LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 6

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

PENINSULA COUNTY COUNCIL Mr Alexander Burt, in furtherance of hia candidature f6r a eeat on the Beninaula County Council, addressed a meeting of electors at Macandrew Bay last evening. The speaker commenced by outlining his career for the past 40 years. - His experience during that period had been both practical and commercial, and he suggested that his long association with a prominent commercial house in Auckland and Dunedin, together with extensive travelling abroad, went a long way towards fitting, him to become a representative of the ratepayers on the Peninsula County Council. Mr Burt said that one of the matters that would engage his attention if he was elected would be the improvement of the back roads of the county, which he understood had not received their fair share of the rates in the past. Still at' the same time he knew that the county’s annual revenue was, not large, so that careful and judicious handling of .thefunds available was absolutely . necessary. . From what he could gather more funds should be forthcoming as soon as the main highway, recently declared from Portobella to Dunedin, were completed, as the, greater part of the rates had been absorbed in the past by the maintenance of this stretch of road. In his opinion, where money was needed it should be found , by means ■ of■ special rating, and.. he would work towards this • end, provided always that _ the final decision ,in all questions of special rates were left to the ratepayers themselves. The speaker said that the present rates-—IJd general rate and hospital levy—were 'ery low/ but at the -same time, if it were found that this was quite sufficient, there, was no reason why any increase should be made. The speaker mentioned several important improvements that could yet be effected at ■Macandrew Bay, particularly referring to a drainage and water scheme and electric street lighting. These could be Aad if the ratepayers were willing to have a local town board set up. In conclusion, Mr Burt said that if elected it would at all times be bis aim to do his best for every section of the county. VINCENT COUNTY. (From Our Own ■ Correspondent.) OPHIR, May 4. ’ Mr John hPEnight; sitting member foe the Manuherikia Ejding of Vincent County, addressed, a meeting of ratepayers h. Qphir Peace Hall this, evening. Mr T. Read presided.’ "■ Mr. M'Kmght’s address-consisted of a statement of what he hgd attempted- to do- for his constituency and for the county as a whole during bis term of office, combined with the removal of some misconceptions rather generally held. The revenue of Vincent County was,' he said, roughly about £9200, but from this amount large deductions .had to be made, principally £B2OO for two hospitals, the cost of administration (9 pr? cent. 1 of - revenue), sinking fund on antecedent liability, the total deductions leaving only about one-half to be-spent in the ordinary way. Some time ago the council got leave to borrow £20,000, and many persons had asked what became of the Goyjßfnment grants for certain works. The reply was that many of these grants canid hot be taken up, because so much money had to be raised first, and the grant; was only paid upon actual vouchers after the work had been completed. It had been freely stated that, money raised in Manuherikia Riding had been used for work in another riding, but that was not legally allowable, the money of each riding belonging to itself, entirely. In reply to the complaint that . not more had been spent in the riding, the speaker stated that It .was, a. very expensive riding 5 to keep in order, ‘owing to the Raggedy and Rough Ridge Ranges running through it. The road over Black’s-Hlll cost very much for upkeep, and at the present time, owing to recent heavy rains, £2OO was required to put it in order. Two. years ago the riding was £6OO in debt, and last year £240, so that it was difficult to get a grant. Mr M'Knight claimed that, owing to his success in getting the Government subsidy of £2 to £1 for the Poolburn bridge, ho‘.had a good deal to do with initiating the county’s scheme, how in operation, for building 14. bridges, the total' cost of which would be £60,000. Concerning hospitals, he was of the opinion that one thoroughly equipped and staffed hospital in the county could be made one of the best country hospitals in New Zealand, and at the same time the present cost of running two institutions would be somewhat reduced; He was, ulsb in. favour of a proposal to.;provide accommodation so that -old and infirm people would not require to leave the district, - ■ •