THE MAYORALTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18865, 1 May 1931, Page 8

THE MAYORALTY.

MR SATTERTHWAITE OPENS CAMPAIGN. MEETING AT WAIMATAITAI. Mr T. W. Satterthwaite, who is one of the candidates for the Mayoralty, opened his campaign in the Waimataitai School last night, adressing in the vicinity of 100 electors, including a large number of ladies. The chair was occupied by Mr G. Benstead, who introduced the candidate to the meeting. He said that Mr Satterthwaite had been a member of the Council for over 20 years, and was really the father of the Council. He had put in more time in the interests of the ratepayers than any other man he (the speaker) knew of. (Applause.), Mr Satterthwaite thanked the chairman for his kind introduction, and he also thanked the audience for attending in such large numbers. He stood before them, he said, as a candidate for the high office of Mayor, and he did not wish the electors to judge him on the remarks he would make that night, but on his record as a representative of the borough of the past twenty years. If his services and actions in the past had met with their approval—he knew he had made mistakes as everyone was liable to do —- then he hoped he would merit their support. He desired to assure them that he had always tried to do his duty fearlessly, and with one object in view, the betterment of Timaru. There had been difference of opinion in the Council, but he could conscientiously say that no-one could accuse him of ever having sat on the fence or of wobbling. He had always had the courage of his convictions, and had voted so. He had never associated himself with any section or party, for he maintained that a Mayor or a councillor was more free and better able to express an opinion, and so act in the best interests of the ratepayers, if he was unattached. Mr Satterthwaite said that lie had been associated with the most progressive works of the Borough, such as underground drainage, electric light, extension of waterworks, the provision of a public library, the establishment of Borough abattoirs, the purchase of Oldway and Maori Parks, and improvements to Caroline Bay. These, he considered, were important works, and he was proud to have been associated with them. The only other public body he had been associated with was the Timaru High School Board, of which he was a member for six years. His long experience under the different Mayors and Town Clerks of Timaru was a good apprenticeship, and the experience gained would stand him in good stead, if they would promote him to the position of Mayor. Borough Finance. Dealing with the financial position of the Borough, Mr Satterthwaite said that when the present Council took office the total debt was £502,500. Today the total indebtedness was £514,525 the total interest and sinking fund being approximately £35,000 per year. The revenue for last year amounted to £87,792, this being derived per medium of x'ates, water charges and license fees. The Borough revenue for the coming year, exclusive of rates, should be very much the same, but if any difference did occur, it would be only that the Council decided to reduce the license fees or other charges. A reduction could be made in expenditure, and an endeavour should be made to reduce administration costs. If elected, his first duty would be to call the Council together to consider this most important matter. Question of Rates. The next point touched on by Mr Satterthwaite was the rates. He said that if elected, he would endeavour to bring about a reduction, but it had to be remembered that a Mayor could not do this oil his own. There would be a lot of non-recurring expenditure, such as a sum of £I6OO paid out last year for the purchase pf the Foresters’ Hall and the right-of-way, and the grant of £SOO for the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake relief fund. Expenditure under the heading of reserves could also be reduced, as the final payment of £750 on Oldway Park was paid last year. This Park, it would be remembered. was purchased in 1924 during Mr Wallace’s term of office, for the sum of £4OOO, and was paid for out of revenue, by instalments. Mr Satterthwaite here stated that in Mr D. N. Harper the Council had an officer second to none in New Zealand. (Applause.) Dealing with levies, the candidate said that all the rates collected did not go into the coffers of the Council. The Hospital Board, Harbour Board, and Fire Board each made a levy on the Council for funds to carry on with. This year the Hospital levy would be £6OO less than last year on account of the Board having had to cut down administrative costs. He hoped the other two bodies would be able to bring down their levies also. Engineer’s Department. Referring to the engineer's department Mr Satterthwaite said that this was the spending department of the Borough. Last year the Council carried out a big programme of tar-seal-ing the streets, which in the long run was very much the cheapest nf road formation. For a long time he had been a strong advocate of plenty of tar on the roads. This good work had been brought about by the Council being provided with an up-to-date plant, which conclusively showed how each succeeding Council could benefit from its predecessors. During Mr Wallace’s term of office, the Council purchased one steam roller, three motor trucks, a tar spraying machine, and pre-heater, a horse road grader, a power road grader, which was doing splendid work, gravel bins complete, blacksmithing shop and tools, and a tar macadam plant, at a total cost of £8,183, most of which was paid out of revenue. During that period also, nearly 35 acres were added to the parks and public reserves of the town, these being Oldway Park, Maori Park and three more acres of land added to Ashbury Park. A considerable amount of the purchase money was paid out of revenue. If Maori Park had not been purchased when it was, it would have been lost to the town for all time, and he was glad to have been associated with the acquisition of it. He mentioned these matters to prove conclusively that the statement that the last Council had been the best that Timaru had had for fifteen years, was ridiculous. Must Maintain Service. “During the coming term we must maintain the streets and roadways in their present condition, thg usual public services must be carried out, and I would like to see the Council follow up the experiments already tried of tar-sealing any shingle roads suitable,” said Mr Satterthwaite. This would be a far cheaper method, and they would be able to do more work. Two experiments had been tried, Sarah Street and Grey road, and both had proved satisfactory. If they could follow this up, they would save the Borough a lot of money.

Speaking in regard to the waterworks, the candidate said that he regarded this department as the most important of all, for on it depended the health and well-being of the citizens. He paid tribute to the courage and foresight of the early Mayors and Councillors who were responsible for the present water supply for the town, and said that this was another

instance where one Council derived benefit by the enterprise of its predecessors. The present race was the original race, and had been in existence nearly 50 years. When the work was undertaken, it provided for a supply of two million gallons per day. During all the years the race had been kept in good order by each succeeding Council, and the storage capacity at the reservoirs to-day was about 22 million gallons. The original loan was £60,000 at 7 per cent., and on this interest had amounted to £120,000. There had been no sinking fund attached to it. Electricity Department. Dealing with the electricity department, the candidate said that the receipts for the last 12 months, after allowing 10 per cent, on consumers’ accounts, amounted to £40,867, and the expenditure amounted to £35,946. Even then the department showed a credit balance of £4,921. As the receipts were increasing each year, he hoped that a still further reduction of the charges for electricity could be made to all domestic users. In September the Department had some £60,000 of loans maturing, and a large sum of this loan had been issued at 6 per cent, interest With the accumulated sinking fund and the re-issue of a smaller loan at a lesser rate of interest, there would be another great saving to the Department. Omnibus Service. The last department touched on by Mr Satterthwaite was the omnibus department. He said that the present fleet consisted of fourteen buses. In 1926 a loan of £9500 was authorised, enabling the Council to increase the fleet to fourteen. This year the department showed a credit of £3lO, and this was after spending £IBOO on a new bus. Ome of the loans amounting to £3OOO issued at 6 per cent., matured during this year, and through this a saving of another £4OO in interest and sinking fund would be made on the rates. Summarising the position, Mr Satterthwaite said that he was satisfied that during the coming term the rates could be reduced, and with more efficiency, a greater Improvement could be shown without extra cost, and if elected, he would see that the services of the town were kept up-to-date. He would so try and co-operate with his fellow Councillors, that they might have each other’s confidence and work together for the good and advancement of the town. He had had a long and varied experience as a Councillor, and if elected, would endeavour to uphold the dignity of the office. (Applause.) Question Time. Mr R. Watson made reference to the bad state of Evans Street, and asked the candidate if he would be in favour of it being put in order from the

Bay to Belfield Hill. Mr Satterthwaite said that to do the whole street was a big order, and the expense would be too great to have it done during the next two years. He understood that it was to be attended to, and the bad parts fixed up, to carry it over the winter. If elected, he would see that the bad spots were well metalled and sealed.

Mr H. C. Thompson moved a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate, stating that the small number of questions asked indicated that those present were in favour of Mr Satterthwaite becoming Mayor .(Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr R. Stewart and carried unanimously, A vote of thanks was also passed to the chairman.