MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14499, 16 April 1909, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

THE CITY MAYORALTY

Mil WALKER'S ADDRESS.

Mr Walker, ono of the candidates for lie city mayoralty, addressed a meeting of ih» intepayers in the Howe Street Hall las* evening, and met with a cordial rcceptioi. Mr (.Icorge Floury occupied the clia r.

Tie Chairman said when asked lo take, tho chair ho litid agreed (o do so with very great, pleasure. He had known Mr V-altar since his boyhood. He was an old Stone htliool hoy, mid it. was well known that tio Stone School had turned out tome g«od dkizfltiii, Mr Walker among tlicui. He did iitL think tho ratepayers coidd Is; lxitUir served than they would be if Mr \ValkvT was in the intiyoral chair. —(Applatisc.) lie ha<l been rat.hor surprised at seeing Xr Walker opposed en this occasion by Mr M'Donaltl for thin ramon: At llio declaraliiyn of Ihe poll Mr M'Donald had staled thd aHhutrrh Mr Walker had boon defeated he was a mosl excellent councillor, and be hoped that at the next 'mayoral election Mr Wallor would bo returned imoppo-v<!. Mr M'Doiald had also niid ihe Kline tiling at tho navoral .installation. He (the Klioakcr) wis there, and lie was niiieii surprised that Mr M'Donald was the only gentleman in the council who had come forward to oHxxtt Mr Walker. Out of fair play (o Mr Walker ho thought they should return liini lis mayor. lie was a deserving oiti'/.cil, and a gocd business man. and had achieved considerable succr-.-s a-, a Councillor as they kuov. lie did not think they could do lietter llan return Mr Walker. There was nothing Mr M'Donald, worthy man a> lie was, cotiU do that Mr Walker could not. <io. He (the chairman) was going to do his ly.st to |ut Mr AValker in the mayoral chair for Ihi eiivsuing year.—{Applause.l

Mr Wulkei prefaced his remarks by stating that lie was very glad of ihe opportunity of "again meeting the electors of Leil.li Ward and opening his campaign in «iiinee!icu 1 with tho mayoral election. H:> iwrpcsed to'.'jriolly go into tho working of the various departments controlled by the Oity Council, and to ■endeavour, as lar as lay in hid pjwer, lo explain them in a lucid manlier. The question of most ini.portanee to tie citizens was the tiiia.ncial one, as oil tie buoyancy of that ki.rg-eiy depended whfthjr tuauv works could he carried out. The details of this department had boAii clearly explained in an article by Or Small, ar.d as the figures were quite correct, in his opinion it would be superfluous to reiienilo them, and he would sillily state trmt the citizens were greatly indebted to tliar ge.utle.man for lite anictunl of work he lad performed in connect ion with tho finances-of tho oity. The result, of the year's working in the tramways department was of special importance as representing one of the latrst Irading .conuh'ik exploited by the city. Thu liuapj'ial result for the- year showed a gross profit of £5200. and alter deducting £1500 for rencwila, inlerwt, sinking; fund. etc.. a net profit, of £3700 was shown. 1 1 was most gratifying to note, tln.it tho returns from this doi>aiiinei!t were improving satisfactorily, and it s]K>ke volumes for the business ability and (ant displuycd by the manager and tit:; excellent body of iiicji employed in tbo sorvieo, >vho compared meet, favoumbly with anv in the Australasittn colotiiw. Tho qiKfrtion of a. reduction in train fares would come before the council nt au wlv date, and he felt, certain that tho system he had advised some rr.ouths bach would 1« .Shortly put, what he had advocated was the issuing ol a. ticket for &, v/hiclt would enalite 11k holder to travel on any i.hrec sections 12 times. This would lueel tiio wants of all the posseiigore lo terminal points and cover any throe sections, and should the holder of the ticket only travol one or two aeclionu the. conductor would lake a clip off the ticket, the same as if the [MStiOn.ger had trhvelled three. To llto working man who wtnild like to lake his family out to St. Clair, Andetson's Bay, or Xormanby t.'io present. co.st was a severe lax. and to llmsj wdio re,vid?d at Ihe terminal points the fame remark applied. J!y |nipu!arwiiig Ihosjvloin on the limn he iudio;it«l he felt certain the revenue, instead of decreasing, would show an inert-use, as the public would purchase these tickets for'convenience, many moro would travel, ami it would boa great, iiKhicfiinOJit to übf'flin houses in iho suburlxs, where ground was not to valuable, and llicrc was rwiu to move alxmt. Other reforms wJiicli lie wotdd strongly support were Uio erection of time tatHcs at tho tormini of all eoetioiiß, and tint tickets lihould bo jircciHvd at all sect ions, 'llicsc conoe?3ioai would enable the 'public to Havel more cheaply, to 'purebasre tickets at all sections, iiiul get the ueccssa.ry ; inforiiiation ro tinio talulo, ;ui<l \voul<l incivMHo the tramway revenue by inducing greater numbers lo travel and we the system. Tbo Tevenue resulting from tho water department was sleadily inert'using, and the water sold to the suburbs was proving a great factor in this advancement. The net profits derived from tho department during the year amounted to £9000, and out of this it hud been decided lo transler the sum of £3000 towards the municipal account. The Mayor had (dated publicly flint it would be. necessary to borrow £100,000, or more, to utilise hw Stream for the purpose of providing a further supply (or tho city's rt'tiniromculs. _ This might be his opinion, but he (Cr Walker) felt certain that tho good sense of Ihe citizens would bo absolutely against' eucb li proposal as tending to increase our indebtedness wlien ther'o was no occasion for it. The pre.seiit Wuit.'iti-Leith silo for a reservoir was an admirable one, and bv reducing lite holding capacity to below wind was originally intended it would bo large enough for many yeans to come. The rights had all lieen secured, and the water, for quality and quantity, was in every way satisfactory, and h< would strongly oppose further borrowing or any more money being hpeJit Oil I.ce Stream. Should further water conservation be required, the. Silvers ream reservoir could lx> very much increased at a minimum of expenditure, and a large amount of'water could be savod by a strict supervision of taps, fittings, etc.—the coneiiinpiion in Dnnedin being abnormally high, averaging between 60 and 70 gallons |>er head per day. Tho electric light and power de]>artnient was proving a big factor in Ihe success of tbo manufacture* connected with the city and suburbs. The careful and able management was proving tluit iti the future it would rank as a revenue-producing factor in (lie finances'of the city. The net profits for tho last 12 months, after paying interest but no sinking fund or depreciation charges, were £1000, and the prolsiblo revenue for Ihe coming year would lie £23,000. When the extra 2000 hoiv.epower was available it would make a considerable difference in the profits, and justify the expenditure of tbe large amount of money involved in Hie wbeme, and greatly reduco the niaLuleuancc and other charges on the undertaking. The put department was one with which he had hern most closely connccled, having served on the committee for six veal's—for the last four years as chairman. During the hist two vears most important works 3 nd extensions had been carried out, and these works were at present practically completed. Tho cost of the works was estimntcd hv the consulting engineer at

£55,000, for which a. loan of £5i3,0C0 was (loafed, the balance to be taken out of revenue. it spoke volumes for those who had liee.n entrusted with the carrying out of ih"se works that they had been carried (nil ill a highly creditable and eflieionl manner and within the intimates. During the last two yeare tho Ua.s Committee had had to hue most serious allegations as to the stability of Iho works by a small section of tiio council, hut. on full inquiry into these matlor s lh»ri'was found nothinif to support the complaints. It had lioeii slalc-d by his opponent thai the foundations of the relorl-house would fink and ill,? structure of brickwork would crack longitiidiunllv, and thus cause the walls to lie out of plumb, but wlnil was the result 10-ilay? The walls stood an .straight as when ereelcd 12 months ag/i, there mil being the slighted. fracture in the whole IcnL'th. There was a small fissure sho-.vi iii llio brick work on the front, under one of lie. Amies, which did not. impair 'he, slabilily In llio slighlf.'l oxleiit, and which, iiill™ attention was socially direeled lo it. coiitl not l:o ---- n. Olhnr complaints hull been formulated as lo llio foundalion of tho gasholder. groining under I lie holder, and oilier* of a more or le.ss serious character. hike tho reft, tlies.* had been referred lo the consultinir engineer, and without euvpt'.ui .iiey had 'foil proved lo icmlaiu im Minus element beyond such a.- would apply lo anv large const ruelioiial works. These , complaints had considerably hampered and worried the st'ilT; and Malomenl- made, whiih ill themselves were nust lrivi.il, had been matinifiod 1o fueh an extent as In tend to lielittle ils anlhoriiv and (real- 1 a feeling in 111.) public mind dillicult to dk.ipnle. The new system of motor-readings was giving every t-.iSi^fneliiH), :i=s the report from |!ie pis accoiuilanl would explain. The fiiiu of £517 had Ixeu colhtted bv the inspectors, who told him that I hey fully expected ibis iiinoiiii 1 lo be very considerably iiicroiicod this moiii.il. This w-iit to show that, the iciblie appreciated the change of system. To illustrate the saving of labour brought about hv the change. he inform those prese.nl that t.he oulside collections for last month represented 2310 receipts, which, under Iho old system, would . have been written by the inside staff at the counter. Through the introduction of carbon copies of the inspection hooks they were also saved the labour of making out over 6000 gas accounts per month. I'y those two items alone I here was a very eonsiderable saving of time, and lie felt certain that it was much appreciated by tho general public, | atul would lead lo a gre.il reduction in the | expenses of the ofiico department, a bi(j ! faying to Ihe ratepayers, and a much better ; system of checking and finding out complaints. There were some who could not see eye to eye with iheni in I his respect, but tho initial ion of a. new scheme had always some detractors, who were anxious to see the worst s ; de. During this year 1 they had reduced the price of gas to a | uniform rate of 5s per ICOOft, and were now in line with the other cities in the Dominion. This would do away with the two meters in one house, and prove a big saving lo (lie department. 'i'lie work in connection with the department- had been very onerous, and hud required a great d-'-al of attention, and he felt very proud that the finished result was satisfactory in every respect, and a credit to those in charge. Mr English, as consulting engineer, and Mr llungerford. as gas manager, had carried out. their duties in an eminently tali;factorj manner, and tho (ia.s Committee and council had loyally supported him iju'oughcmr. tho whole of bis term of attire. This winter the whole of the works would 1)3 in aelivo operation, and lie trusted a ..long ami prosperous life would bo in front of them, and t.hnt in tho future oven letter results would follow than in the past. The city reserves wore in the capable hands of Mr Tannoek whobe management and methods of carrying out tho various works were both excellent and economical Our Gardens were strand to none in Ihe Dominion, and were very largely patronised by the general public, one very strong attraction being (ho handfome Winter (hirdens, with its lovely anil rare planls, generously donated by Mr Ulendining. Jjo was extremely pleaded to note the amount placed on Ihe «jlinial.es lowards improving the Northern Itccreation Reserve, and would ?l rough' urge that this amount, he .supplemented by allowing Ihe workmen lo give it a certain dogi-ee of attention throughout the year, aiid that a hedge should be planted inside the present fencing. The citizens in the north end deserved fair ir"a(u:ciit, as they luul spent a. confiidciitble amount on the grounds, which were very iargel.v used by ihe residents in lite neighbourhood, aiid liy the school children. The other grounds used for athletic purposes should be kept in good order, and every facility given to meet: the reasonable requirements of those taking part in the various games.

In a letter to the daily papers a. few weeks ago the Mayor had staled he had given a promise to Ihe citizens 12 months ago to have public tonveniences erected, hut owing to lack of funds ho was unable to carry out his promise, and be had now arranged with two busin«« firms and tho Carnegie Library Committee to allow lheir convenience- to he used. The insertion of ibis letter, to his mind, was most unfair to the majority of shopkeepers who had in lite past freely and willingly made their premises free to those who required them, and ho i;ad lieon approached by qnilo a nuiiibor who strongly objected lo any particular linns being mentioned, as I hey, having previously done the same thing, considered they were entitled lo the same amount of publicity. In regard to the Carnegie Library, llio whole of tho committee was in accord \vith the convenience being placed in front, of the building. What was required in Duuedin was that it should have public conveniences for both sexes convenient to the centre of tho city, where the public had a right, lo go. and tho question must be faced to bring ourselves up to dale. The erection of swimming baths was one of the strong planks of his opponent's platform last year, but the question had been shelved on the score that there was uo money available for the purpose. Swimming baths, of a size and construction, could bo erected if (.ho matter wa-; given serious consideration and proeecde.l with on less elaborate lines. What was wanted was, in his opinion, two baths, one at Ihe north and one at tho south end. wit.li a pool capable of carrying 100 jicople, w-ith the ncceesarj acioniinodation; tho Ijtths to have jio roof or heating appliances. but that a hot bath could be procured on the premises, if necessary. The sites could bj arranged, one in the Oval, and the other in the gardens; a. nominal sum to he paid for adniiesion. On 'hese lines -they could he erected cheaply, ittnl for many years would be of great advantage to the citizens. Tho position of Duuedin as a seaport town rendered it imperative i hat something shoiddibedoiie, and if only one life was saved through acquiring Ihe art of swimming, the expenditure would be justified.

Tho consensus of opinion would be that tho erection of a public market was m'tvY-'-ury in our oity, as in liia-nv cases a working man will) a family had a difficulty in making both ends jne?t. and when work was not regular tbis difficulty wa6 accentuated. Tho jxjsit-iou of a site was now under consideration, and when that was determined on Che Jiiovoment would have his earnest support. The question of a superannuation scheme for all employees in the coi-jioration service w,n> a right and proper one. and had his lx-st support. The Government purposed legislation ilnring the coining session, aJid tlio scheme of amalgamating tho various bodies ami suiting ti)) a board to cmbraco thiyii all would Ix; on right lines and should prove of great assistance to iln- workci-s. lie would like lo -vclw to a matter that kul Ix'en agitating the pubiie mind for a considerable time, anil that was the purchase of jarrah sleepers. Ho knew in discussing this ho would not he doing anything that was wrong, bsesiusfl a cominittco was set up to .inquire' into the. matk'r at the prevent time. He did not know anything that, tlio committee had done, nor what reports it- had received, but Jio knew what had lirajiMuireti in tho council. and Ik; would uiidtavour to give them what had happenod up to the present time. A communication was received from the Ja.rrah Company slating it had a number of . stapers for salo in Invorcargill, and on this coming boforo tho Tramways Committee it was decided that the city engineer and C'-r Cole should proceed to Invoroargill to inspect tiie nloepoi-s. They wont down, and on tlieir return reported. The report came before tlio «>uncil, which authorised the purchase of 4000 of the No. 1 sleepers at 2s bd each. Tho next thitig was thatbetKOCTi tiie council meetings tho Mayor instructed tiie chairman of tho 'JVaimiays Oohiul >e to purchase the whole ot the sleepers at 2s ltd. He was not pvep;i! .m 1 to say tchc Mayor was wrong in doing this, but in tho faro of a resolution of the council it was injudicious to piirehaso tho Jot at 2s lid. It sleepers wore absolutely wortliless, was it not a wrong thing to ipurciia.se tlieni in the face of a re|»rt such as lito ooimcil had '! It ivas stated tlint tlio council confirmed the purchase at its next jiteeting. Some objected, but no matter how they might have objected, thore was the letter of tlie Mayor instructing tlio chaimrcui of lite Tramway Committee to p.urchaso

the sleepers. No Mayor had power to do that son >.t thii'/j, ar.d il il was found thai (Ijc purchase b.iil landed I ho city with £400 or JJ.'iQO uf r\{:cn-e, who was to p;ty irTin majority of tho council had had ab-olmely nothing to do with if. lie had Ih'cm asked 10 expaiu Ids cornice!ion with tli:» matter, and ho had had really nothing tc do wit.ii i:. He would like to take this opportunity of thanking liirx-o present for their attention and the consideration they hud extended toward.? him. Tnough he had roecucd no requisition from tha latepayeis, as hisopponuut had from iho south end ratepayer?. lie believed t.iicv would support him ] lovally, .'mil his many friends, would work bard to M.'oiuv hid leturn. lliis opponent had stated publicly " ihtit ho (.Mr M'Doniild l was only jifil beginning to get, into complete touch v. ith all the oiiy's busi ncv? concerns," but it thai, were no, Mr M'lJonald liiifct ha\e neglected his opportunities of acquiring t.he information Itofore accepting tin: mayoral chair, as every councillor should ;)t! coiiveiv.'ini. with the work that, came hoioie the council, it was tho right of every citiznri to aspire to *Jie office ol Mayor, a.nil it was oiuly fair to assume that if a councillor gave a large amount of time ami attention to the afFiir.*! of the oily that the citizens would recognise tint on polling day. The majority (if the present councillor!! were quite competent, to lill the portion of Mayor, and they had a j itrliL to raped that il they ?ervoJ the city faithfully the citizens would recognise the fact, li. would be unfair to them that one man should fill the position for more than one year unless under very special circumstances. During his lenti of oflioe he luid endeavoured to conserve tile cilizens' interest. to ,'ict fairly and in...!ly to alt, to pay a iiecft-siry wage of Cs ]>sm' day to all employees ; n tho -ervice. a I'd ho felt certain the;- would return tiini to the mayoral olv.t;r on ihe tigiii iiia.. in which event it would bo his duty to take every care that ttie expenddiiie was kept wit hi n t.he city's incoine.—(Applause.)

At tlv condii-dcn of ibo address a nu.Tibrr of qiKSrio.x were answered by Mr Walker, lo the apparoV .-e.tisfadion cf tlio.e nie'eiit, and ou ihe mo'.iou of ill' (,'hadu'iek. se*<itided by Mr ()slx>rne, it was unanimously reserved t-ha-t Mr Walker should !).*> for his addle..-*, and that the meeting con.-idei-ed him iho rno-t fit and prop?!' por.soii lo reprisent the citizens of Diitiediu in tho mayoral chair for the com-

ing year

X.K. VAIihKY MAYORALTY.

Vigorous speaking and (lie emphasis of oHiciti-! i'iL r iU\'s characteris-cd the addrefs delivered last evening in Jlarron's Hall by Cr ll n'Yi'V. a uvmdid.ito for the N.K. Valley inurorulry. There uv.s a largo at'lendanre of ratepayers. and the .speaker, detecting the prewnc.! of (.?!• Campbell and Mr Jonathan i{hod-.\s (his two opponents in tho field), devoted much of his i-imo to the refutation of alleged mwciUtoniJiits made in connection with his candidature, and to dealing with charges of "flimsy snbte.rfugce" made

.'.gain* f him. His audits, therefore, covered Drastically Hie vlio'.c range of municipal politics in X.B. Valley, and ho answered, apparonUv in a satisfactory manner. Jill the arguments tint had been brought up against him. ]n order to allow hit) hearers to understand botli sides of various controversial matters, lie, at (he conclusion of his address, invited .Mr Khodes on lo the pfatform. Mr Rhodes came forwaiyl, and defended bis statements and policy with strength and candour, and was kindly received. Tnen Cr Harvey proceeded to <f?inol.sh Mr Rhode's arguiiierir.'i, atul. seeking corroboration, asked Mr Isaac Green. Mayor of N.E. Valley, to spui!,-. This Mr (ireoa did, making his usual spiveh, a.ml having the desired information, he urged the claims of Cr Ilarvey on the ratepayers of ,\'.K A'alley. A number of (|ii«!iions were asked and answered, and then the meeting on the motion of Mr Green, seconded by .Mr W. Morrison, earned a motion thai in its opinion, Cr Harvey was the person most fitted to oeoupy the position of Mayor of the borough. Mr Andrew Duncan was chairman, and the m<v?ling, although opposing factions and interests had obviously come together, was very quiet and ordorlv, and, on tli-e whole, very partial to Cr Harvev.

I,KITII V.'AII"). A niching of supporters of Cr H. 11. S. White, who has again, announced hiinsolf «8 a candidate for Lrit.li Ward, ivas Itold in his committee rooms at the corner of Union and King street last evening. Mr John While presided, and there were .ifcout 20 ni?ml>e.is of committee present. Cr Whito gave a full account of his tenure of ollieo during the past two years, and dealt exhaustively witn the various municipal departnienU and undertakings, Among oUw important questions, he touched on the inlaying of the tramway track in Ucorgc fitreet, tii? position in connection with which ho said had been far from eiti-jfaetcry. He gave a forecast of the future pclicy of the council iti regard to certain undertakings, and out L : ned what ho would nuiko it, bis earnest endeavour to sec done in order to conserve the money cf the ratepayer*. The meeting w;us a vory enthusiastic one, and at its clow Cr White was accorded a vot2 of confidence, and those present unanimously decided lo do all in thoir power to cairns the ward atul secure hi.; return.

HIGH WARD. A preliminary meeting of Mr James Connor's supporters in his candidature for High Ward wa.s held last evening at the I'ataco Hotel, Mr 11. 10. Clark was voted to the chair. General .gratification was expte.ved lit the very representative and inlluenlial signatures to the requisition asking Mr Connor to become a candidate, the names disclosing a widespread desire on the part of all cWxs t-liat Mr Connor should again place his business experience at. the disposal of the coitnoil. Arrangements were made for the formation ot a working committee. It, was decided that the next meeting be held on Tuesday, 20th in-!. A manifesto from Mr Connor, to the electors of High Ward appears in another column.

SOUTH DUNKDIN WARD. Or Shacklock met a mini bar of his supporters at his committee rooms, King Edward street, last, evening. Ik laid his views of questions, particularly affecting South Diiti<xliu Ward, before flic meeting, and a number of questions we.ro satisfactorily answered, after which continned conGd-enee was expressed by the moating, and tho.se present undertook to do their utmost in securing Mr Shacklock's re-elcction at tho ensuing: poll. Tho committee rooms will bo ipwi every evening, whero roils may be inspected and informal-ion given.