THE MAYORALTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10442, 23 April 1912, Page 1

THE MAYORALTY.

MR H. HOLLAND'S CANDIDATURE.

Mr H. Holland, a candidate for the Mayoralty of Greater Cliristchurch, addressed a well-attended meeting at the St Albans Young Men's Guild Hall last evening, Mr T. Dent occupying the chair.

Mr Holland said he stood before the electors as a working man. He had. had plenty of experience of hard work, and working was more his forte than public speaking. He believed that Cliristchurch needed a working Mayor, not an ornamental one. Notwithstanding a milk-and-water leader in last Saturday's " Star," he had done as much hard work as a member of the City Council as any other councillor. The City Council was frequently blamed for doing too little with the money it received in rates. It must be remembered that although the citv collected £102,000 a year in rates, £52,000 of this was handed over to other local bodies, tho Drainage Board, Hospital Board and Fire Board. Of the remainder £24,000 was expended annually on the roads alone. The late MiTaylor's road scheme, which he strongly supported, would save £7500 of this sum yearly. The speaker strongly supported the principle that permanent work, involving no periodical recurrence of expenditure, should not be paid for out of rates. Such work as road-widening, for instance, which would stand for ail time without further expenditure, should not he paid for entirely by the present-day ratepayers. A fifty years' loan would better meet sue hcases. He was heartily in favour of extending the city boundaries until they included the entire area in which the Tramway Board and Drainage Board operated. This was essential before the city could assume control of the work now undertaken by these bodies. He strongly recommended the use of wood block'paving for such thoroughfares as Colombo Street, Manchester Street and High Street. Owing to its low cost of maintenance, wood-paving would prove as economical, on the streets referred to. as macadam, despite the higher original cost, while the concrete foundation, one© laid, would serve for all time.

The candidate dealt with the late Mr Taylor's road scheme, the disposal of electricity from Lake Coleridge, the construction of another tepid bath, the reduction of the price of gas, Government inspection of gas meters, the paving footpaths full width and the establishment of municipal cool stores, on the lines of previous addresses. In reply to questions, Mr Holland said that in his opinion it would pay Christchurch in the long run to build a ship canal which would bring ocean liners right into the city. The canal commissioners' estimate that land reclaimed in the estuary would be worth only £IOOO was simply ridiculous. He would recommend the construction, first,-of a small canal to Heathcoto, at a cost of £187,000. In reply to a question as to whether he would promise to take steps to cope with the nuisance caused by smoke from foundry and factory chimneys, he said that many firms had lately taken steps themselves to mitigate the nuisance. When electricity came from Lake Coleridge the trouble would be still further minimised.

On the motion of Mr J. Blank, seconded by Mr G. Hyde, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker by acclamation.

BR TH ACKER'S CANDIDATURE. Dr Thackor, a candidate for the Mayoralty, addressed a meeting last evening at the Richmond Methodist Schoolroom. Mr H. B. Sorensen was in the chair. The candidate advocated cool storage. He stated that the Mayor could neither raise nor reduce rates without having a majority of the Council in favour of it. He pointed out that the city had a fixed income and did the collecting for the Drainage and Hospital Boards, which absorbed more than half the Council's income. He assured them that he fully realised the responsibility attaching to the position of Mayor. The candidate severely criticised the canal commission's report, and advocated the junction of Christchurch directly with the sea by a small canal to Heathcote. He spoke of the future of Richmond, and the positive necessity for widening.Stanmore Road. He approved of the principle of up-to-date tarred macadam in a road echeme. At tho conclusion the candidate, who had received an attentive hearing throughout, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. He afterwards addressed another large meeting at the corner of Grafton and Charles Streets, with Mr W. R. Smith in the chair.