MR J. FITZ-GERALD AT BROOK STREET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 4 May 1938, Page 3

MR J. FITZ-GERALD AT BROOK STREET

RODING WATER SCHEME AND BULK ELECTRICITY IMPROVED STREET LIGHTING ADVOCATED Mr J. Fitz-GergJd’s meeting at the Bropk Street schnpl rpom wgjj attended by abpyt twenty electors, Cplpnel C. B. Breriptpn wps elected to the chair. Mr Fitz-Gerald said that in soliciting the support of the electors in his candidature for the Mayoralty and for a seat on the Nelson Hospital Board, of which he was now a member, lie could claim a good knowledge of the city. He had been in Nelson for about twenty years. He transfeired from Ashburton to Nelson as Clerk of the Court, and after occupying that position lor about six years, he was appointed District Public Trustee at Nelson, retiring af-

ter five years in that department. While working in Christchurch he attended lectures at Canterbury College and took the degree of Master of Law. ; Upon his retirement from the Govern- 1 ment service he undertook public service on local bodies, and had been a member of the Nelson Hospital Board j lor five years and a City Councillor j for three years. In opening his campaign he w-ished j to thank Mr Page, the sitting Mayor, lor his friendly attitude towards him as a candidate for the Mayoralty. The i campaign would be a friendly one. The speaker assured the electors that he would work for the good of the city , as a whole, just as Mr Page would do if he was returned. The Mayor of a city was a trustee lor the people. Mr Fitz-Gerald said, and it was a duty for the one occupying the position to see as far as possible that the council expenditure was kept within the limits of its receipts. During the past year the City Council had been getting a fair amount of money from the Employment Department—£s3oo last year. The Minister had stated that no local body had dealt with the Department in that respect in a fairer manner than the Nelson City Council From the subsidised work the Council had dealt with sewers in the Wood and other sewerage work and for the next year a large programme of work had been approved by the Minister. Under the conditions for the subsidy on the Roding water scheme over 80 per cent, of the labour was to come from the unemployed register and so it was assured that there would be little unemployment in the city in the next few years.

FINANCE The City Council had many accounts , —for gas, electricity, abattoir, interest and for all departments of its work. On the receipt side were the rates. The Council had a small debit balance of £57 this year and that was a satisfactory position in view of the extra expense which had been brought about by increased wages and costs. From the rates collected £16.000 went into * the general account. About £SO per w'eek came from petrol tax. and there j was also revenue from licenses, and i other refunds. A sum of £IOOO w'as tak- ! en from the electric light account. The best asset the council had at the moment was the Electric undertaking which had returned a profit of £5.600 this year. However the Council had heavy commitments one being the matter of interest which accounted for £14.000 each year. The council had two large loans of £BO.OOO domiciled in London, and maturing shortly. That matter would have to be met and dealt with carefully by the incoming council. Streets, lighting, and new construction work cost 116942 in the past year, On the transport side about £1259 was accounted for. The drainage account took £5270 in the year. Improvements to the sewerage system w’ould result in less pumping costs. The rubbish service cost about £llOO per year (against which fees collected amounted to about £500). During the past year the council made a number of grants to various organisations including £350 to the library, £IOO to the bands, and varying smaller amounts to the Plunket Society and King George Memorial. LOAN LIABILITIES Mr Fitz-Gerald pointed out the city’s liability for loans, and explained how the interest payment of £14.000 per vear was made up. The loans added together, totalled £294.000. Except for the purchase of Miller’s section the council had not raised any money since 1930. but the city would soon have the Roding Water Loan to meet. . The ratepayers also had to meet the 1 annual contribution to the hospital The main extension proposed at the hospital would provide for the replace* ment of the old ward 4. which was part of the original hospital. The board was trying to keep the cost down and plans were now being prepared for a suitable building. It should be remembered that the Government paid half the cost of the new buildings. The hospital work would not be advanced far enough to bring about an increased rate on that account this year nor would the Roding scheme loan affect the rates immediately. WATER SUPPLY In connection with the Roding wat- : er scheme Mr Fitz-Gerald uointod out ; that the Hume Pipe Company's success- i ful tender for the work, exclusive of i headworks. was £73.473. which would i be taken out in debentures at *£ per cent. He quoted the very satisfactory ' analyses of the water from the Roding I BULK ELECTRICITY Another important subject consider- 1 ed and finalised by the council during ' the past term W'as the negotiations for electricity from the Cobb electric scheme. The council was faced with ‘ machinery replacements at its steam j plant at the port, the possible expenditure being about £22.000. There was I a risk in the adeo.uate supply of the city's requirements, and so provision had now been made for temporary additional power if it was required, from the Stoke plant. That power was now available and the system had been provided for the receipt of power from the Cobb scheme. The engineer and the Mayor had last week visited the Cobb i and were satisfied that there was at j 1 present more water in the Cobb rivet ! 1 than in the Takaka river and that 1 1 substantial progress was being made in I ! the installation of the hydro plant. The 1 ’ cost of bulk power to the city would : be £2 10s per k.v.a. up to 200 k.v.a., 1 and for any quantity above that the i * price would be £2. The speaker ex- ’ 1 plained the details of the agreement 1 with the Waimea Power Board and 1 added that the present power station would be held as a standby unit. Electric power in the city was far too dear, and though the council made £SOOO last year it found that it would be im- c possible to reduce t’.e price and carry t on a good business. With the greater ! supply coming from the Cobb scheme S the prices would have to be reduced I f and the greater use of electricity en- | r i couraged. In addition when more and c cheaper power was available the 1 a Council would have to give attention 1 to the much improved lighting of the t streets. Better street lighting was pne t of the things he would take up first b At the present time about pne seventh of the lighting power went in street s lamps. One irritating ppint at present e was the matter of meter rent In that ti connection as soon as the tariffs were I) altered, meter rents would be abolish- U od. E THE GASWORKS The gasworks earned less profit than the electrical plant, but it was an im. portant public service. The council had il a large percentage ol unaccounted for o gas, sometimes up to 20 and 22 per : cent, and that of course affected the ei

profits. Many attempts had been made to solve the problem of unaccounted for gas. The council last year collected a total of £30.000 in rates, £16.000 of * which went into general rate. WORK ON RESERVES i The council recently appointed a Rel serve Superintendent and in the opin- | ion of the speaker he was doing a very | valuable work. A scheme for street I tree planting had already been subj mitted to the Reserves Committee and | many improvements were being carJ ried out in various parts of the city. ; Last year £3300 was spent on the reserves. I The speaker referred to the inadej quaov of the present council offices and the offer of the Council Chamber for j an Early Settlers’ Hall. ' Referring to work on the streets and footpaths Mr Fitz-Gerald stated that 7 miles had been top dressed in the past year and that work was a matter for which the council would have to make provision in the next two years. Mr Fitz-Gerald said Nelson was largely a residential city the secondary | industries not being as big as they ! might be. The council had to try to i attract more residents to Nelson and i to do that the council had to keep its ! rates at a reasonable level and live | within its income. However for necessary capital works the council should raise suitable loi.ns. The council wouid have to find several thousands of pounds for sewerage improvements and the Government’s subsidy now offered should be taken advantage of. THE FUTURE It was the Mayor's duty to personally know and visit all parts of the city. He wished to see the Maitai Valiev opened up for use by a bridge over Sunday Hole ford. The addition of a ( ootway on the present narrow Nor- j manby bridge was also required. The ' candidate stressed the importance of an improved summer bus service to Tahuna. beach so that all residents of, the city would have the greatest opportunities of enjoying the wonderful beach which was so handy to the city In rpffrring to the council staff the speaker said the city had first class | engineers and Town Clerk and all sec- ! lions of the staff gave level and satisfactory service. He could pay a similar tribute to th? Nelson Hospital Board staff QUESTIONS Mr S. W. Street asked the speaker if Nelson was more heavily rated than • other places. Mr Fitz-Gerald said Nelson s rates compared very favourably w ith other I :

towns and boroughs. For the amenities in the city Nelson was not highly rated as was shown in a recent list prepared by the City Council showing the rates in other towns. Asked if there were any city loans without sinking funds Mr Fitz-Gerald said there were none left without sinking lunds under the recent conversion scheme. In moving a vote of thanks to Mr Fitz-Gerald. Mr S W. Street paid a tribute to the speaker for his comprehensive and interesting review of the City Council’s affairs.