MUNICIPAL CONTESTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9639, 20 April 1917, Page 6

MUNICIPAL CONTESTS

THE LABOUR "TICKET”

MEETING AT ISLAND BAY, A meeting in support, of the Labour “Ticket” was held at St. Hilda’s Clubroom, Island Bay, last night. Mr T. Eagle presided. Mr Maddison (a candidate for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) said the time had gone by for Labour to stand still and allow their interests in tho affairs of tho city of Wellington to be handled by those who were totally opposed to them. The present City Council was only representative of tho financial and property-owning classes of Lambton quay. Tho present council had done nothing to end tho milk scandal. The council had put up a lot of sound argument for doing something, but it had ended at that; in fact, it was all sound. If the “business” men had carried on their own business in the sameifashion as they had handled the fish market proposition, what a plight they would be in. Referring to his candidature for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board; tho speaker said that there would bo great responsibilities placed upon tho board in the near future, as a result of tho present war —when the voicing of the workers’ point of view was necessary if justice was to be done. , „ Mrs Bock (candidate for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) said that it was essential that working women should be on the board who were in a better position to appreciate the wants of working women and children. The speaker criticised the uncharitable spirit displayed by the board’s agents in inquiring into cases of distress. If a poor woman kept her homo clean, that was very often a reason why relief should not bo given. Free medical service was advocated by the speaker. The boarding out of children was referred to, which, the speaker said, was a matter for inquiry by working-class representatives. Why should unfortunate little children be exploited by unscrupulous persons? As to the election of the City'Council, surely it was the duty of women to see that men and women were returned who would see that tho city had a pure milk and foodstuff supMrs Aitken (candidate for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) also criticised the action of the present board in their treatment of the poor of the city. . . Mr J. McKenzie, who is a candidate for the City Council, dealt with tho housing question, claiming that the council, while admitting that the question was serious and urgent, showed no disposition to deal with it in an earnest and businesslike way, and urged that the L.B.C. candidates should be given the opportunity to insist on the necessity for immediate action from inside the council itself. At the conclusion several questions were put and answered to the satisfaction of the questioners. A vote of confidence in tho speakers and the Labour “Ticket,” on the mention of Mr Bowden, seconded by Air T. Shields, was carried unanimously. Iabour"CANDIDATES AT BROOKLYN. The Labour party candidates 4 addressed a well-attended meeting at the Masonic Hall, Brooklyn, last night, air Hutchison, candidate for the City Council, expressed the opinion that the late council had failed to administer tho city affairs properly. The only remedy was to return the Labour cn ndidates. Proper recreation grounds were pant of the policy of the party. Mr H. E. Holland, a candidate for the City Council, dealt with the city milk supply. The present adulteration was specially stressed, and a, scheme was outlined for better distribution. Mr A. H. Hindmarsh, candidate for the Harbour Board, referred to his ten yeans’ service on the council-, and stated that vested interests would interfere with enterprise, and the only solution was to elect Labour men, whose platform provided for markets, hotter milk supply, and better housing conditions. ONSLOW BOROUGH MAYORAL CONTEST. COUNCILLOR DALE AT KHANDALLAH. About 150 electors attended the meeting at the Khandallah Public Hall last night to hear Councillor J. MDale, the candidate for the Mayoralty, tt had been suggested, said Councillor Dale, that he was too young for the position, but he thought a young man with progressive ideas was better than an older man who lived in the past. Replying to remarks made by Hr Harkness, Councillor Bale stated that the former’s idea that the man five miles away from the stream hod similar rights to the man whose land bounded the stream was unique in law; it was certainly original. Councillor ■Bale challenged Mr Crump to show that without the pumping he could have supplied even 1000 people with 25 gallons a day from the proposed upper reservoir during the last two summers. If he could not do that, why did he move in the council to cut oilt tho pumping plant recommended by Mr Fulton- The candidate showed that on 22 days out of 66 tho upper dam would he empty. Referring to Air Crump’s statement that the stream was fed by springs, Councillor Bale asked whether Bimock’s dam was fed by springs below the catchment area of the council. If so, why was Bimock’s dam never full from November 3rd, 19X6, till March 31st, 1917? The capacity of Bimock’s dam was under li million gallons; the catchment reservoir held five million gallons. He also asked Air Crump why he founded his scheme In 1915 on 130 acres and 40 gallons a head per day, and now favoured 145 acres and 25 gallons a head per day. Bealing with tho arguments of ’ - ’ Councillor Smith that 40 gallons a head was allowed in Mr Fulton’s report - for Eastbourne, because there was the water to spar© there, the speaker said that this only made it tho more clear that enough water was not available for the residents of the borough when they were allowed 25 gallons a head only. Air Fulton now said that they could have more in the wetter months, but what would he the use of knowing in midsummer that you could afford to have a cold shower when midwinter came again? (Laughter.) In regard to drainage, Councillor Palo said it was curious that although

the scheme proposed by the present M*yer did not include drainage, chat gentleman stated at his meetings that ho advocated it. Touching on tho point recently brought up by his opponents that it did not greatly matter who tho ratepayers put in, because a loan could not Re raised without the sanction of tho ratepayers, Councillor Bale said this sounded like the lament of the dying swan. It was equal to saying that the ratepayers should entrust the affairs of the borough to men whose only qualification was that they were unable to do any harm without the ratepayers’ consent. He pointed out that this was the only opportunity tho tenants had of expressing their verdict on the proposed water scheme. On the question of a water loan, only ratepayers could vote. If his opponent s scheme were carried out, tenants would have to pay higher rents, because of increased rates tor au insufficient water supply without drainage. MEETING AT NGAIO. There was a very large gathering of electors in tho Anglican schoolroom, Ngaio. on Wednesday evening to hear the views of Alessvs W. Appleton, A- B. Topp, and E. G. Tucker, tho three candidates opposed to tho catchment scheme. Councillor Appleton gave an account of his stewardship for the past two years. Ho stated that for the first time for many years the general rate had been reduced, that Ngaio’s debit balance of £337 had been practically wiped out, and that the Hutt road low had been paid out of revenue. The speaker also pointed out that two good footpaths had been constructed out! of income, and this in a war period. Councillor Appleton mentioned that when the borough was in need of money he had secured money at call at 3i per cent., the lowest rate ever obtained by the council. In respect to future policy. Councillor Apoleton intimated that if again elected ho would pursue the same prudent policy; his aim would be to continue to keep down the rates until things became normal, and endeavour to'bring about amalgamation with the city at an opportune time. This was the only feasible way in which they could secure water and drainage. Air E- G. Tucker, in dealing with the growth of tho district and the need to look ahead in respect ta a water scheme, quoted figures given by tho borough engineer showing that the portion of Onslow to be served by water had increased 160 per cent, in the eight years from 1907 to 1915 from 800 people to 2000 persons. The speaker read a list of 19 New Zealand (towns taken haphazard, showing that on the average over 40 gallons of water per head per day wove being used. That, stated Mr Tucker, was conclusive proof that, in allowing only 25 gallons for 3000 neople the catchment proposal was inadequate. He specially appealed to tenants and showed that an unsound water scheme which would raise the rents as well as the rates equally with an efficient scheme was a matter that interested them. Air A. B. Topp, who received an ovation on starting, explained the reasons which induced him to have doubts as to the efficiency of the catchment scheme. The first point that impressed him was the uncertainty ot the legal position. Even to the lay-: man it was evident that where a firm had enjoyed the water from the catchment for a number of years, something would have to be paid for the deprivation of those rights. As to the extent of the claims, ho quoted Air Levi, Mr Myers, and Air Martin to show that tho clai ns would not ho imaginary, but very real. Air Topp also explained that he had made a personal visit to the catchment area a few days was obvious that the water from at least 12 to 15 acres did not flow into the catchment at all, but went into another creek. It was not possible to stop this. It had been stated that a lot of water flowed into the area from land situated higher than the catchment. Air Topp explained that this was not true. There was a. saddle senarating the land, and a ravine carries the water down towards Makara. At the conclusion of the addresses a number of questions were put and onswered. A further meeting of the foregoing candidates is announced for Tuesday next in the same building.