MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 13

MOUNT EDEN BOROUGH.

"THE PEOPLE'S TICKET."

STATE OF MUNICIPAL FINANCE.

ADDRESSES TO RATEPAYERS

A meeting of ratepayers of Mount Eden was hsld in tho St. Alban's schoolroom on Saturday evening in support of tho candidature of the people's ticket, Messrs. S. E. Chappcll. A. P. Hartnoll, R. J. Mills, W. H. Is agio and F. L. Rcndell. Mr. G. Wildish, ex-Mayor of Gisborne, presided over a large attendance and addresses were given by Messrs. Naglo, Mills and Chappcll. In an exhaustive criticism of tho finances of tho borough, Mr. Naglo drew attention to tho debt of £749,198, as against £250,000 in 1923. Certainly £90,000 of authorised loan money had been expended, ho said, and tho drainage scheme had been advanced considerably, but this huge indebtedness would como as a shock to ratepayers. There was a debit iu tho general account of £12,335, and the water account debit had increased from £686 in 1923 to £4797 in 1929. Uncollected rates as at March 1, 1929, stood at approximately £14,000. if the council were called upon to square tho rate account a rato of Is iu tho pound would be necessary, meaning an average levy on the ratepayers of £3. Tho views of tho "ticket" on loading and drainage were dealt with by Mr. Chappcll. 110 said only £2600 was expended last year uii maintenance, a totally inadequate amount. In 1923, £9500 was the grant for maintenance, and tho difference was not accounted for by tho saving effected by tho concreting of tho three principal roads of tho borough. Tho proper upkeep of footpaths alone would cost more than tho amount allotted to both roads and footpaths last year. Better supervision and control was needed. Instancing Valley Road the candidate declared that this street, carrying an enormous volume of tratlic, had with regular maintenance stood up well, while other roads, with tho same foundation, bearing less traffic strain, were crumbling. In some cases portions ol second loan moneys were being expended on roads when this could havo been avoided by the application of the ordinary principles of road-making. In drainage matters the definite promise given by tho council that the day areas in tho Maungawhau district, where epidemics prevailed which greatly affected school children, would be linked up first, had been ignored. On being taxed the council declared that it. was waiting for other branches to be completed, but on reference to tho Drainage Board this was found to bo incorrect. lhe "ticket" stood for immediate attention to any borough problems which concerned tho health of tho residents. A vote of confidence in tho candidates was carried unanimously.

NAPIER PORT QUESTION.

ISSUE IN WAIPAWA.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—rnESS ASSOCIATION.]

AVAIPAWA, Sunday. Considerable. interest attaches In the Napier Harbour Board election fur the Waipawa County scat. Mr. A. K. .lull, chairman of ilio board for many yr.irs, is being opposed by Mr. J. Vigor Brown, Mayor of Napier, to test tlio county's feeling on the, question of a breakwater against an inner harbour scheme. WHAM ARE! HARBOUR. CANDIDATES FOR BOARD. Four nominations for three seats on tho Whangarei Harbour Board as county representatives have been received. The candidates are Messrs. J. A. Finlayson, L. A. .Johnson and J. T). McKenzie, sitting members, and Mr. H. E. Hewlett.