THE MAYOR OF AUCKLAND INTERVIEWED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10970, 26 January 1899, Page 3

THE MAYOR OF AUCKLAND INTERVIEWED.

.Mr. L). linintEv Mayor of Auckland, when in Christchureh a few days ago, was interviewed by a reporter of the I.vttelton Times. We make some quotations: — " Aro you in favour of a policy of municipal socialism':" " I am in favour of the muuicipalisation, wherever possible, of such sort ices as water and lighting. Many English cities are drawing very large revenues Irom these services. 1 intend to see 'Mr. Soduon when in Wellington in reference to legislation empowering local authorities 10 establish their own electric lighting. It is probable that a general measure of this nature will bo introduced next session. In Auckland the same syndicate that is negotiating for the tramways is anxious to take up electric lighting, but personally 1 should prefer the corporation to run its own system." "llow do you regard the new municipal franchise'.'"

" 1 do not look upon it with very great favour. It goes too far. It was a mistake to have in the Municipal Conference which asked for the extension, so many people who were municipal servants, and others who could hardly bo called ratepayers. One difficully in connection with the new franchise suggests itself specially to me. If in tho past, as in the case of Auckland, it has wen lound to difficult to keep the rolls pure with four or five thousand ratepayers, it will be a very much harder mailer to do so with many thousands more enrolled. It seems to me that under the present law a family of, say, four or five adults living together, could so divide up the amount they bring to tho household, as to entitle till'ill to be all put on tho roll. You aro putting on a class of people who have no living interest in the matter. It is said that they pay the rates indirectly. But rents are simply regulated by supply and demand. It) Auckland the Ratepayers' Association, which was formed three months ago, and now has about 250 members, is trying to meet this now army of voters by raising its strength _to 1000. The ratepayers do not regard their interest* as identical with those of the new class of voters. Another undesirable effect of the now system will be to make the of municipal elections a very costly affair. " Do you not consider that a great deal o brain and public spirit was lost to municipal affairs under tho ratepayer franchise? "I think thore are very few men of that sort who would not have some little stake, if only a leasehold. The great difficulty has been to got even those with a stake to take an interest in municipal affairs, Even at my election, which was keenly contested, only half the enrolled burgesses voted. I think still more apathy will be shown under tho extended franchise, that is if the voters are loft to themselves, and not worked upon from behind by interested parties, as lias undoubtedly been the case to a large extent in Auckland. I think that tho now class of voters will bo more susceptible to influences of this sort than the present ono.' In further conversation, Mr. Goldie said that lie was making special inquiries into the question of corporation day-labour, as against tho contract system. Auckland, with corporation labour, spent £13,000 a year on street maintenance and cleansing, and lie thought that there was a largo leakage. Melbourne had now adopted the contract system, with apparent great saving. The Melbourne corporation engineer had recently declared strongly against reverting to day labour, unless he was given absolute control over the employment and dismissal of the men.