MR SWAN AT ALBANY STREET HALL.

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

MR SWAN AT ALBANY STREET HALL.

Mr W. Swan, one of the candidates for Leith Ward, addressed a meeting of electors at the Albany street Hall last evening. There were between 20 and 30 persons present, and Mr W. Simpson was voted to the chair. The Ckaihmau, in introducing the candidate, referred in complimentary terms to the retiring councillor, Mr Lee Smith, for Ihe services he had rendered to the city, and weut on to say that Mr Swan had a moral claim on the ratepayers of tha ward, inasmuch as he had twice previonsly contested the Beat. Mr Swan said that he had rjofc decided to come forward until he ascertained from Mr Lee Smith that that gentleman's business affairs precluded him from devoting a sufficient amount of time to corporation matters, and that, therefore, he did not intend to offer himself for re-election. He (the speaker) thought that the financial position of the corporation was a very grave one, the city now owing £40,000 on general account. Ha did not blame the present council for that state of things, which wa» rather the result of various causeß. The value of properties had varied greatly during the last 10 years, and it was in that direction that there was a default in revenue. The value of city properties in the years mentioned was as follows:— 1579, £271,305; 1880. £878,419; 1881, £285,210; 1882, £294,062 ; 1883, £303 724 ; 1834, £312,804 ; 1885, £310,206; ISB6, £291,971; 1887, £278,000; ]888, £260,514. Along with this dfcro.ise in the value of property the city had recently placed on them the extra charge of hospital and charitable aid, while further expense had been incurred through streets having to be formed on the reclaimed ground, so that it was really a wonder that the rates had not been increased. In a few years several debentures would become due, but he understood that, the sinking fund would meet them and that meant a relief to the city in one year alone of £2000. They should also expect more revenue !n future from the water and gas departments as the population that had left them during the last year or two returned to Dunedin. As to the gas department he thought it wtu fvirly well managed, and the incomo from it should rather be increased than decreased. Had it not beenfortho chemical experiments that the co'.mcil had rather foolishly, the speaker thought, made, the cost of which would be charged to the department, an excellent balance sheet would have been shown. It seemed an extraordinary and unexplained thing why the City Council should have allowed KemptiiorNo Prosser, and Co. to make experiments for their own' profit, and without coniideration to have released the company from liability. No private business would have dune thl6, and be did not see why the City Council should have done so. It was unfair that the citizens should l.c saddled with hundreds of pounds of expenses to allow any company to make experiments. The council teemed to have made a terrible muddle of that bueiness.and he thought the matter should be reopened with a view of getting the company to meet, the council in the matter of expenses There were various questions 1 hat would probably come, up f,.r l-.,r cnnsirteraM.:ii. 5.,,1 I,- prop..s..d t.i Miy a K-u words ali.,ut emu. Our ol 1,1,,: v*'i.M- -y il!-"hc»;r>.'".i 5 li'.-Viv; !i-.'i.'if ii'L.rr':,i.Ji-.''i'^u'.r" ' tv-r. ': a- v.- ~.>r.i ioi-. .:, ..: .i. i.,i; :.iu-v ~,-.; .';'.. :.!U'lullni: !•) Ihr oitf.!.:-.i.:.,. b s i:l [i p - .M. •..•■•.',-.,! . |... . i,i-rv; tlii-lKiiiili of in. iulinbita;,!!,, an.l if elected lie would do all in his power to Bee that acttntioa was

given to the matter. With regard to Blaughtq ! houses, lie did not think it was the duty of the City Council t.o do moro than see that theie places were properly and cleanly kept. It had no funds to huild them, and it would be unfair to give a monopoly to ny private company that might ruin men in a email way of business. 'Ihe proper thing, he Jiought would bo, If it could be arranged, for the butchers to co-operate to come to some agreement amongst themselves so that.good slau»hter houses could bo maintained and no one in the trade be unfairly inteifered with. If a company could show that the slaughtering could be conducted more cheaply and more eßectively than at preßenfc, the butchers would no doubt fall in with them and agree that the alaughterini; work should be done by them. If, nowuver, more were butchers conducting their own business m a way that was not offensive) to anyone, and that was not injurious to the people who bought their meat, it would be unfair for the City Council to interfere with them. The tramways wero an immense convenience to the people, and any concession that could bo fairly eiven to them so long as the fares were not raiised, or the city in any way burdened, should be granted. If the company had a probable monopoly then any further concessions should be jealously watched. The company had given the citizens cheap and quick travelling, and it was entitled to some consideration. He did not Bee any reason why the electric system should not be tried provided that the city was in no way injured. As to its safety ho presumed that the city surveyor would see to that. There should be some clause by which the council could do away with the system if it was at any time found to bo dangerous or a nuisance. In reference to hawking meat, he certainly thought that a difference should bo made between thoso who paid rates and those who did not. In conclusion, he thought that one of the du'ie3 of a cil.y councillor was to carefully husband the finances so as to avoid any increase of rates. Ho was afraid that if the new Charitable Aid Xiill was passed it meant a heavier burden being east on the ratepayers. He thought city councillors should carefully visit the various parta of the waid from time to time to see that the conveniences of the ratepayers were attended to. He Bhould consider it a great honour to bo returned, and would do what he could to deserve it. In answer to the question as to whether he would be in tavour of over head wires in connection with the electric trams, Mr Swan Bnid if it was found to be injurious to the city or public he would oppose it. In reply to another qutstion Mr Swan said lie would be entirely against an increase of rates, and would do ail in his power to prevent an Mr items Hebnan proposed that Mr Swan was the most and proper person to represent the ratepayers m Leith Ward in the City Council. This was seconded by Mr Simon M'Donald and carried, there being only one hand held up against the motion. A vote ol thanks to the retiring councillor, Mr Lee Smith, proposed by Mr Matthews and seconded by Mr Owen—both of whom spoke in highly complimentary terms of the way in which Mr tee Smith had filled the position of councillorclosed the meeting. MR HUTCHISON AT RUSSELL SIBEET. There was only a sparße attendance at the meeting convened by Mr Hutchison in the Kussell street Mi»Bion Hall, and the candidate accordingly adjourned the meeting,