MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 13

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

CANDIDATES IN THE CITY.

VACANCIES ON COUNCIL.

SOME MEMBERS RETIRING.

Interest in the municipal elections is increased by the announcement yesterday of further candidates for the City Council and tho retirement of some sitting members.

The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, who was elected to (he council in 1927, and to Parliament last, November, will not be a candidate, as his ministerial duties will not permit. Mr. L. A. Eady said yesterday that increasing pressure of business mado it necessary for him to retire from civic life for a timo at least, and ho, also, would not, be a candidate at the election. 110 hoped later to tako a sharo in tho work of tho city. Mr. G. Knight, whoso 26 years of service makes him the father" of tho council, said ho had not quito mado up his mind concerning the election. Ho would certainly stand for the Hospital Board, of whose relief committee he is chairman, but he was not sure about the council. ' Ht> expected to bo able to make a definite statement in a day or two. Other retirements announced are those of Mr. J. W. Court and Mr. G. Davis. Several additional nominations for council office were received by tho returning officer, Mr. P. F. Notley, yesterday. These were Mr. J. A. C. Allum, Mi'. Hallyburton Johnstone, Mr. R. F. Barter, Mr. H. G. Stalev, Mr. H. Campbell, Mr. J. Purtell and Mrs. A. M. Cassie. Although the nominations have not yet been lodged, the candidatures are announced of Mr. A. J. Entrican, deputymayor, and Mr. M. J. Coyle. Mr. Coyle, who is also a member of tho Hospital Board, and the Transport Board, said ho intended to confine his activities to the council and to the Transport Board, and, therefore, he would not seek re-election to the Hospital Board. For this board the nomination of Mrs. Cassie has been lodged. The final checking of the city main and supplementary rolls for the election shows there are 47,795 persons entitled to vote.

MAYORALTY OF BIRKENHEAD.

MR. .WALTON OPENS CAMPAIGN. The Birkenhead Mayoral campaign was opened last evening by Mr. E. C. Walton, who gave an address in the Foresters Hall. Mr. G. R. Hutchinson presided. Mr. Walton said that during his term as Mayor .1 loan was carried for roads, the council deciding that this was the most urgent need, and drainage next. However, the present council considered municipal swimming baths and boatsheds of greater importance. Later it reluctantly approached the drainage question, but in such an unbusinesslike way that it was foredoomed to failure, because no provision had been made in the proposed loan for financial assistance to ratepayers for installations. Apparent ignorance of preliminary procedure finally precluded the taking of the poll at all during the council's term of office.

Mr. Walton advocated the amalgamation of the four North Shore boroughs. He advocated a Drainage Board for the North Shore suburbs, and failing that, a properly considered sewerage scheme for Birkenhead, offering financial assistance out of loan. He favoured a highly efficient joint fire protection scheme with Northcote, and if this could not be arranged, Birkenhead should be provided with protection equal to that at Northcote, with an arrangement for mutual assistance. A speedy settlement of the North Shore water supply question should be effected, as between the Waitakere scheme and the continued use of Lake Pupuke only. Other matters urged were the extension and widening in places of the bitumen surfaced streets, and proper maintenance, of surfaces already formed; improved street lighting, eithpr by more or stronger powured lights; the discontinuance of licensing taxis to carry passengers at single fares on bus routes, so long as buses licensed under the Motor Omnibus Act were, plying on such routes; reorganisation of the council's business methods; and co-operation of the council with ratepayers' organisations for the general advancemont of the borough.

A deputation of Birkenhead residents waited upon Mr. Reginald Hayman on Wednesday evening and invited him to stand for the Rirkenhead Rorouph Council. Mr. Hayman agreed to accept nomination.