THE MAYORALTY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 6

THE MAYORALTY

MR AITKEN ADDRESSES YOUNG MEN. THE TRAMWAYS QUESTION. Seventy young men attended the meeting “for young; men only''* convened by Mr Aitken’s executive in Godbti's rooms last night. Mr Aitkeii said that in his opinion there wore ii->t i-nciigh open spaces in Wellington, and it was the- duty of the Council to SCO that they wore extended at tile earliest possible moment. In regard to the Athletic Park, which woidd in time be the most central ground in W idlmgton, there was a rumour that ihose responsible for its formation were thinking of lotting it pass out o- their hands. If this were <SO h© was hcariilv in favour of :ts ucquisition by the city ns a public recreation ground. He was aho in favour of allowing Association footbal. to bo plaved on any city reserve, simjoct, of course, i o the approval of tho head gardener. Tho municipal baths in Wellington must also bo extended. At present there wore only two baths—at Thorndon and To Axo. These were too far away from some parts of the city, and new baths should bo formed in such planes as Kilbirnio. The Te Axo baths were too small, and must be enlarged. Fresh baths. should bo established in tho centre of the city, with fresh and salt water, heated in winter. Mr Aitken also, expressed tho view-that the Xowtown “Zoo” should be enlarged. THE T-V- ' YS. ■ At Ids Berliampore meeting on the previous evening Mr Hislop had said that no credit attached to Mr Aitken for the. introduction of the tramways, but to his predecessor, Mr Blair. Mr Hislop had also pointed out certain failures of the system—which, by the war, tho speaker did not look on at all" as failures —for which he held him responsible. It was true that Mr Blair had gathered together a great deal of information on the subject or electric tramways, but it was the Council over which he (tho speaker) presk.od ns Mayor which carried out the installation of the system, and bought out the old horse tramways. He was entitled to any credit or discredit there was in connection with tho inauguration -of the Wellington tramways. On the conclusion of his address those present met and formed a committee to work in support of Air Aitken’s candidature. Subsequently Mr Aitken wont to Klilbirnie, where ’’ met his local committee in O’Donnell’s Hall. AIR HTSLOP’S CANDIDATURE. THE SEAMWAV*HMPEOYEUfI’S DEMANDS. , Tho Hou. T. W. Hislop continued his campaign for the Mayoralty last evening, when he addressed a largely attended meeting at the. Primitive Methodist Hall, Are street. Mr (I. Lindsay, of Mitohelltown, occupied the chair. - The chief new ground covered by Mr -Hislop was with reference to the Tramway Employees Union’s requirements in regard to a new agreement. The speaker explained that the same stops were being followed now as When' the original agreement Was entered into. Tho first negotiations -were taken before the Tramway 1 Committee of tho Council, and when, an arrangement had been come to which was acceptable to the majority of the committee and tho union, the whole matter was placed before open Council and discussed item by item. The committee on this occasion wore quite willing that_ their negotiations should take place in public, but the union seemed to think that Hieie would be a freer and fuller discussion if the representatives of tho press were not present. Matters could no doubt be mentioned more freely cud illusore-i ; ons given on points which had occurred in the past, bo as 1 to avoid people’s names becoming public in connection with matters of discipline. There was therefore a good deni tn he said in favour if the negotiations in the first place being taken in committee. When as the result of such negotiations they had arrived at somethmt! like an agreement the Council could then discuss the, principles involved in each item of the agreement freely and openly, and- time would-be given for public discussion, os in the" case over two years ago, when the agreement was made. It would then be possible for those who thought they wore affected by it. to make themselves hoard, as tho Employers’ Association had when tho original agreement was entered into. IT CANNOT BE HURRIED. There is no desiro to precipitately en ttr into an agreement. Tho remarks n-ade bearing upon each item -were taken down in shorthand by the clerk.mid would bo preserved for tho benefit of Sir Aitken if ho was fortunate to win the election. It could scarcely he hoped that an agreement would be arrived at before the election. Unforlunately the matter had been very much, delayed tluough the engineer having to report on it. He had to gft his information from other places aid to consider ihn matter very carefully before placing it before the committee. It was a considerable time now since the letter of the union had boon sent in, and thoy were pressing for something to ho done. He could not indicate at the present moment what the results of tho negotiations would be, but he had no doubt that the union would he reasonable, and it would ho reasonably mot. It was well known that ex-rept in a few matters the standard of pay was a little higher in Wellington than elsewhere, and for his part he was quite satisfied that the result of treating men fairly and well was beneficial to the public. The union must, t however, recognise that its demands must he reasonable. ANOTHER CANARD.

Mt Hi-=H, took tho opportunity of contradicting the statement that ho and Mt David Nathan, had quarrelled. There was no foundation for that whatever. They were on the came personal terms now -is they had always been. The only ihing was that Mr Nathan did not seem to think, although ho had previously spoken in most flattering terms about him and his municipal abilities, that ho was the man lo suit tho Gas Company. Over fifty persons remained behind to form a C'.mmhtee. Mr G. Lindsay was appointed chairman, Mr G. Carraody vice-cli--i-rn.an, and Mr Murphy secretary The ladies wiU work with fhe men’s committee.

Three of Mr Aitken’s committees will meet to-night ; Brooklyn at 7.45 o’clock, Newtown at 8, and Borliampore at the same hoar.