said, was compelled to do so. He maintained that Mr Goodbehere's administration had not been fair. A FIRST CONSIDERATION. The speaker referred to the efforts of Mr Goodbehere to get a cycle track along Kimbolton road, and stated that, if elected, he would see that footpaths were a first consideration. He then referred to what he considered one of Mr Goodbehere's most flagrant breaches of the electors' trust and spoke at length on the Mayor's proposal that a sum of money should be spent on a probable water scheme—that of sinking a bore at Cheltenham, on Mr Short's property. The Mayor's action in regard to reservoir water, which was at one time very dirty, was severely criticisied; also the Makino sewerage. He complained also that correspondence to the Council was not properly considered. Mr Goodbehere was not a Mayor—he was a Czar. He was satisfied the Gas Coy. could never supply the demand for light, and that the Council could never purchase the plant. He favoured electric light. x Eight shillings a day and broken time was not a. fair wage for borough workmen. He favoured also Is a day more to bring them into line with city labourers. He finished by referring to the fact that Mr Goodbehere had announced his intention of retiring and had then come out : because a deputation told him they , could not do without him. Had the administration been fair, lie (the speaker) would not have contested the election. He had tried to fight in the Council and had failed for want of support. If he wanted to fight successfully he must contest the Mayoralty. At the conclusion Mr Ongley received a hearty vote of thanks.