MAYORAL INSTALLATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9042, 13 May 1915, Page 7

MAYORAL INSTALLATION

MR LUKE'S PROGRAMME THE YEAR’S MUNICIPAL UNDERTAKINGS FORESHADOWED. Tho Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. P. Luke) waa duly ; installed for his third term of office yesterday at noon. Councillors IV. H. P. Barber, G. Frost, J. Godber, W. J. Thompson, A. R. Atkinson. J. Fuller, W. H. Bennett, M. Luckie, R. A. Wright,'W. T. Hildreth, J. E. Fitzgerald, L. McKenzie, J. Hutcheson, T. Bush, and W. A. Veitch were present at tho special meeting at which the installation was made. There was a large attendance of the 'general public in the Council Chamber.

As senior councillor. Councillor W. H. P. Barber addressed His Worship. Ho complimented him on the ability he had shown, during his two previous terms of office, and referred to his successful conduct of the city’s affairs despite tho strike and the war. He also referred to terms of high praise to Mrs Luke’s work to connection with the expeditionary force. Councillor Fuller also congratulated the Mayor on his election for the third time. The council had much to do, and very little money to do it with. He.had no doubt that Mr Luke would follow a systematic plan of municipal works. He had always found him an ideal chairman, and he was sure that tho new Council was going to -do valuable service for the Empire" City of Now Zealand.

Councillor Frost spoke in a similar strain, and welcomed the newly-elect-ed councillors. He paid a tribute to tho good; work done by the Mayoress. Councillor Fitzgerald also delivered a short address. Mr Luke, on rising to respond, was received with applause. Ho extended a hearty welcome to the old members of the council who had gone to the poll and again secured the confidence of the electors- They had contributed a great deal towards his election, and with him had always done their best for the city. Ho also welcomed tho now councillors, and congratulated tho citizens on tho composition of the council. All would exercise their best judgment in the control of 1 municipal affairs during the next two years. ■- .FINANCE. Dealing with finance, the Mayor remarked that all knew the difficulties and limitations at present imposed on them. He was strongly against shortdated loans, that would have to be expensively converted , later on, to carry out propping work. Some of such .works • had - had to he held over till a more, favourable market. At present the" money received in excess of ■ revenue did not cost so much as temporary Joans of a short-dated nature. The revenue, rates, and rents would he sufficient to meet the works of the incoming year; He would not touch" oh the second year at- present, but he knew that the council would support him in conducting the finances so as to so expend the revenue that' the best results would be obtained by citizens. He was not pessimistic as to the future. The exports of the country this year would he £4,000,000 in excess of last year.. Now, Zealand, was and he was quite sure that: her resources would be sufficient to meet her responsibilities-and. to carry; on a programme of progressive public works. THE MILK SUPPLY. The first thing that tho council would deal with was the milk supply. Personally,: he was prepared to say that, the people of Wellington should* be. asked whether they preferred munici-pal'-Control or. an improvement* of the: conditions of ,the present system. - It was incumbent on-the council to see that that vital food produce should be distributed under conditions favourable to the people as.a whole. Tho council .. would he invited to consider the question during the coming year. THE TRAMS. , _■ Tho trams would • also engage their serious attention.- They must - sew that tho undertaking was built up at such a rate as would meet the city’s growing needs. ‘ A large sum had been spent last year, and this year they must see that there was no hanging back. Tho people must bo carried from and .to _ ]th©ir homes m decent comfort and in a reasonable time. Ho hoped that the Constable street extension. would .he finished before the summer. , Feeders were necessary, to tho Brooklyn: line. Another necessity was the construction of car-sheds and workshops at, Kilbirnie. At present the cars could not all ho housed; six more were ready waiting' for their under-gear from-Great Britain and six Would he built during the year. To remove delays and stoppages, duplication of the Brooklyn fine and of tho Island Bay line was required. Another question that would occupy tho council was the improvement of street corners in the city. The pro; prietors of the corner opposite Veitch and Allan’s had offered to -sell to the council at tho Government valuation 1 . It was now only a matter of finding the money. The proprietors had acted in a public-spirited manner. He. thought that Cuba street and Vivian* street had a right to a good tram service, and arrangements should bo made to facilitate; the traffic. - Enterprise was needed on the part of the council in the matter of street lighting. No fresh plant was required as tho new- turbine could cope with all demands. The outlying districts would receive considerable at tentioh, though they had not been al together neglected in tho past., GENERAL WORKS.

On© 'of the first works to be undertaken was the cutting, away of the corner of, and Improvements to, Hutcheson road, Vbgeltown. The roads Ini Kelhurn and Northland also needed attention and would be considered. A road that the council should authorise to he widened was that from Wadeatown to Wilton’s Bush. Motor ’busses could then be put on to render that beauty spot more accessible to the citizens. Crawford road was being widened at a large expenditure and the Island Bay culvert must .ho extended during the year arid , the open watercourse improved, 'He honed that a solid start would be made -oh . the construction of the. Oriental Bay esplanade. The added beauty to Wellington would justify the expense. Bead improvements would also bo carried out at the Basin Reserve corners. The roadway in Willis street was being widened and the shops.put back. An endeavour would he made to finish the work make a hew alignment and complete’ the wood-blocking this year. With regard to Wadestown, some people were disappointed with the work of the council, but disabilities were being removed as fast as possible._ The roads were originally laid' out with a width* of only 30 to' 40 feet., and much private property had to ho purchased. Ho hoped that the council would do part

of the work year by year to bring the district into line with other parts of tho city. There would not he much expenditure, on the waterworks this year. They would arrange with the Government to acquire a watershed at Orongorongo. This would not be costly. No now reservoir would be needed and a tunnel under one spur would be all that was required. It would be sound policy to have a gang of men proceeding slowly wjth the work.

COLLECTION OF REFUSE.

A better system for the collection of the city refuse was badly needed. Small depots were about to be established on tho outskirts of the, city from which motor vehicles would take the refuse to the destructor. There would be no handling as carts would drop the refuse straight into the depots- Ihe council would be asked to authorise expenditure and give effect to this plan. An improvement had been made in street watering and motor waggons were now available for this purpose. A more up-to-date tar macadam plant was needed and would be acquired, ’the resumption work at Kilbirnie was to bo carried on. New recreation grounds were badly needed in view of the adoption erf the, Saturday half-holiday. There was a proposal to put a wide road from Oriental Bay. round, the harbour to Evans Bay. A wall would be built and tho space filled to with-spoil. The work would engage the council's attention. They were under art obligation to the Government to level sand hills at Lyall Bay and the council would see its way clear to commence this year. UNEMPLOYMENT. This winter there would not be much money to meet the abnormal conditions of unemployment. Men were doming to Wellington to obtain work from tho council* but tho latter would hot have the money to give it to them. Local men had the first claim, especially married men. He Always, told single applicants for work that they had two duties. The first was their obligation to serve their country. If for some reason they could not go, they should make their way to the; country -to take the. place of tho men who had gone to the war to fight for the Empire. He did not see that there should be much difficulty as to unemployment. Twenty thousand 01 the best men had gone away, work had, to be done, and it would , require more than 20,000 to take their places. Men out of work should ‘‘get a move on" and not., rely on the City Council. In conclusion, Mr Luke paid a tribute to the help he had received from the old council and to the ungrudging services of' the officers of the corporation. After, the meeting the Mayor entertained the councillors rn his room, where refreshments were served. NEW COMMITTEES.

New. committees were set up at tho meeting as follow• (X) Finance and .property-—-1 he Mayor,. Councillors Atkinson. Barber, Fitzgerald, Frost, Godbor, Htodmarsh, chairmen of committees (3) to (8).

(2) Power stations and tramways— Tho Mayor, Councillors Barber, Fitzgerald, Godber, Frost, Hutdhoson, Thompson. (3) Public health—Councillors Atkinson, Fitzgerald, Bush, Godbor, Veitch, Bonnott, Wright. . (4) By-laws, fire brigade and street lighting—Councillors ‘' Barber, Hildreth, Bush, Bennett, McKenzie, Luokio, Thompson. (5) Reserves -and public gardens— Councillors Barber, Bush, Frost, Luokie, McKenzie. Thompson, Wright. (6) Legislation! and reclaimed land leases —iOouncdllors Atkinson, Luckie, Hutcheson, Godbor, Fuller, Veitch, McKenzie. . ~. ■. v

(7) Outlying districts—Councillors Veitch, Fitzgerald, Frost, Fuller, Hildreth, McKenzie, Thompson. (8) Baths, libraries' and beaches—Councillors Atkinson, Bennett, Fuller, Hutcheson, Luckie, Hildreth, Wnght. Tho duties of the old ..markets committee are to: be attached, to tho public health committee.