MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8596, 11 September 1889, Page 4

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MR BAEEON'S MEETING. Mr J. Barron, the retiring member for High Ward and a candidate for re-election, addressed a meeting of ratepayers in the Hattray street Hall last evening.' There was a fair attendance. The chair wbb taken by Mr W. Dawsok , who remarked that it w»b all very well to cry out for new blood in the council, but the gentleman who was opposing Mr Barrou was a ptetty old blood. As to the finances of the city, he (Mr Dawson) must contradict the statement tliat they were in a very bad state. At the end of the laßt financial year in which he held office there was a Bmall credit balance, whereas for years before the finances had been going to the bad. There was, in biß opinion no need for the outcry for a new financial system. Mr BAltiiON, who was well received, said there was no doubt that our streets and footpaths required improvement, and everyone in the council would be glad to see this work done if they had the wherewithal to effect the improvements. He thought the difficulty could be to a great extent overcome by tarriDg and sanding those footpaths that had a good surface; and, if returned, he would make it his busineßß to advocate fcbat this ohould be done—lndeed, be had already spoken to Mr Mirams about the matter, and found that it was possible to give many of the ratepaj'ers clean streets to their doors without spending much money. The channelling .also could be attended to in the same way, aud thuß keep many of tho waterways Bweet at a small coat. As to the gasworks, they were not so good an aßßet as many thought they were, besause they cost a lot of money to keep in repair. And in connection with this subject, it was a question whether gas would be the light of the future, and it would be for the council to consider whether it was worth while to expend on the gasworks more money than was necessary to keep them going. As to the waterworks, there was this yeai for the first time a credit balance, and lie need scarcely tell those present that if credit was duo to anyone for this state of affairs, he was entitled to his chare of it. " Concerning tlio finances of the city, he had no plan to put before the ratepayers excepting that old one of economy—making the money go as far as possible. He was entirely opposed to any increase of rates, and did' not consider that this was necessary, in support of which opinion he would quote from a statement made up for him in the corporation offices, and which could, therefore, be relied on. It was a statement .showing the position of the finances year by year from IBBA to 1889 inclusive, that was, for the six years he had had a seat in the council. The column giving the position as at the aisfc March 1884 showed the debits to be—to municipal account. £22,451 17s 3d; water, £12.238 3s 3d; gas, £1493 4s 3d; consolidated loan, £130 10s 6d ; the overdraft being £36,320 4s 3d at the Slat March 1889. The municipal account debit waß £33,253 7s lid; the water account credit, £BSG 7s ; the gas debit, £870 0s 4d ; consolidated loan, £273 11b ; the overdraft being £33,335 12s 3d. A statement of the revenue from rates showed that in 1881 the council received from this source, £19,691 15b 7d; in 1885, £19 470 13s lid; in 1886, £19,328 13s sd; in 1887, £18,340 6s 7d j in 1888,13,972195; and in 1889, £13,097 15s7d. So that the valuations' of property had come down in six years by one-third, roughly speaking; and yet the council nad managed to keep the city in a fair state, and at the same time had actually reduced the amount of the overdralt. There was, in fact, no necessity for a new plan in connection with the finances, and he questioned whether his opponent with all his plans could make things better and keep them better with the money there was at disposal. Of course, if he were allowed to have extra rates he could do a great deal that could not now be done; but it was for the ratepayers to consider whether an increase of rates was advisable. He (Mr Barron) for one would not advocate any increase. He thought the council deserved great credit for what they had done. The present councillors were spending the money in a way the ratepayers could not grumble at. As to the question of gaol Bite, his opinion was that the present site was a bad one. We should have the gaol in such a place that it would not reduce the value of property round it. He thought there would be a suitable site near Logan's Point. In answer to a question, the candidate said that be wa3 not prepared to advocate tho raising of the channel in Maolaggan street at the present time, but he recognised that the channel was dangerously steep, and as soon as possible be would try to have the evil remedied.' Mr Bain thought that Mr Barron had not sufficiently looked after the interests of his own ward—he had neglected it for the general welfare of the city— but, notwithstanding this, he (Mr Bain) waa prepared to move that Mr Barron was tha most fit and proper person to represent High Ward. Mr Daves seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.