THE NEW MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4313, 23 March 1901, Page 5

THE NEW MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Progressive Municipal Association met last night in the-Rechabito Hall, Manners street. Mr William Allan, who was‘voted to the chair, explained that this organisation would include every burgess; for it was impossible for anyone not a ratepayer to belong to the Ratepayers’ Association. It was not correct to say that there was antagonism between the two bodies. At the same time, the only amalgamation possible was that the Ratepayers’ Association should come an d join them. Under a resolution passed at the previous meeting, any burgess of good character was entitled to membership. As the name of their associati >n implied, they wanted a progressive city. They wanted men in the Council who were progressive and whole-hearted. There were men now in the -Council who were progressive, but they -were hampered by men who were not.: The association did not want to run, counter to the ratepayer. The ratepayer held the purse strings, and they wanted to • carry him with them.

In answer to Mr R. G. Knight, who a? ted whether the movement had any political significance, the chairman said the association dealt purely and simply with municipal politics, and nothing beyond.

Mr John Hutcheson, M.H.R., said that at present there were two grades of citizens—one class possessing,, the fall rights of voting cn loans and the other limited to voting purely for the personnel of the Council. He hoped, however, that the time' would come when the limited powers of the second class w ould,be extended. He wax one of those who considered that the first duty of the Counoil, even before the mending cf streets, was to provide brighter and n cre sanitary homes where these were needed. He mentioned the Grainger street block as capable of housing in tho most healthy manner one or two hundred families. He asked whether the land in this block was to be allowed to revert to private ownership when iu could be acquired by a simple .exchange with a local body for'the Hunter street block? If the question were propev’y tackled, that Te Arb bight would become a hive of ftidustry ; and what (meter could they do:than build a block of magnificent tenements on tho most approved sanitary, principles, for. the workers ? W© were on tho eve of the most unprecedented municipal election that had oyer taken place in the colony. This was an opportunity that was unique, and why should not the citizens’select for the" Council the best men amongst themselves ? Much, as the ratepayers might dislike it, much as it might, s-eem to menace their vested interests, if the city wanted to progress, the, rates must first of all increase for' h time. He hoped the association • would -take an - active part in municipal politics, but shat -party politics would bo rigorously excluded. , ' V Mr Hutcheson’s suggestion that tens-, ment houses should be ef-eoted on tho Grainger,street block, was the subject of some discussion. Mr Veitch, who had seen the tenement houses which are under the jurisdiction of the London County Council, said that these houses had every convenience. The exterior was pleasing; inside there were suites of apartments on each floor, and in addition to this there were wash-houses, the previous system of common wash-houses for all the occupants of a tenement house having been a failure. In the centre of a block there was a playground for the ' children, or an enclosed square planted with-trees: In fact, everything somed .so comfortable and convenient that he had thought of renting rooms there, hut this was against the regulations. • He had made inquiries!, and; had found that the plans of these, buildings would bo available-for-the City ■ of -Wellington ' if they were required-here. Mr P- McLaren > condemned the apathy shown in Wellington in regard to -public, affairs. This had' done , more to block the progress of the city,than all the obstacles they had to face here. If they were not careful in securing tho return of Councillors who would endeavour to build up the assets’ of the - city in landed property, they would have; to face the .housing 'question here in real earnest; ' ■ - . . A number of now members .were enrolled. . Mr William Allan was unanimously elected president of the,association. Tho other- officers elected were t Vice-presidents, Messrs R. McKenzie and D. McLaren; treasurer. Mr Harvall; committee, Messrs D. Pry do, Finlay McLeod, Hildreth, A. H. Hindmarsh, and P. R. Bussell. At the suggestion of Mr Munro, the appointment: of a secretary was left in. the hands of the executive. Mr Hutcheson stated the-result of the interview, with the Ratepayers’ Association, and, announced that a committee of that association had been appointed to meet a committee of the Progressive Municipal Association on Monday night to discuss the policy for the coming elections. It was decided that Messrs John Hutcheson, Pryde, Darvall McLeod should meet the, committee of the Ratepayers’ Association. It was decided that, the executive committee should draft the lines of a policy for the elections, and also select a list’ of names of likely candidates for the association to consider,. , . ,