MUNICIPAL ELECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11497, 18 April 1923, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

A PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE MR F- MEADOWOROFT OUTLINES HIS PLATFORM. “ADVANCE WELLINGTON.” Addressing toe electors’ public meeting held at the Kelburn kiosk last night, Mr F. W. Meadoivcroft, one of tho progressive candidates for municipal honours, spoke as follows: — “Ladies and gentlemen, my first duty, I think, is to thank your chairman for the kindly references made to myself and my career as a citizen among you. ■‘l. take it that it is the duty of every man aooording to hid opportunity and ability to take an interest, an active interest, indeed, in toe affairs of the city of-Wellington, a city of which we ought all to be proiid, and there is much about it to cafl forth in every man and woman resident here a real pride in toe city, and to have higher aspirations with regard to its future. Much has been done by the Civic fathers in toe past, and much more remains to be accomplished. “I am standing,in this election for the purpose of offering my services mj my fellow-citizens with a view to promoting their interests and: toe best welfare and progress of the city. “I have been selected, as you know, by what is known as toe Civic League which is representative of many organisations associated with municipal matters. “I am pleased to have their commendation. blit' it is a matter for the decision, of every man and woman elecas to whether the commendation of the Civic League meets with their approval. i FINANCE.! “Being a business man, and having managed with some prudence and success toe affairs in New Zealand) of a world-wide business, I would, bring to toe consideration of the financial affairs .of toe city those qualities which I trust would operate in the utmost prudence and economy in the management of the finances of toe city. With the increased valuation of all property in a city like this, there ought to bo no undue inflation -of rates, and consistent with securing proper efficiency of all services in toe city it would be my bounded duty, if selected as a city councillor, to, watch with conservative prudence all expenditure. Prudence, in my judgment, in the fore-runner of success. ' CITY WORKS. “A city like Wellington must of necessity carry on many business transactions, in fact it |ias businesses of its own, its electrical supply, its fire prevention service, its tramways, are all business propositions, and ought to be conducted on business lines. Speaking of tramways, it is possible in my judgment that Tramway fares may be reduoed. Some say -that if you Teduce tramway fares you are bound to reduce wages. These two things, to my mind, are not consequential at all. It is possible that by a reduction of tramway fares rdore business migljt be done, the service extended, and more men employed in carrying out that service. The city has the governance or control of the sub-divisioii‘ of land within its area, it has also the control to a large extent of building operations, and it ought to be the duty of city councillors to , see that the subdivision of land is so made chat building. sections shah provide plenty of air Space in tho interests of the city’s general health. TOWN PLANNING. Any one who ’ knows, and I am sure you twill excuse me for making reference to the founding of the town of Bournville, which was accomplish ad by my firm, will readily realise that town planning, so ; as to provide for the expansion of the city on lines cf health, utility and beautification, will have my undivided and whole-hearted support. If you’ have congested residential areas, no open spaces, and no mean's whereby the surroundings of toe homes oL the people can be improved, then the general -standard of the people’s character will tend to deteriorate. It therefore becomes, to my way of thinking, the duty of'every candidate for civic office to be seized of toe needs qf citizens in this respect, and so mould the'policy and purpose of the council that toe general betterment may be promoted. RESERVES AND TOWN BELTr It may be said,-■'and said truly, that we are not making the utmost use of our reserves and town belt for the purpose of promoting general . fitnesa and good health of our people. I think provision ought to be made for additional gardens. We should have more play grounds for children. Any one, who has witnessed the joy and pleasure which has come to the children at Newtown from the opening of that pilaiy ground there must realise that such play grounds ought to to provided in other places, and. in my judgment, a great deal of good will be done for, toe rising generation by an increase in such grounds. The adoption of a general policy for the treatment of toe town belt to ensure the greatest benefit to the whole community will have my earnest and cordial support, and it will he my ‘duty, as I trust it will be my privilege; to help conserve reserves on tho town belt in the interests and for the general benefit and welfare of thyr, city and' its citizens. CORPORATION DEPARTMENTS. I have already pointed out to you that it is necessary. that our corporation departments should be conducted upon business lines. If the work of any department of the city is inadequate to carry out its scope and purpose, thqp. it will lie necessary to strengthen that department. It has been stated that toe departments of toe corporation are unable to. overtake all the work that is lying to their hands and so urgently needed. ' My point is that such a department ought to be ‘strengthened so that the works should be carried out with as little delay as possible. EDUOATON DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH. “You are doubtless aware that I' have taken a lively: interest in the educational and recreational interests of the city, and I am gratified that we have excellent public libraries and zoological and 'botanical gardens. We have already promoted public music, lectures in art and technical subjects. These for their maintenance should have liberal support, and I should do my utmost to extend their utility and access to all citizens. “It is a matter for regret that prevision was not made for the building of hot water and even.. Turkish baths in the city before toe necessities of the city required the abolition of those conducted by private individuals... It iy'said that cleanliness is next to Godliness; then let iis offer all facilities for the exercise of cleanliness on the part of alll citizens. I do not say that the

citizens of Wellington are not clean, but do say that there are many strangers that are Within our gates who are not owners of their' own houses, and it is essential in their interests as well as citizens generally that public baths of the character that I refer to should be established at the earliest possible moment. The public heatlh of the city demands it, and it will be my earnest endeavour to give the closest attention to all matters affecting public health. HOUSING CONDITIONS. “In the matter of housing, experiments have been made, and I do not know . that they *have been altogether successful, but that is no reason why a conference of practical builders, both employers and tradesmen, should not he brought together, along with the city’s experts, with the object of discovering idle best means of securing an increased building of houses within the city boundaries. There may be economic reason, there doubtless is, why 'houses are -not being built by speculative builders, as was formerly the case, but it is one of the.growing needs of the city, that the housing conditions should be improved, more houses are urgently required to relieve' the pressure of the congested conditions. CONCERNING TRAMWAYS. - I have already said that the council Should aim at the efficient business management of the city’s trading services, and that they should have due regard to tile financial stability of ell city undertakings. They should also be alive to the expansion and future needs of the city, and when I contemplate the proposed purchase of the Kelburn tramway by the citizens, I have some, apprehension that tliat purchase, even if ratified, will be quite inadequate to meet the growing needs of Wellington. You will have your own opinion concerning the purchase of the Kelburn train way, but personally I say this, tl at the purchase of the Kelburn tramway would only be a temporary expedient, and I doubt very much if the city as a whole would be benefited by the purchase. In my judgment it'would he neoessary, and I believe the time is now, when a further outlet is essential to the city’s progress. There is a scheme whereby a tramway should be built from Manners street earner to the Terrace, and through Kelburn direct to Karori, and though the Raroa tramway scheme may go forward to accomplishment, it will, in'mv opinion, be essential for such an undertaking as I have outlined to be put .in hand at no distant date. .present Kelburn tramway is serving a, good and useful purpose, and it ought to be allowed to continue, but that ib no reason why other facilities in the direction I have indicated should not be undertaken. A’so the needs of the Hataitai and districts beyond.". It was surely a short sighted (policy that established a" narrow tunnel such as now exist®, and there, ia necessity there for duplication, and enlargement, and such enlargement ought to be in keeping with the future expansion of the city in that direction, t There ought, in my judgment, be another tunnel 1 built through the Mount Victo-'ia range, and that ought to combine net only a line of tramways, but also provision for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. I might mention in connection wiih this matter that-there will ibo by way of the Mangahao scheme sufficient electrical power ,in a few months to carry on these schemes, so neoeksary to the city, and at not a great deal of expense to far as power is concerned. WeUingtm is going to be a city of half a million people within a generation or two, and it is the duty of every man who seeks your support-to take a large and comprehensive view of what the city s future is to .be, and end&aVour to make provision for it by the largeness of the proposals he should advocate. It is the failure in the past on the part of councillors—l do not speak of the councillors of to-day—but it has been that failure in the past to make adequate provision for tlie growth of the city that has necessitated such extravagance. Consequently, if we can keep in view the time when this city shall have half a million of people then T think that we will not fail if we make our plans in the present large enough to meet the needs of the future. Time will not permit of my saying more, but I have given you a general outline of the policy that I would adopt if I have the honour to secure youT suffrage and support. MEETING AT ISLAND BAY VIEWS OF MESSRS H. D. BENNETT, BURNS, CRUMP, AND ASTON. There was a-largo attendance'-? elec tors at St. Hilda’s Hall, I.,''» Bay, last night, when at the in -nation of the Island Bay Municipal Ekeiors’ Association, Messrs H. D. Bennett, John Burns, C. C. Crump, and J. Aston, candidates for the Oity Council, addressed the meeting. Mr E. J. Collings was in the chair. - , Mr IJennett spoke on the Kelburn ear purchase, giving excellent reasons for. the purchase. He outlined the phenomenal growth of the engineer’s department, and said that the department would have to he re-organised in the'near future. Me Orump, exMayor of Onslow, spoke of his activities in ( the past on behalf of the city, and said that if elected would 1 do hia best to meet the wishes of the electors. Mr Bjrns defended the action of the housing oonimittee, and denied that the Scheme they had formulated had been a failure. Mr Aston considered tliat cheaper fares would have to be given on the trams to citizens living in the outlying districts, add showed how the present tramway syitem could be reformed. The speakers were accorded a heartyvote of thanks and confidence.

NOMINATIONS ELSEWHERE

PLENTY OF ASPIRANTS. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 17. Mr F. El. Wilson was re-eleoted Mayor unopposed. There are twenty-one candidates for the eight council seats. The retiring members of the Harbour Board were re-elected. There are four candidates for the three seats on the Hospital Board. CHRISTCHURCH, April 17. There are only two nominees for the Christchurch Mayoralty, Mr J A. Flesher (Deputy-Mayor), nominated by the Citizens’ Association, aod Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., also a sitting councillor, nominated by the Labour Party. For the sixteen seats on the council, there are thirty-one candidates, including fifteen nominated by the Citizens’ Association, ten by Labour, and six independents. The poll for the council will be under the proportional representation system. WHANGARiEII, April 17. Mr D. A. McLean was re-elected Mayor of Whangarei unopposed. Sixteen, have been nominated for the nine Borough Council seats. . GORE, April 17. Mr David MoDougalj and Mr Dugald Poppelwell will contest the Mayoralty of Gore. Fourteen nominations were received for/ twelve councillors' seats. LEVIN, April 17. Councillors Goldsmith and Hobson have been nominated for the Mayoralty. Nine nominations have been made for the nine seats in the Borough Council. .Proposals for a loan of <£49,000 for sool-

ed roads and publio buildings are being submitted to the ratepayers. NAPIER, April 17. Mr J. B. Andrews (present Mayor) and A. H. Renouf (councillor) have been nominated for the Mayoralty, and eighteen candidates for eleven seats on the council. - _ TIMARTJ, April 17. G. J. Wallace and the Rev. T. W. Potts have- been nominated for the Mayoralty. There are twenty candidates for twelve seats on the council.