THE MAYORALTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20101, 7 May 1935, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY

LABOUR CANDIDATES OPEN-AIR MEETING The Labour candidates for seats on the various local bodies held an openair meeting in King George’s Place last night, the attendance at one stage being nearly 100. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., Mr G. T. Koller. who is contesting the Mayoralty, Hospital Board, Council and Power Board, and Messrs P. Wild and F. Hilton, who are standing for the Council. Mrs Hilton, who is standing for the Hospital Board, was also on the platform. The speakers outlined several of the planks in their platform, but the greater part of the evening was devoted to questions, which Mr Koller dealt with. Asked if he was in favour of the Milk Bill, Mr Koller replied that he was not entirely in favour of it. There were some things he was not in favour of, and he firmly believed that the solution of the problem lay in a municipal milk supply. “Would you support the Milk Vendors’ Association if you knew that some of its members were profiteers and the lowest wage payers in the community?” Mr Koller: Most decidedly not.

A question was asked as to whether the candidate was in favour of a bylaw forcing car drivers to dip their lights so that they did not show more than 75 feet.

Mr Koller: I don’t know anything about it. I have a bike, and I have a light and a reflector, and I have never had an accident.

A voice: That is just where you should know.

Mr Koller: “I beg your pardon. I did not quite understand the question. I do not pretend to know everything.’* He added that if such a question came up he would refer it to the Council’s expert, and would be guided by his advice.

Asked if he was in favour of the wages of relief workers being subsidised Mr Koller replied: “Most decidedly.” “Are you in favour of the Power Board amalgamating with the borough?” was another question asked. Mr Koller: “No, but I would like to qualify that. I am quite certain that is a question which you will have to answer for yourselves before many years.” He added that some advantages might accrue, but it all depended on the bargain which was struck. If he held a position of authority, they could rest assured that he would protect the interests of consumers in the borough. A voice: What about the country?

Mr Koller: There would be no benefits for the country through exploiting Timaru. A voice: Would you be in favour of a uniform price for town and country?

Mr Koller: No. The section I own is valued at £l6O, and it is a quarteracre. That would be £640 an acre. I pay £6 odd in rates. Is there any farmer occupying land for which he paid £640 an acre, and on which he paid rates? I have paid for my electricity and roads and water in the price of my section. Isn’t that a good answer?

The voice: The farmer was here before you. Mr Koller: He may have been, but I am fairly old. The voice: I know. You are coming out in blossom.

Asked what the advantages were of introducing party politics into local body affairs, Mr Koller said that when the electors went to the ballot box on Wednesday, they would vote either for the candidates who were standing for the party whose guiding principle was competition, or they would vote for the Labour Party, whose guiding principle was “service for service.”