MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9629, 9 April 1917, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

LABOUR CANDIDATES SPEAK. A meeting in support of the Labour “ticket’’ for the forthcoming municipal elections (to be held on Wednesday, April 2oth) was held at the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith street, last night. Sirs S. Beck'(a candidate for (he Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) was 'in the chair.' Air J. Glover (a candidate for the City Council) referred to the “goslow” policy of the Wellington City Council on the milk and other important questions. He had not hoard that the Mayor and his friends had been arrested on the "go-slow” policy so far as the municipal markets and the housing question were concerned. The “go-slow” policy, so far as carry' ing out . the recommendations of the Commission (held some years ago) on the slums of Wellington was a case in point. The Labour party candidates were the only candidates who were prepared to carry out their pledges. A CANDIDATE FOB THE CITY COUNCIL. Air J. Alclvenzie dealt with the failure of private enterprises In such matters as the supply of decent and adequate housing accommodation, a satisfactory and pure supply of milk, and a cheap and sufficient supply of such important foods as fruit, vegetables, and fish. ' He then dealth with the revolution in the baking business caused by the establishment of automatic bakorjes, pointing out that the public did not snare in the economies effected by. the introduction of laboursaving machinery the advantages being monopolised by the bread-manu-facturing companies, and quoted a report issued by the Army authorities in November last in which it is stated that as the result of the establishment of bakeries in the camps the 41b loaf could bo produced for less than sixpence, after providing for all expenses, such as wagps, cost of coal, railage, etc'., as compared with the contract price of 7sd, which they had been paying previously. The saving effected is at the rate of £3600 per annum, and if the. Army authorities had been paying 9d per loaf, as the workers in town had to do, tne saving would be at the rate of £7200 per annum. On this basis the city of AVellington would save about £BO,OOO annually on its bread bill. Criticising the tramway administration, he said that there were too many highly-paid officials in connection • with, the tramways sendee, and the whole system wanted overhauling. Also .that there were too many shareholders on the present council who were there rather as deputies for those private companies opposed to the council’s municipal enterprises, such as lighting, bakeries, etc. Air P. C. Webb, M.P., emphasised the need of the workers to organise up to the time of the polling day to see that their fellow-men and women exorcise their vote in favour of th Labour “ticket” on Wednesday, April 25th. The people could strike-a blow against the present Government if they deposed the representatives of the Government on the local bodies. These men on the City Councils had passed resolutions approving the policy of the Government, and had turned down resolutions asking for increases of pay for the soldiers. Mr H. E. Holland said that to-day in AVellington there was a greater opportunity for a victory for Labour owing to the number of reactionary forces which had exercised their tyrannical powers against the workers of New Zealand. The L.11.C. would see that their, candidates carried out their pledges or else cast them out into oblivion.