CANDIDATE'S CRITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20236, 22 April 1929, Page 13

CANDIDATE'S CRITICS.

MR. VAILE QUESTIONED.

the civic centre leases.

reply made to the mayor

Replies to critics occupied a good portion of the address given by Mr. H. E. Vaile at the Leys Institute on Saturday evening. The meeting, which was largely attended, was presided over by Mr. F. Ambler, who said that Mr. Vaile's outstanding business ability should commend him to those who deplored the fact that successful business men did not offer themselves more frequently to the service of their city. Mr. Vaile, as a former chairman, and now trustee, of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, had done as much as anyone to better the lot of the blind peopie of the Dominion, while very largely to his energy and initiative was due the completion of the finest war memorial in New Zealand.

The candidate said ho had studiously avoided criticising his opponents, but the Mayor, Mr. Baildon, had apparently fallen into an error, which, no doubt, he would be glad to correct. " Referring to my statement that Anzac Avenue sections were soid too cheaply, ha seems to have said that I desired the Civic Centre leases let at rentals which were too low," Mr. \ aile said. " Mr. Baildon, however, was not in the mayoral chair when the Anzac Avenue sections were sold, and I should like to remind him that daring the entire discussion regarding the Civic Centre rents and their fixation I was in the middle of India. Successful Modification. " In point of fact, the City Council sought the advice of threo independent valuers ,oi whom I was obviously not one, and took the average, but not one single section attracted a tenant. Upon my return, I succeeded in getting the leasing conditions suitably modified, with the result that all the allotments except i one are satisfactorily let to substantial jtenants." (Applause.)

A section of the candidate's address dealt with traffic conditions and the layout. of cities in lands ho had visited. He wished the new city engineer to make first a report on all existing engineering works, and then to deal with some definite ideas the speaker entertained regarding traffic outlets. " I do not think these things should bo discussed in public because it only gives speculators a chance to enhance the price of land to the city," he added. " Is it; a fact that your firm was fined by the Land Agents' Association the maximum of £lO for unprofessional conduct in securing the agency for selling a Civic Centre site?" the candidate was asked at question-time. " Absolutely Above Board." Mr. Vaile replied that his firm had acted as the City Council's agents for 50 yenrs, but when the Land Agents' Association nominated someone else for the post, who happened to be a great friend of the speaker's, he went to the Town Hall and asked why his firm had been dismissed. When the City Council met it declined to confirm the action of its committee, and the speaker's firm retained the agency. " This question is just a bit of mud-slinging." added the candidate, " the whole thing was absolutely above board."

The Questioner: I resent that. You have no right to say such things, and you have not answered my question. The Chairman: That question ought not to have been asked here. It has nothing to do with civic affairs. Votes of Companies.

The next question was in the following form: " Do you believe in the democratic principle of one man, one vote ? Mr. Vaile laughed. "I am not standing for Parliament, so the question is hardly relevant," he replied. The Questioner: But you have eight votes, Mr. Vaile. Mr. Vaile: Someone has been going round saving I have eigne votes. I have onlv one vote of my own, but I am interested m eight companies, which each have one vote, and if they told me to exercise their vote in Mr. Murray s interest, or anyone else s, I should have to do so." On the motion of Mr. C. Nixon, seconded bv Mr. J. R. Knight the candidate was accorded a vote of confidence, there being a small dissentient section.