MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16981, 18 April 1917, Page 8

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

MR CLARK'S ADDRESS AT WAKAKI. Mr J. J. Clark, a candidates for tho mayoralty of Dunedin, addressed a meeting o£ electors m tho Wakari Hall last night. rhero wero about 40 ladies and gentlemen present. T\i M r.i' V "i^ lo ° sott ' who referred to Mr Clark s services in the patriotic movement, mentioning especially what lie hu*l done for the returned soldiers. Mr Clark cad sent away many of our boy* with chccrtul words, and it was only right that no should have tho opportunity o£ welcoming thom back.—(Applause.) Mr Clark said the soldiers would always have his first claim, whether ho was Mayor or not. Ho hoped the men would come back in thousands, and it would bo our duty to treat them properly. They must bo placed in their civic life, and it would ■ i * ,? tn rf k - Tho Government could not do it all. Ihe biggest claim would have to eomo on the local authorities. Tho taxpayers, and tho ratepayers also, would havo to nelp lo provido fo r the men. We must savo our money,, therefore, and undertake no very large works in tho meantime. Our ""ids mush bo conserved as much as possible for tho boys when they came home. He also advocated that a suitable memorial should be established for the men, and no more suitable memorial could be provided than a town hall for Dunedin. We wanted our Westminster Abbey, whore, every time the people mot for enjoyment or for any other purpose, they would have before them a standing memorial of tho men who had say™ the city and tho lives of its people — —(Applause.) It was an undertaking that would provido work for £0 men for two years, and everything required: for the building, except the steel girders, could be manufactured in tho* city. Why was he standing tho second time for the mayoralty? Abuse had been piled on his head for his audacity, and little coteries of Ishmaelites went through the city singing their "hymns of hate" against him. However, he had not sought the honour for tho second time, nor did he want it. But people whose advice he valued had come to him and asked him to stand People of all classes had approached him with a similar reqnest, and ho would havo been a shirker if ho had tried to evade what was plainly his dutv nt "us time.—(Applause.) He could not go to light, _ but if ho was wanted in a civic capacity ho was willing to devote his energies again to the duties of tho mayoral omeo, and would do his utmost for the welfare, of tho city and its people.—(Applause.) It had been said the offico should be a rolling one. He had never advocated that it should bo. Indeed, he had often pointed out the absurdity of the rolling-office principle. Tho mayoralty had not always been a rolling office. A few years ago Mr M'Donald stood for the second time, and was defeated by only 30 votes, -which snowed that tho citizens did not' feel very strongly on the question. The man who talked loudest to-day about tho office being a rolling ono was the very man who had sat as Mayor of North-East Valley for five consecutivo years. He mado no compact with his opponent two years ago that ho would help him in this election if ho (Cr Ureen) stood down then. He rebutted tho attack mado on tho Patriotic Association. The members of the association were devoted men and women who toiled hard in tho interests of the men who had gone to fight for us, and it was not fair that those people, who wero working with unselfish motives, should be spoken of as they had been. It had been sad that the association had control of £200,000. That was not the fact The amount was £102,000. and as tho accounts wero frequently published—nearly every month—everybody ought to know the position. Tho Government sent down an official periodically to see that the money was being properly used. It had also been said that the association ought to bb registered. Aβ a matter of fact, it was registered-—properly registered under Act of Parliament. • It was the most democratic body anyone could wish for. Any person who paid" 5s a year was''entitled to vote ,in it. Ho did not see Cr Green's name in the membership. It had been said too that he received £1000 a : y°ar for his services to the association. Such a statement was fallacious, and there had never been any foundation for it.' On the other hand, as one of the War Funds Council, he had visited different parts of tho dominion with Mr Roberts and other members, and they had travelled at their own expense and never looked for the return of a penny of their outiay. They had given their services free and freely.—{Applause.) It had also been said that there were three councillors supporting him. He was suro if the councillors elected tho Mayor ho would have nothing to fear. -Tho city had reason to be proud of ita_ council. The treatment ho had at all times received from councillors was treatment that anyone could be proud of. They had always acted towards him like gentlemen, and ho could say for them" that they had always clone their" work honestly and well. Ho respected the councillors and he believed they respected him. It seemed to him that tho chief use of election speeches was to give the electors knowledge regarding the affairs of the city. Tho most important matter to deal with was the financial position. The total loan liability of tho city was £1,344,462, made up as follows:—

Ordinary Public Works (including the Abattoirs) £ 206,025 Waterworks ... .„ ;„. ... 251.237 Gasworks ... J.. 108,000 Trams _ „ ... 300.000 E.P. and L. 479,200 Total ... £1,344,462 This was a huge sum for a small community like Duiiedin to carry, but the o.ty had been successful in raising it at a. very reasonable raTe of interest. The average rate over the total debt was £4- 7s 4d per cent. Another ratisfactory feature was that in each_ instance provision had been made for sinking fund to redeem the liability. The sinking fund accrued to March 31 was £110.000, and ?,hc council was adding to that amount by about £16,403 per year, inducing Ihe interest earned by the" investments. Tho only direct charge on the ratepayers for the annual interest on these loans was in Tpspcet to a portion of tho expenditure on public works, and the cost of this was equal to a rate of 6d in the pound on the rateable value of the city. Tho interest chargee on the whole of the balance on a total of £1,151.537 was provided for out oi tho revenue of the undertakings on which tho money had been spent—the Trams, Gas, Water, Abatto'i-s, and Electric Power and Lighting Departments. Then, in addition to paying all the charges for interest, sinking fund, provision for renewals and depreciation, and afl working expenses, these vaiious trading branches supported tho general rates to tho extent of an amount equal to a rate of 7d in the pound, or equal to one penny in the pound on. rateable value in excess'of tho interest charges on tho loans spent on noa-roproduc-tivo purposes. It would express tiio position more clearly if he said that for the current year they were drawing on the trading departments to tho extent of £18,04] in relief of rates. The ordinary upkeep of the eitv, together with the charges for hospital and charitable aid purposes, fire board, and such items, was equal to a rate of 3s in tho pound, }fhile for these purposes they wero collecting a rate of J.s 9d. and the'balance of tho expenditure, equal to a rate, of Is 3d in tho pound, was provided by rents, fees, and transfers from the trading departments. Tho detailed statement was as follows: — One pennv in tho pound of rateable value £2837. d. Streets, maintenance 9.91 Streets, lighting 3.21 Baths 97 Sanitary 2.60 Gardens 1.96 Library 83 Interest • 6.03 Sinking fund £8 Hospital and charitable aid ... 3.93 Fire Board_ 1.44 Administration, 1.83 Incidental ... „ 1.53 War pay .'" 60 Total . 36.07 The receipts wero:— d. Rates 21.00 Rente and fees ... 6.57 Incidental „. „ 1.50 Transfers- „ 7.00 36.07 The transfers came from: — d. Trams 1.06 Gas 0.33 13. P. a.nd I*. 1.69 3.13 Water 3.86 6.99 In tho mattar of tho trading departments it could bo claimed, ho thought, that they one. and all were on a perfectly sound financial footing. Tho council hnd established renewal fundi for each jof tho branches. This fund was created by charging against *i>a revenue-, before a nrofifc was declared.

what tho exports said was a sufficient provision for ronowals and depreciation. This system had been in operation for tho past nino ycara, and there was a cash fund to-day to tho amount of about £200,000. JU'oiu -tlipso ligiircs it would bo scon that •■no lumrifial operations in the city were of great magnitude, and while it was safe to say that at tho present time tho whole financial fabric was on a sound footing, it was necessary to say that during the next livi> or sl\ years tho financial position would require the greatest possible core. During that lime it seemed impcrativo that the city niusl, embark on the Leo Stream proposal to ensure an adequate water supply fo the city. That work was expected to cost not ess than £150,000, which meant addingto the yearly charge against tho revenue, something like £10,000 for interest, sinking tuiid, and depreciation. Bcforo tho proposal was likely to bo finally completed tho city would bo faced with tho necessity of raising fresh loans to repay those that were about, to mature to tho value of £499,200, or practically Jialf a million. The amount ot sinking fund that would be in hand ■to meet this heavy call would be only some _£85 ? 000, so that in all probability tho council would bo called upon to re-raise something well over £400,000 by way of redemption loans. A year or so after that date it would have to provido for loans raised by the Draiuago Board amounting to £200.000, which matured then. Tho point to bear in mind about these loans was that the whole of them—the half-million raised by tho City Council and tho £200,0! X) raised by the Drainage Board —were at present bearing a low rata of interest—on an average well under per cent. If, owing to the financial disturbance arising out of tho war, with tho huge deniajwjß that would be mado on the financial Sptources of tho world to replace the ravagfes of the war, they found themselves called upon to pay a much higher rate of interest for the new loans, tho effects on the finances of the city would; bo far-reaching. There wore no sinking funds in respect to tho Drainage Board loans of £200,000, and those would have to bo re-raised in full. Adding to that, say, £400,000, the amount likely to be re-raised to meet the City Council's indebtedness, they had a total of £6C0.000, and if they were called upon to pay interest at tho rate of 5g per cent., or, as some experts predicted, even 6 per cent., instead of the 4i per cent now being paid, they would' readily understand what he meant when he said that tho financial problem that would confront tho council during tho must call for the best and most efficient handling- that it was possible to bestow on it. An advance of 1 per cent, in the interest rate would mean £5000 per year, or an advance of 1£ per cent, would mean £9000 per year as the additional charge against the revenue of the council, and this, too, in addition to the heavy drain on the finances in respect of j the Loo Stream proposals. Ho expressed his appreciation of tfio j policy that had boon followed regarding tho trading departments' renewal funds. Thesoundness of having a liquid renewal fund i was quite apparent, and when tho time of financial stress came- upon the city the sound judgment and business capacity of ! those who were responsible for this catab- ! lishment would be Tccognised. The electors would 1 be well advised to see that the present provisions for the , renewal funds were not tampered with, so as to divert them from the real purpose. He pointed out that the cost of half-pav to those- enlisting, and the special war bonus to the low-paid employees, was calculated to cost £11,000 to £12,000 during the current year. A special provision of £1000 per month for these purposes was no light strain on the finances, and it was obvious that any extensive expenditure policy in snch circumstances could only bo entertained by a very substantial increase in tile rates —a contingency that ho had striven to avoid.

Up to tho year 1897-8 the general, special, and water rates levied in the city amounted to 2s 8d in the £; in tho year 1898-9 an advance was made to 3s, caused chiefly by increase in the special rate, which was the fund out of which interest was paid on tho loans. For the ten years 1898-1908 the total rates collected remained at 3s. Then they were reduced to 2s 9d, and that rate had been imposed ever since. That was to say, no variation at all in the basic rate had been made since 1908, when a reduction of 3d in tho £ was made.

It was instructive, on tho other hand, to peruso the payshcets of these periods. In 1895 tho ruling rate for general labourers was 6s per day. In 1900 it had been increased to 6s 6d, while in 1808 tho rate was 8s per day, as against a minimum of practically 10s per day, the rate ruling under existing conditions. This meant that when they were "collecting 3s in the £ by way of rates, as compared with 2s 9d to-day, they were called upon to pay only 6s per day for tho labour thai was now costing 10s. .In other words, while the basic rate had been reduced by 8.33 per cent., the workmen's wages had advanced by 66.6 per cent. He questioned if there was another local authority in the dominion able to point to the fact that the only variation mado in its basic rate during the past 20 years was a reduction equal to per cent. It eavc him pleasure to lay before tho meeting the figures showing the profits of the trading concerns for the year, as follows:—

Increase over last year. Gas _. ... „. £ 6.087 „. £ 849 Water ... :.. 17.407 ... 549 Tramways 5,989 .„ 1,149 Electric ... 14,934 ... 3,440 NET PEOFITS FOE LAST FIVE TEARS. 1913. .1914. 1915. 1916. 1917.

£25,269 £26,424. £31,108. £38,431. £44,417. Ho advocated the appointment of commissioners in connection with some of the trading departments. He believed it would result in the public being more efficiently served.

Regarding tho Drainage Board, he said he was pleased that he had been v able to do something during his term of office towards tho absorption of the board in tho City Council. Tho one desire of the_ parties concerned had been to conserve tho interests of the public. The Act would come into force 011 Juno 1, and if carefully administered ho believed the citizens would have reason to be glad that the absorption had taken place. The drainage work would bo done quite as efficiently and more economically. Tho citizens wero under a debt of gratitude to tho members of the Drainage Board for the work they had done. x\s to the Roslyn trams, he said the City Council was desirous of acquiring them, and would do ite utmost to get them. Hoy/ever, it /was not going to pay a price' which .would moan an enormous profit to the shareholders and a burden to the citizens The concern must bo bought at the bedrock price—at a price that would allow tho standing charges to be reduced, po that the travelling public would got a benefit. The City Council was determined to buj, but only at a payable figure. Of course, lie could not eay much about the matter, but lie would say quite frankly that tho City Council was desirous of buying the trams und of bringing them under its tramway system. It iva:; willing' to open negotiations with tho company, but the company had declined. Ho believed, howover, that before long a calefactory assuriuicc would bo given that the city was in ii position to provide tram connection with Roslyn and .Maori Hill.—(Applause.) In a few words in closing Mr Clark =aid he placed himself with confidence in the hands of tho ratepayers, who would select the better man for the honourable position of Mayor. —(Applause.) Ko questions were asked. Mr Clark said ho did not look for a vote of confidence. He would leayo that to the ballot box.

Mr Crosby Morris proposed a. vote of thanks to Mr Clark for his interesting- and instructive address. Mr 11. G. Shearing seconded the motion, which was carried with acclamation. Mr Clark will address the electors in tho Mornington Presbyterian Church Hall on Thursday at 8 p.m. Oil GIIEEN'S CANDIDATURE. * Some 70 ratepayers assembled in the Morning-ton Presbyterian Hall last evening to hear an address by Cr Green. Cr Thompson presided. The candidate dealt with various matters connected with the trading departments of the city. He was accorded a splendid hearing, his remarks being- punctuated with applause. The question of most interest to tho big section of the residents of the district was tho Maryhill lino. Cr Green claimed that it was in a bettor condition when closed down than it had ever been before, and, therefore, should not have been closed clown. The Mayor had said that it would be better to close it down than to bo charged with manslaughter, and he replied: "Well. I'll run the risk, your Worship."—(Laughter.) He considered tho cloauag of this fine bed bcoa the greatest injustice and the greatest mistake that had ever been made by a public body. Regarding tho difference of opinion which existed concerning the Maryhill and firtgin road .tramlines, the candidate said it would cost £1600 to place tho Maryhill line in proper order, whereas the fil'Hn road line would cast £10,500, and no one would urge tho expenditure of the latter sum nt the present time. ITe also dealt with the- question of tho treatment of soldiers and their dependents, which, he claimed, was not adequate at present. He advocated the establishment of a municipal fish market, pointing out that, in view , of

tho increased cost of beef hnd mutton, it was necessary to provide the public with a cheaper and yet equally wholesome food. Cr Black spoke ns the father of a family somo of whom wero fighting at tho front! 110 contended Hint only a man who had sons at the front, could realise what was the, proper treatment to extend to our boys. Cγ Sincock said that the Mayor was responsible for the immediate closing down of tho Maryhill line. At 8.30 p.m. on tho date on which it was closed (hero were three nuvmboiM of tho Tramway Committee in favour of the proposal and three against it, and the, Mayor exercised his vote in favour of closing tho line. Cr Paton also briefly addressed tho auclienco.

A vote of thanks was accorded the canfhoate for his address, tho meeting pledging itself to do all in its power to eeeure his return. ,

Cr Green Trill address tho electors at Anderson Bay to-night, and his North-East \ alley Committee will meet'on Friday. ST. KILDA MAYORALTY ADDRESS BY CR SCTTR.R, .. Or C. N: Scurr, who is one of the two councillors aspiring to fill the mayoral chair of St. Kilda, addressed a well-attended mooting of ratepayers in the Coronat.on Hall, St. Kilda, last evening. The chair was occupied by the Mayor (Mr W. T. M'Farlane). Cr Scurr, who was received with applause, said ho offered no apologies for seeking their suffrages. Ho had been a resident of the borough for 10 years, and during that time he had taken an interest in everything pertaining to the borough. Ho had spent four years in the Borough Council, having been re-elected- two years ago at the head of the poll, and he was persuaded that at tho end of tho present contest he would again bo at the head of tho poll ; He had energy and ability sufficient to fill the office of mayor with advantage to tho borough and , credit to himself. Ho pointed out that he had been successful in his own business, and said that another reason for his contesting the election was becauso his brother councillors had passed a resolution requesting him to allow himself to bo nominated for the position. There had •been a full meeting when that resolution had been passed, and thero had not been, a dissentient voice. What might have induced somo councillors to change | their minds ho did not. know. A third reason why he was contesting tho election was becauso he had occupied the position i of chairman of the Finance Committco for I the last two years, and had given a good deal of his time to the work. The question of amalgamation had been raised in the contest, but he was not present to address them on that subject. He thought every sensible man and woman would deprecate any such attempt to draw a red herring across the scent in such a contest. The question of amalgamation was settled.' It had been suggested that his sole reason for coming out was that, if elected, he intended to lead the borough into amalgamation, and to that he gave an emphatic .denial. He reminded those present that the mayor only had one vote, the same as any other citizen. Another matter he wanted to clear up was the raising of class prejudice in the contest. Working men wero being told that they should not vote for him because ho was not a working man, but whether a man took his coat off or not ho was a worker all the same. He had worked mentally and bodily. During the four years ho had been in the council ho had been associated ' with every sub-committee or deputation that had been selected by tho council to represent it at conferences with other local bodies or caretully to consider and handle delicate business questions that affected tho welfare of the borough, llcterrmg to the work done about Forbury crescent, he said the City Council had endeavoured to gtt passed tlio .Drainage Boa-rd , Amending Bill. 'Iho Borough Council had seen the difficulty in which the borough was going to bo placed, and a sub-committee, of which he was a member, had been appointed to go and do the beat it could in tho matter, 'lhere had been a ditch all round ;he j crescent and tho result of the sub-coin- j niitteo's efforts was that, in order to biejiitate the passing of tho Bill, the City Council had allowed its members on the Drainage Board to vote in tavour of an expenditure of £5000 in tho borough, and Jj'orbury { crescent had been much improved. Nearly £400 of that money had been spent, and the next expenditure would be on the ditch in Bay View road. During tho last two years the Mayor and he had been dealing with the borough quarry, and had done their best to reduce the financial liabilities that the quarry had imposed upon the borough. They had been able to fix up a leaso that would preclude any loss falling on the borough. Then they had had to confer with the City Corporation on the borough water supply, and in this connection ho explained that the main was not large enough to supply the borough with water. The city was bound to supply tho borough with water, but the borough suggested that it was not getting a sufficient supply. If he was returned that was ono of the matters he would give close attention to. Cr S?urr went on to speak of tho expenditure of tho £25.000 loan, nointing out that ■ tho money was allocated according to tho terms of the poll that hid boon taken, and that no money could be spent npon any particular street in excess of the allocations 'out of the loan. There was r.till £5452 unexpended, and it would be spent according to the way it was' , allocated. .... In tho monnt'mp they wore hunirtip by the Drainage Board oporatiors and storm-water provision. • TTnfortunjitolv the cost of material and labour had risen 25 per cent., but the council was absolutrly unanimous thit tho rcs ; donts should get the benefit of tho monov remaining as fnr as it would ,t~v. Tho indobtodrirps of tho boronirh was which would bo increased to £57.000 when tho remaining £5000 was oxnend"d. Of that thoy had to pav back £21.000 within the noxf five years.'" Tn .Tulv they had to provide for about «?f>oo falling duo. • These • matters roqu-'rod financing, and with a rise, in ;tno.'m'rtrjpy ni<irk°t thov would ronuirp careful ■ The £57.000 was nothing to worry! about' Vmt when tho loan monov had booh exnondod tho rntopavors could, not oxpoct anv more tn be rlono for n littlo t ; mo. Ro t'lmiTht it wouM bo foolish to try to raise nnothor loan until tlio rnto of Intorcst caivo flown. A sinkincr fund had not boon nrovirlod in this pTst. but loans more recently raiporl w"ro s'nhioet to a sinHnsr fnnri Sovr.nl questions woro an?wo r od. and tho oViivrmn announeorl tlmt Cr ■ did not (l"ft"ro tint onv motion should li« rnss°d On t'io motion of Mr W. Thompson." a votf of tMfTiks was, howovor. accorded tlr-* onvii'/i-ifo by acclamation before the public withdrew.

WATKOT7AITT. "Mr G. J. L. Kcrr has been elected Mayor unopposed. The following were nominated for the Borough Council:—T Alcoek, H. Carson E. JDavi*. G. Maxwell, S. R. Smith, and Alex. Williamson. This is "three short of tho number required. M.OSGIEL. Mr A. F. Quelch wus returned unopposed as Mayor. He has occupied tho chair since April, 1913. _ Previous to that date he sat at tho council table. * There were only nine nominations for the r.ino vacancies, consequently tho returning officer declared the following elected:— Thomas Ailken, A. F. Cheyne, A. Davidson", John Hcndry, G. A. Keys, Wm. Ai'Lean' George M'Leod, F. Seaton, Thomas Williams. Mr Aitkrm has sat continuously since 1884, and during that period has missed only one mooting. He has served both as Mayor and councillor. Messrs T>ividson. M'Lean, M'Leod. Seaton. and Williams arc retiring councillors. Messrs Cheyno and Hendry have sat on prev'ous councils, and Mr Keys enters the council for the first time.