MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19465, 28 April 1925, Page 8

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

CITIZENS’ LEAGUE CANDIDATES. ADDRESSES IN BURNS HALL. At Burns Hall last night Messrs W. Begg. H. Brasch, J. S. Douglas, J. B. Shacklock, and W. B. taverner, representing tlje Citizens’ League, delivered addresses on municipal affairs. The Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley) presided. Cr Begg dealt principally with the water department of the City Council. He referred to the disabilities which had arisen recently, and the polity adopted by the council to remedy the matter in connection with the shortage of water on the high levels. He pointed out tnat before going in for further storage supplies a good deal of reticulation would have to bo renewed. When this was done the position would be considerably improved. The 4in mains in many places were so corroded that the diameter was reduced probaoly to lin. This was proved by the fact that to-day the reservoir was running over and yet there was still a shortage of water in some parts. Another reason for the shortage on the high levels was through the arterial distribution from below such levels. The intention was to lay a larger main to the top of the high levels and distribute the supply from there. Cr Begg answered a number of questions satisfactorily, as also did the other candidates. ADDRESSES AT CAVERSHAM A well-attended meeting was addressed by •Crs Clark, Wilson, and Mitchell, City Council candidates, in the Methodist Hall, Caversham, last evening, Mr W. Wright occupying the chair. Cr Clark said ho regretted the apathy shown in local, as compared with parliamentary politics, and referred to the fact that the City Council was a purely administrative body, in consequence of which many desirable things could not be done by the council because it had not the legal authority. It spoke well for the integrity of councillors that during the past 60 years they had never been called upon to refund a penny for any illegal expenditure. Some ratepayers might regard members of the council as political marauders while others might regard the council as a soulless, mechanical body that attended to a variety of matters. But there was something more in city council work than ratemaking and rate-spending. Councillors had their activities divided into two branches—municipal and trading—and their year book was recognised as the best and most comprehensive stateirient of any municipality in the dominion. The indebtedness qf the city compared most favourably with that of other cities, and councillors were not. working for the present but for the future. They provided sinking funds in addition to renewal funds, and the former came to about £4500 a year. For every £IOO spent on public works they only asked a 2s 3d rate per annum. Out of every £ICO they found £33 from other sources than the rates. They had 220 miles of streets and 280 miles of footpaths, and these were increasing. In 10 years there Uad been an increase of 59 miles of road and 62 miles of footpath. In 10 years there had been an increase of £20,000 spent on streets, and there had been an increased expenditure in other directions. They had the best lit city in the dominion. Referring to the large amount of money that the council had to hand over to other bodies he pointed out that it totalled £29,234, which was about 18 per cent, of their income. Their .expenses in administration were equal to 4 per cent, of their income. They were not extravagant in their administration when they kept it down so low. They used to get money at 4 per cent., but now it costs 5 and 5i per cent., and they-paid £7OOO a year more" in interests. They had not increased the rates in any way, and they vVere moderate compared with those of other centres. In the trading concerns there was involved, £1,500,00011 and that had been raised without burdening, the rates, and the profit shown was a reasonable one. They could not get cheaper tramways, cheaper gas, or cheaper electric power elsewhere. i In referring to the housing question Cr Clark said the council recognised how urgent it was to endeavour to gel over that difficulty. Cr Wilson said that in the works department steady improvement had been uiado since 1915. For some time prior to that there had been very little improvement. They had now a loan of £200,000 to spend in five years, so that more improvement would bo noticeable. The Cavorsham proportion was £16.500. and at the end of the five years, when the money was c.v pended, the ratepayers would he called upon in 'Connection with a farther loan. The increase in the valuation of property was sufficient to pay the interest on loans, and the burden had not been felt as far as the rates were concerned. 'lliis £16,500 did hot include special' work. The new engineer .was devoting his attention to increasing their plant, which would have the effect of reducing the cost of work. .Several machines had been purchasfed. An endeavour had been made to induce the council to borrow £IOO,OOO for building houses, but the council had been advised against such a course.- The council had, however, set aside £20,000 from the insurance fund, and that had given a good deal for building houses. Three houses were now being built, and it had been agreed to build temporary houses for people in Harrow street, and the rent of these houses would bo kept down as low as possible. At least 12 houses would be required. As to the housing question generally the council had been urged to build houses for people in the slums. Hie idea was that they should build houses, and so bring the rent of those already in existence down. The council should provide small houses and rent I them to those people who could not afford to pay a large rent, and the cost was coming out of ordinary revenue. A group of 12 would bo built on trial. The council had. been desirous of procuring Logan Park for the city as a playing area, and the Harbour Board had decided to hand it over, provided the council made the highway. That was the price the council had to pay for the Park. The council had no choice but to agree to construct the highway, which would cost a little more than £B,OOO. The council had avoided the erection of a destructor, but the time was coming when they would have to have one. Cr Wilson also touched very briefly .on drainage, the water supply, and the reserves. Cr Mitchell said that councillors had been submitted to a good deal of criticism lately, but they had to rely on expert opinions submitted to them. The council had been charged with having committed a huge blunder at the Southern Reservoir, and another at Union street, but probably the end justijlcd the means. Faults were sometimes made in the right direction, and if they were faults they were engineering faults. Charges of extravagance had been launched at the council, but when they consisted of complaints of money having been spent in widening streets, acquiring land, in widening a playground, preventing the sandhills being injured and the sand being carted away, he submitted that they were very -poor grounds for complaint. The council had never contemplated transferring £12,000 surplus to any department in order to relieve the rates, w ith regard to the suggestions of tram extensions and the trams becoming obsolete, the wisdom of such suggestion was doubtful. In connection with the housing question, Cr Mitchell said that people could not pay largo rents, but the cost of labour and the general expense involved in erecting houses were so great that the one was incompatible with the other. He conteitoed that the councillors who had just come out of office had done very good work for the city. In respect to finance. Cr Mitchell mentioned that the expenditure last year exceeded the estimates by £1970, and the income exceeded the estimates by £458,, so that there was p a shortage of £1512, but owing to there being a surplus the previous year "there had been no necessity to make any call upon the rates. Several questions having been answered, Crs Clark, Wilson, and Mitchell were accorded hearty votes of thanks for their addresses, and a vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting. LABOUR CANDIDATES. ADDRESSES AT MORNINGTON. t Several Labour candidates for municipal and other honours assembled at the Mornington Baptist Church Hall last night to give addresses and explain the -Labour Party’s platform. About 100 electors were present, and Mr James Torrance presided. The candidates who spoke were: Mosdamcs Bennett and Herbert, and Messrs .7. E. MacManus. R. G. M’Donnell, S. W. Gasper. A. J. Rice, and R. Harrison. Mr Rice, a candidate for the City Council, said he thought those present would

be convinced at the end of his address that Labour was quite qualified to take its place at the council table. It would, be noticed in the biographic-; of "candidates for the City Council, which appeared in Friday’s issue of the Otago Daily Times, that ho was prominently identified with the Rugby League Football Control Board in Dunedin. He did not deny that he was identified with League football, but he wished them to underlain! that he was associated with Mr Gillies, vice-president of the Citizens’ League, on that body. Mr Gillies seemed to think he (the speaker) was quite capable of holding up his end in matters of sport, and. if so, he was surely quite capable of assisting to guide tho destinies of the city’s affairs. Of course it had to he remembered that although Mr • Gillies and he were quite good friends they represented different sections of the 0 community. The Labour Tarty stood for the improvement of public health. He thought that one of the most important ideas was the safeguarding of health. That could only lie accomplished principally by attention to cleanliness. lie favoured an extension of the asphalting of the principal streets so as to minimise the dust nuisance, which nuisance could not but be regarded as a menace to public health. He also believed iii a pure and adequate, water supply an I improved drainage. These" were important points in the Labour Party’s policy. The phoplo should be taught their responsibilities in health matters. Health Week should he a regular institution. lie thought, however, it could be extended to made it 52 weeks in the year instead of one week.—(Lou.l applause.) If this wore done Dunedin could he made one of tho healthiest cities in the dominion. He approved of a similar milk supply, system to that which prevailed in Wellington, where the municipality had control. Statistics had shown that Wellington prior to the establishment of a municipal milk supply had been buying 205 gallons of water daily, which was costing approximately £IO,OOO a year. A clean and cheap milk supply was essential to the well-being of the people, and this could only be accomplished by the city taking control. The Wellington system was in a flourishing condition, and was yearly becoming more flourishing. If returned it would be the object of the Labour candidates to work in the interests of the people as a whole; not in the interests of a section. Their system was to work by co-operation. They would endeavour adequately to house the people. Their object -would be to work systematically. By sytematic working and thoroughly organising- they would get far better results than were being achieved at present Tinier the present council’s housing system it was intended to charge a weekly rental of 25s per week. No workman could afford to pay this at the present rate of wages. They were, however, up against vested interests, and lie appoald to the electors to take a commoiiseii.se view of I lie situation, and if they did so they would return a Labour council on Wednesday. Mr M’Donnoll, a candidate for municipal honours and for a seat on the Hospital Board, said he appealed to everyone present to vote for the whole of tho Labour ticket on Wednesday. He said ho had recently received a circular from tho , National Representation Committee in Wellington, in which the question of raising patients’ fees in hospital was introduced. This circular showed that a Hospital Association had been formed in tho north, in which a 8 hospital boards had agreed to join, and a few remained outside. This association proposed .to increase the £eo to 15s per day. The Labour Party advocated free treatment in tho hospitals of the dominion. The cry of the press and of the Citizens’ League was to raise hospital fees. , With regard to the Benevolent Institution, it was not so much the food which the Labour Party objected to as the way in which the food was sowed up. If the Labour Party candidates wore returned they would see that justice was done io the old people who were unfortunate enough to be inmates c£ the Benevolent Institution. Tho Citizens’ League contended that tho league was composed of men of business ability,’ but the principal objection which the Labour Party had to the league candidates was that they were bound to vested interests. The Labour Party stood for municipal trading. It had been said that municipal trading had failed in some instances.- The speaker said he would admit that that was *so, but investigation would show that tho wrong people had been adminisering the Act governing the administration of municipal trading. lie contended that the Labour Party would bo returned to power in Parliament m December next, and, that being so. it was their duty to return a Labour Municipal Council. With regard to public health, it was their duty to see that (he Public Health Act was administered as it should be. He contended that, the water supply could bo remedied. It would be the duty of the Labour candidates to sec that pure water was siipnliod. The Labour Party favoured 18-couiiciTlor representation. The reason for this was that the councillors would have mere time to attend to their various duties, and tho work would be tpetter done, lie favoured proportional representation. He also favoured a municipal bakery, and quoted figures to shew that, tho Boilington Hospital Board bakery had been a success. He had not. the slightest doubt that a municipal bakery would he established in Dunedin if the ""Labour candidates were returned Ho hoped that numbers would not. only turn out to vote for the Labour candidates on Wednesday, but, would sea that their friends turned out also.— (Applause.) Mr Harrison said he was m the council s employ, and had previously been a miner. He contended that it required no end of courage to stand up for tho Labour Party. Ho had been informed, per medium of a circular from the Citizens’ League, that theirs (the Citizens’ League) was the only party which stood for progress. taound progress had only come from the poorer class. Tho compelling force came from poverty and the. lower classes. Whether the people voted for him or not, he would always be proud to be associated with an endeavour to assist the lower strata of society. The Labour candidates stood for co-operative effort. It. had been said that the Labour Party had not tho necessary ability, but he contended that the Citizens’ League did not possess all the ability. It had been said that it, was a very courageous act on the part of tho Labour Party to come forward and contest seats on the City Council and other public bodies. Ho was convinced that half tho workers’ lives were wasted in dread of whether they were going to -starve. If Labour stood for anything it stood for those who were getting into the sere and yellow. These men who stood for vested interests had no interest in the working classes. The wealthy classes might win on this occasion, but their children would have a vote, and their time would come. Ho was out to assist those who most needed it. On the motion of Mr Smith, a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the speakers. OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD. CANDIDATES’ ADDRESSES. Mr W. E. S. Knight (chairman), Dr Newlands, and Mr J, Scurr, who are seeking re-election to the Otago Hospital Board, "addressed a meeting of electors in the Y.M.C.A. Assembly _ Hall lust night. Mr A. if Queich occupied the chair Mr Knight said he proposed to give a short, plain, practical statement of the affairs of the Otago Hospital Board He stood as an independent. Two years ago he was included in the ticket of tho Citizens’ League. He was, however, rather pleased that on this occasion he was an independent, because any person who occupied a scat on the board must act in an independent manner. They must not work for any class, creed, or colour.—(Applause.) Ho was confident, after a long experience, that they had studied the interests of ratepayers in keeping the levies as low as possible, and at the same time giving the best service from the board. They had 12 institutions under their control—six in the city and six in tho country, including Die Pleasant Valley Sanatorium. On tho Dunedin Hospital staff they had 124 nurses, including the matron and the sub-matron. Tho working conditions of their nursing staff had been improved, and in the nurses’ home they had 105 single rooms. Previously the accommodation for the nurses was entirely inadequate. The full day off now given to the nurses per week meant an increase of expenditure and an increase in accommodation. The board was now adding to the home some 63 rooms, which meant a cost of £13.000. The speaker gave other details of the improvements in the working conditions of the nurses, and referring to the honorary staff ho said they had 26 members on tho staff, who gave their services ungrudgingly, unceasingly, and skilfully. He considered the honorary staff were deserving of the thanks of the community for the* great services they had rendered. —(Applause.) If the hoard were compelled to pay its medical and surgical staff the expenses would bo materially increased. He would regret very much if the system of honorary staffing were to be done away with, but if all classes of the community were to bo admitted to the hospitals, then, of course, -the honorary staffiug would have to go. As far as the Otago Hospital Board was concerned, it was practically free of debt—(applause)—pro-

bably a unique stale of affairs so far as dominion, boards were concerned. They had never at any time obtained loans for capital purposes. He wanted to point out that while be had been a member he had never favoured loans for any period, but where the expenditure was abnormal then ho would be prepared to go in for a loan. They had never distressed (ho ratepayers in the amounts they had been called to pay. They had fixed deposits amounting to £35,000 in the bank, made up as follows: Balance for X-Ray block and equipment, £4413; Powell’s bequest, reserved for kitchen block, £7891; Oliver’s bequest to be used for some object of a permanent nature, £2506 ; Brown’s bequest, interest only available, £1500: Leijon’s bequest, £687; Anderson’s bequest, for Tuapeka Hospital, which would probably be absorbed in alterations, drainage, etc., £599; Jamieson’s benuest, £856; donations from the residents of Palmerston for the Palmerston Hospital, equipment, and furnishing, £311; donations from Roxburgh residents, held for a future hospital. £1379; sundry small bequests, £184; sundry small donations, £402; mortgage paid, £l5O. The total came to £20,684, and the balance of unexpended levies brought Ine total to £55.000. This showed how- generous some people are, and that the board was not so bad as it was sometimes painted. Although they had never raised a loan they found other boards in the dominion had raised loans, conjointly, totalling £684,209, on which interest amounting to £28,566 had io bo paid. The Otago district, was the, poorest district as regarded rateable capital value of the four centres. The rateable capital value of the Auckland hospital dis trict was £65,283,768; North Canterbury. £51,981,354; Wellington, £38,020,000; and Otago, £23,324,682. These figures were fo* tho year ending March, 1924, and at tho present time tho rateable capital value of Otago was £23,500,000. Southland’s capital value was £20,772,495. They were not only poor as far as regarded rateable value, but also in regard to population and area, and it was surprising how they had managed to carry on without getting into financial difficulties, but as he had said they had never had to make a loan.—(Applause.) They had radium of the value of £6300. They -.ad sanatoriums at Pleasant Valley and Wakari, and the inmates in these institutions totalled 80; In Wakari the two blocks were capable of accommodating 50 to 60 patients. He maintained that the board had done the right thing in purchasing the Tilburn property—it was a glorious property. The board had decided to provide temporarily for patients suffering from infectious diseases accommodated at the Logan Park Hosital, and they intended to go on wdth an infectious block at Wakari. The speaker detailed the negotiations and the basis of finance under which separation had been brought about by the South Otago Board. If their board had had to nay the cost of the South Otago outlay then their board was better without them. — (Applause.) Since ho had been a member of the hoard—ho had something like 21 years’ experience—he had boon chairman for eight successive years. He had always tried to give everyone a fair and square deal. —(Applause.) Mr Scurr, chairman of the “ Benevolent Committee, said lie was on the Citizens’ League ticket two years ago. This year lie was branded an independent, and rightly so. When Mr Talboys had died he had been appointed chairman of the Benevolent Committee, and he had done hist best to fill the position. During last year £OOOO had been allowed for outdoor reiof and £0402 had been expended, leaving a credit of £2038; on indoor relief £0000; amount expended £0011; balance £2350; tho estimated receipts from all sources was £IOOO, and this had been fully recovered. He thought that reflected credit on all concerned.—(Applause.) The old-'age pensioners received 2s per week from their pension and 3s per week was put aside for them to buy clothes, and so on, and 10s per week was taken by the board to pay for board and lodging, sc they could sec these inmates wore treated quite fairly. In addition the pensioners received a tobacco allowance. The speaker gave details of the food provided at the institution. He was quite satisfied that the average working man’s home had not bettor food. Electric light had boon put., right through the building, and through the generosity of Mrs W. T. Talboys they had been enabled to install two sun rooms. These wore a great blessing. They had also during the last two years reconstructed some of the old buildings so as to give better accommodation for the nurses. During the lust year the machinery department had said it could not permit tho use of the boiler installed at the institution, but (.hoy had been exceedingly fortunate in securing a new boiler at a low figure, and the nurses had now plenty of hot water. They had also installed new beds right throughout the home. The kitchen had been removed from the. basement and put on the ground floor, which was a great improvement and a credit to the management. Cas stoves had been put in, the main building had been renovated, plastering work had been carried out, and only hundreds had been spent, not thousands.—(Applause.) He considered they should immediately go in fur a chronic hospital block, and ho was bringing this forward. The treatment provided would be much appreciated. It was essential that they should have a convalescent home for both male and female patients, and ho favoured the construction of such a place. It would supply a great want. He did not think that there was any necessity at the present time for cottage homes. They had not the patients. If elected ho would do his best in the interests of the board.—(Applause.)

Dr -Newlands, a member of the board and also of the honorary, staff of tho hospital, said that, unlike his two colleagues, ho stood there with the endorsement of tho (Titizons' League. Still he claimed to be just as much an independent as his two colleagues. The board carried out many activities on the. amount, levied on the ratepayers, which for the coming year would be £35,000, of which Duncdin city" would pay roughly £20,000. They had the. Duncdin Hospital, the chronic hospital and the Benevolent Institution, the maternity hospital, Forth street, the Prince Edward Hospital, the sanatoria at Wakari and Pleasant Valley, the fever hospital, the country hospitals at Lawrence, Tapanui, Middlemarch, Roxburgh and Port Chalmers, and the new hospital in process of erection at Palmerston. They had the administration of out door relief and they subsidised the University to the extent of £I3OO for takin., over certain work. Although Dunodin had the smallest of the hospital districts of tho four centres it had a hospital second to none in equipment—(applause.)—in the standard of its nursing and in the general care of its patients and medical services rendered. —(Applause.) Their hospital was the practical training ground for the medical school and the masseuse branch, and for the new and higher course of training in nursing. The old standard of training would of course continue. Tho sneaker referred to the X-Ray- department at the hospital, and said they _ were getting an augmented supply of radium. One did not make any extravagant claims for the radium treatment, but the expenditure on the system had been fully justified. The .X-Ray, with more elaborate technique, was becoming more and more valuable for diagnostic work as well as for treatment. He would like to montion that the policy of Parliament did not coincide with the Health Department as regards hospital districts. The. speaker said he believed in the private ward system, or private paying wards, at public hospitals. They were nothing more than bare justice to a certain class in the community. Thev ha,d a lot of activities ahead of them! The masseuse school was now on its feet providing masseurs for the dominion.' They had a dietietian at the hospital arid the new kitchen should soon be under way,—they wore_ now awaiting the plans. They were sincere in their efforts to provide the best treatment for their patient-s and with every consideration for the interests of the ratepayers who had to foot the bill.—(Applause). A vote cf thanks was passed to the three speakers by acclamation. MR A. B. ARMOUR'S CANDIDATURE. Mr A. B. Armour, who is standing for the Hospital Board, delivered on address in the Express Company's board room last night, when Mr C. W. Hayward presided over a fair attendance. Mr Armour said regarding hospital matters generally that he could not help thinking that ratepayers' interests could be further conserved by a more careful scrutiny of the board's expenditure, and this without detriment to the public generally. He was also of opinion that without casting any reflections on the actions of the present board the severance of the district of South Otago from the Otafro Board was a grave mistake, and that it was proving to be against the best, interests of the public in both districts. Something should be done, he thought, by way of getting both boards to work harmoniously together for their mutual advantage with a view to the lessening of expenditure. A special effort also should bo made in devising some means of reducing the charitable aid rate without in any way affecting the efficiency of the board's operations. These, he concluded, were some of the outstanding matters he considered required special attention, and should he be returned he would do his best to further the ratepayers' interests in this direction.