THE CITY MAYORALTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 15

THE CITY MAYORALTY.

CANDIDATES' CAMPAIGNS.

'ADDRESS BY MR. BAILDON

SYSTEM OF HOSPITAL LEVIES. DIRFXT RATING ADVOCATED. The present system whereby local linilics are forced to collect money from ratepayers for the purpose of. meeting the Hospital Board levy was criticised by (lie Mayor, Mr G. Baildon, in the second address of his mayoral campaign at Point Chevalier hist evening. Mr. Hallyburton Johnstone presided over a largo attendance. "Personally, I do not think it is right that we should be taxed in the way we are," Mr. Baildon said. "I do not say that the Hospital Board is not doing good work, or that it, docs not want all the money it is getting. However, tliero should be a more direct way for tho board to collect the money. All ratepavers are taxed for the support of tho board, which tells the City Council and other local bodies what sum it requires from each. The city had to pay £54,000 last year, over £IOOO a week. "I think that the money should come from the ratepayers as a direct rate struck by ' the Hospital Board. If this course is not adopted, then it should come out of the consolidated fund. People would then know what they are paying for. As it is, tho City Council is asked for increasing amounts, and has to raise its rates accordingly. The council receives all tho blame for raising the rates, arid the Hospital Board is forgotten in the background. Ido not say that the board should receive a penny less than it does, but I do say that its funds should be collected in a different and more direct yray.'' A candidate for tho Mayoralty had stated on Thursday that the City Council had disposed of tho Anzac Avenue sections' too cheaply. "This particular man was the agent for the sale of the civic square properties, and I had a great deal of trouble to raise his prices to the figures we arc now receiving," Mr. Baildon said. "If he had had his way, the civic square sections would have sold like hot cakes. They would have been sold at ridiculously cheap prices, and would soon have been on the market again, so that, instead of the city's getting full value for tho land, money would have gone into the pockets of the speculators. I take credit for getting full value for the land we are leasing on the civic square to-day."

Since Point Chevalier arnalga,mated with the city eight years ago it had received many benefits from the council. In 1921 tlie valuation of the district was £12,316. Last year it had been increased to £53,948, and the number of residences had more than doubled. In spite of the fact that only £49.208 had been collected in rates during the past eight years, over £260,000 had been spent in the district in various improvements in drainage, concrete load construction, water reticulation and laying out of parks. At the council meeting on Thursday lie had been,accused of trying to increase the salaries of two men employed by the council, in spite of the great amount of unemployment. He appreciated fully the number of men out ot work, but if any business employed experts whose services they were likely to lose, it was only right to pay them what they were worth. He could not understand how the £IOO inWived could affect the unemployed question. In reply to a question, Mr. Baildon said he favoured the ward system for municipal elections, but he thought it would be difficult to define the wards satisfactorily. For one tiling, onc-tliird of the city's rates was collected within a iialf-milc radius of ihe chief post office. But the .money was not spent in that area, and difficulties were bound to occur over representation. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed amid applause.

THE COUNTRY CENTRES.

CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE. MANY RETURNED UNOPPOSED. Nominations of candidates for the forthcoming elections m the country centres, as telegraphed by the Herald correspondents, are as follows: Cambridge.—Mayoralty: Messrs,-T. F. Richards (sitting Mayor) and C. H. Priestley. Council (nine sea':s) : Messrs. E. C. Wallis, It. W. Moorhouse, H. A. Bell, W. &. Care, C. W. Clark, P. T. Glanville, M. Wells (sitting members), and T. J. Sexton, T. H. Kelly, Walter Moore and A. Wilkinson. Waikato Hospital Board: Messrs. 11. A. Bell and E. Martin. Cambridge Power Board: Messrs. T. F. Richards, M. Wells and W. / Moore. Paeroa.—The following are elected unopposed:—Mavor: Mr. W. Marshall. Borough Council: Messrs. H. H. Bray, P. E. Brenan, E. Edwards, F. E. I'latt, H. J. Hai e, H. M. Shand, J. W. Silcock and W, E. Ward. Thames Valley Power Board: Mi. E. E. Fhitt. Ilia trios Harbour Board: Mr. E. Edwards. Thames Hospital Board: Mr. P. E. Brenan. WhakaUine.—Mayoralty: Mr. W. Sullivan ..(returned unopposed). Council (nine scats): Messrs. C. G. Caisley, F. 13. (JutW, W. G. Howat, W. Jarrett, A. F. Moncur, R. \V'. Price (sitting members), and C. S. Armstrong. E. V. Law, E. J. f'amson, A. Righton, S. S. Shapley and C E. A. Wallace. Harbour Board : Messrs. G. A. Brabant and 11. J. Brown (unopposed). Bay of Plenty Hospital Board: Messrs. L. Buddie and C. A. Suckling (unopposed). Tauranga.—Mayoralty: Messrs. A. N. Res, B. C. Robbins. A. F. D. lunks. Bo rough Council (nine seats): Messrs. F. J. Alley, .J. M. Dailies, D. A. Ivory, J. Law,, R. McKenzie, A. 12. Newshani, C. F. Oliver. T. 11. Parkinson, V. J. Scantlebury, T Stuart, .1. Tanner, C. •Whiti ig. Hospital Board (two seats) : Messrs. B 'Dive. R. McKenzie, A. J. Mirrielees, V. J. Scantlebury, A. F. D. Tanks and Mrs. G. E. Burion. Harbour Board: Mr. .7. G. Green (unopposed). Hawp.ra.—Mr. E. A. Pacey has been returned unopposed as Mayor. , Mastprton.—The retiring Mayors of all the Wairarapa boroughs h.'ive been reelected unopposed, as folic ws:—Masterton, M r . 'p. Jordan: Carteitori. Mr. W. J'islini'; Grey)own. Mr. II T. Rees; Featherstori. Mr. J. W Card: Martinborough. Mr W B. Martin. Blenheim.—Mr. Malcolm McKenzie has been rptur led unopposed as Mayor.

HARBOUR BOARD SEAT.

MR. MACKENZIE AT WAIUKU. In continuation of his campaign for reflection to the Auckland Harhour Board. Mr. H. R.-M aokenzie addressed a meeting \\aiuku last evening. Mr. A. Jones, chairman of the Waiuku Town Board, presided. Mr. Mackenzie spoke 011 tlie lines of his previous addresses, and answered a number nf questions. He. was accorded * vote of thanks and confidence.