MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 19

MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Mr IT. B. Vogel, a candidate for the vacant seat in the City Council, addressed a meeting of the ratepayers at Sydney streot Schoolroom, on Wednesday. There was a fair attendance, and Mt W. H. Millward was voted to the«ebair. The candidate, in opening, referred to the meagre attendance as showing the apathy of the Thorndon ratepayers in Municipal matters. Heexpressel himself in favour of recreation ground for Thorndon. It had been proposed that a portion of the gully in the Botanical Gardens should be filled in and formed into a recreation ground. Ho, however, did not think this would prove a great success A more suitable spot for a recreation ground would be the land near the Manawatu Railway Company’s station. Tee argument against this was the cost, as the Company had been ask. ing about £SOOO an acre for the land, but it was pretty patent that the Government were going to make a big effort to take over tha line, and if they did so, tho city, if Mr Ballance’s expressions in reference to the recrea. tion ground were genuine, would be able to get the land at a fair value. Referring to the charitable aid rate, he said it was a most unjußt impost. At present every ratepayer was required to pay 3d in the pound, and he held that the rate should be borne by every person in the whole Colony, and be based upon the property tax, with the £SOO exemption swept away or reduced So £IOO at tho most. He expressed himself in favour of a crematorium. He was in favour of tho drainage proposals. Under the present system of voting a fair verdict oould not be obtained, and he did not sea why tho absentees should have such a powerful say as they now had. He thought a two-thirds majority of those who voted should be sufficient, and ratepayers who were absent at the lima of the poll should be allowed to vote by proxy. He considered the present system of collecting the rubbish much better than the old one, as it was a disgrace to have the boxes containing the rubbish laying on the footpath, especially on a windy day. The system of street scavenging was as bad as tho drainage—it was simply disgraceful. He thought that trees might be planted in the streets as was done in London. He also referred to the question of rating by street frontage, but he had not gone thoroughly into the matter. He, however, did no sot far see any reason why the present system should be altered. He wa3 very much in favour of the electric light as it was at present. They had now 500 lamps of 20 candle power. Each lamp cost £3 10s, making a total of £1750 per annum. Formerly they had 260 gas lamps of 12 candle power each, which cost £6 15s eaoh per annum, or a total cost of £1755 per annum. If worked by steam the cost of the eiectrio light would be £2812 per year. He pointed out that the cost of the light if worked by steam would be £7OO a year more than if worked by the present water power and £BSO less than gas. Against the increased expenditure in working by steam they would not have the inconvenience of the light going out occasionally. Altogether, he considered that they had got a very good bargain in the electric light. He was not in favour of the proposal for the private lighting of the city by the Gulcher Company, as it would tend to create a monopoly. The gas should not be in the hands of a private company, but should be run by the Corporation for the good of the people. In concluding, he said Wellington had got a great future before it, aud he thought the ratepayers should do their best to improve the city, by making it more healthy and beautifying it. As for himself, he had no axe to grind, and he was simply coming forward in an honourable ambition. He regarded a seat in the City Council as a stepping stone to a higher plaoe. On the motion of Mr G. W. Chandler, seconded by Mr H. W. Curtis, a vote of confidence was awarded Mr Yogel. The usual compliment brought the meeting to a close.