ONEHUNGA FINANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19621, 27 April 1927, Page 15

ONEHUNGA FINANCE.

EXPENDITURE UNDER LOANS.

ATTACK BY DEPUTY-MAYOR.

MAINTENANCE OF STREETS.

Tho controversy over the Onehunga Borough Council's finances, which has been a feature of tho Mayoral election contest, was carried a step further last evening by Air. W. N. Mcintosh, deputymayor, and one of tho candidates., in an address in the Foresters' I'haaUa. Replying to a speech mado by the retiring Mayor, Mr. J. E. Co well, at a meeting on Saturday, Mr. Mcintosh said he took his share of blame ior the financial confusion that existed. However, he had not been a member of the committees most concerned. He had made various protests, but had often found himself in a minority. His present criticism did not apply to tho district fund, which, as Mr. Cowell had said, showed a substantial credit balance at the end of the year. What he complained about was the administration of the loan funds. The £75,000 streets improvement loan had proved insufficient; tho council had spent £84,300, and there were still 54 roads that had not been finished, Some of them had not even been begun, and it was estimated that a further £60,000 or £70,000 would be required to carry out the whole scheme. Out of £6OOO allocated from tho district fund for 12 months' street maintenance, £2600 had been spent in three months. He believed much of it had beeu used for work on footpaths which ought to have been done with loan money. The drainage loan of £34,000 had proved insufficient, and at least £6OOO more would be needed to complete the work on the low levels. His criticism did not imply any reflection on the town clerk, but he wished to have an investigation committee set up by the incoming council and a full report laid before the ratepayers. The candidate answered a Dumber of questions. A vote of thanks was accorded. LABOUR AND MAYORALTY. "TIED HAND AND FOOT." MR. WARNOCK'S CRITICISM. " Are we to be governed by the City Council or by the caucus of the Labour Party?" That is the municipal election issue, according to Mr. J. A. Warnock, the nominee of the Progressive Citizens' League, who concluded his campaign for the Mayoralty at Epsom last evening. Mr. S. Hodge presided over an attendance of about 70. Mr. Warnock replied to statements made by Mr. T. Bloodworth, the Labour candidate, at Grey Lynn. Mr. Bloodworth had stated he was a perfectly free agent. He said he was pledged by the Labour Party's municipal policy, and nothing more. Quoting from a booklet setting out the constitution and platform of the New Zealand Labour Party, Mr. Warnock sought to show that every Labour candidate for Parliamentary or municipal honours was tied hand and foot to the whole platform of the Labour Party. Attempts might bo made to apply the pledgeto Parliamentary candidates only, but the booklet mado quite clear that the pledge applied equally to municipal, local body and even to school committee candidates. " Mr. Bloodworth is the nominee of the Labour Party, and being so, he must have signed the party's pledge," Mr. Warnock contended. ''Having done so, he must abide by his pledge, and • loyally and whole-heartedly support the objective. That objective, broadlv, aims at the socialisation of everything." Mr. Warnock was accorded a vote of thanks, hopes being expressed for his success at to-day's polls. FUKEKOHE CONTEST. MR. J. ROUTLY'S POLICY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] rUKEKOHB. Tuesday. The Mayor of Pukekohe, Mr. J. Routly, addressed a public meeting this evening in connection with his candidature, lheie was a good attendance. Mr. IT. Curd presided. . Referring to the balance-sheet for the financial year just ended, Mr. Routly said there was a credit of £B4O, in addition to which there was over £4OOO in unexpended loan money in the bank. Tho antecedent liability would be eliminated. Unexpended loan authority totalled £27,000 of which £13,000 was for sewage and £4BOO for the town hall. The Franklin Power Board still owed the borough £24,000 for the electricity plant. If re-elected his policy would be to continue to the borough boundary the bitumen surfacing of the four main roads and to give every resident a surfaced footpath. Water mains should be enlarged in some streets and further provision made for stormwater drainage in King and Ward Streets. Mr. Routly thought it possible tr> follow this programme and at the same time reduce tb# rates a further 3-16 d in the £ forthwith. If the Power Board repaid its indebtedness to the borough a further reduction of approximately id in the £ would be possib]e. A vote of thanks was accorded the candidate.