HOUSING POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22099, 3 May 1935, Page 14

HOUSING POLICY

AIMS OF LABOUR REBUILDING SLUM AREAS MR. SAYEGH'S CONTENTIONS Several meetings were addressed last nighl!" by Mr! J. Sayegh, Labour candidate 'for tli9 Auckland Mayoralty at the forthcoming elections. "There should be no slums in what is called 'God's own country,' " said Mr. Sayegh, This was a Christian nation and Christian principles should determine the conditions under which the people lived. If elected, the Labour candidates would seek Government aid in rebuilding the city's slum areas. Bad housing took a terrible toll of physical and mental health, and from the ethical viewpoint the making of profit from bad housing was as indefensible as was the making of profit from war or disease, said Mr. Sayegh. lhe provision of good homes for the people had to be regarded as one of the social services. Mr. Sayegh read a telegram received, from Mr. W. Nash, national president of the New Zealand Labour Party. The telegram conveyed to Mr. Sayegh and, his colleagues who are contesting local body elections on behalf of the Labour Party sincere good wishes for success. POLL AT MATAMATA FIRST BOROUGH COUNCIL MAYOR RETURNED UNOPPOSED [bt telegraph —OWN correspondent] MATAMATA, Thursday The election of councillors for the newly-created borough of Matamata took placo yesterday, about 40 per cent of the electors recording their votes. The result was as follows, members of the old Matamata Town Board being denoted by an asterisk:— Successful.—W. J. Stanley, 236; W. M. Griffiths, 223; *C. C. Vincent, 210; J. McTntyre, 199; *A. E. Wrigley, 199; *H E. Schofield, 178. Unsuccessful: O. Heerdegen, 153; *V. B. Forbes, 126. Mr. W. A. Gordon, chairman ot the old board, was returned unopposed as the first Mayor. NAMES ON "TICKET" OBJECTION BY CANDIDATES RESENTMENT EXPRESSED Resentment was expressed by several Citizens' Committee candidates who were present, at Mr. Ernest Davis meeting at St. Heliers Bay last night, when it was learned that their names had appeared on a card issued by the Civic Progress League, the organisation supporting Mr. Stallworthy's Mayoral campaign. "Not one of us has given his consent to this placing of our names on Mr. Stall worthy's ticket," said Mr Brian Kingston, one of the candidates concerned. It was stated tnat out of the 19 names on the Progress League s ticket 17 were Citizens' Committee nominees.

ONEHUNGA MAYORALTY

POLICY OF MR. J. PARK

RECREATION FACILITIES

"I am making no promises that may be hard to fulfil," said Mr. John L'ark. candidate for the Mayoralty of Onehunga., when addressing a large audience in the Foresters' Tjheatro. Onohunga, last night. Mr. Ira J. Sutherland presided. The most pressing problem of the day, said Mr. Park, was unemployment, and he believed that, with the aid of subsidised labour, a properlyprepared programme of works and the co-operation of the borough councillors, a majority, if not all, of the local unemployed men could be absorbed at a rate of pay equal to that provided by any other local body in the Auckland district. He said consideration must he given to unemployed ratepayers, whose rates were heavily in arrear. " I believe," he said, "that a scheme can be evolved by which these men will be „nble to liquidate their liabilities." Mr. Park indicated that it was definitely possible for a reduction of rate's to be made, not very much this year, but increasing during tlxnext three years. In regard to Gloucester 1 ark, Mr. Park said his views were identical with those published in the recent report of the investigation committee. Had one-quarter of the money so expended been applied to the improvement of the Waikaraka reserve, Qnchunga would have possessed one of the finest sports grounds in the Dominion. He pledged himself, if elected, to effect such improvements to the reserve that young athletes would have no reason to go outside their own town for their outdoor sport. The necessary improvements could be done at a low cost and would in no wav affect the rates. The candidate described recent statements regarding Jellicoe Park as "moonshine." Jellicoe Park was originally laid out with money earned from the Mount Smart quarry, which, during his previous term as Mayor, was consolidated with Jellicoe Park by Act of Parliament. Of the £I3OO spent on laving out the park, only £l2l came from rates. Las* year £736 worth of scoria was taken from the quarry in one order, and this greatly exceeded the expenditure on Jellicoe Park for the whole year. . Mr. Park dealt fully with the finances of the borough. "You have upward of £10,00(1 lee wav to make up, he said, "and .1 would budget to clear this off, without any increase of rates. ;luring the ensuing three years, but this ('an bo done only by careful administration." . c Mr. Park was accorded a. vote or thanks and confidence.

LIVELY FRANKTON MEETING

CO NTH OVER SY RENEWED

[from oub. own correspondent]

HAMILTON, Thurßday

A lively meeting of ratepayers took place in the Frankton Hall this evening when the Labour candidate for the Hamilton Mayoralty, Mr. C. Latter by, and candidates for the council addressed the gathering. Mr. B. H. Andrews presided over an attendance of about 400. Heated controversy arose over the recent suggestions for the removal of Garden Place Hill and at times the meeting was in an uproar. At the close, the candidates were accorded a vote of thanks.