THE MAYORALTY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12748, 20 April 1909, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY.

Mr J. T. Muir at Liverpool Street

I Mr J. T. Muir opened his Mayoral campaign in the Liverpool Street Schoolroom last evening, when there was a vpvy fair attendance, though not such as to iudicat.- the amount of interest there ought to be in municipal affairs. Mr J. T. Hogan, M.P., presided, and briefly iutiodured the candidate. | air Muir, who was warmly received, remarked that both the present Mayor, aad Mr Hogan, their membor, had made their initial speeches in that schoolroom. History had a knack of repeating itself, and he hoped that, in connection with the present contest, it would do co again. He thi-n said that, as h© was not known to many of them, he might be excused if ho referred to come of his past experiences in connection with many bodies of a public nature. He had betn • secretary s of the Cook's Gardens Board of Control, captain and secretary of the Cycling Club in its palmy days when he directed two N.Z. championship meetings, the Amateur Dramatic Society, Band Contest, local secretary for the N.Z. Exhibition, three Xmas. Carnivals, secretary of the Webb-Stanbury race, all of which had teen for the benefit of the town. He had been closely associated with the Garrison Band, and had paid them a total of 451500, from functions he had run on their behalf. In all these matters, he had acted in an administrative capacity. Yet he had been told when ho stood for the Council, two years ago, that he was not known. That would, at all events, show that he was not given to self-advertisement, and he always preferred to push his scheme rather than himself. He did not mention these matters in a boasting spirit, but merely to remove an impression that he was inexperienced.

FINANCE. Dealing with borough finance, Mr Muir said that our present debt was 4J254,000, and the new 4312,000 gas loan would bring the total up to 45266,000. Compared with some towns this was not large, but. it was well to remember that of recent years very little had been spent on tin-repro-ductive, but necessary works, such as streets. At the present juncture, the Council's policy should be one of strict economy, and he pledged himself, if returned, to" op'rose any further borrowing, except for strictly necessary works. Mr. Mackay, in his recent speech, said that the bank overdraft had only increased some 45600. but he did not tell them that, he had had the benefit of a 3d rate which, on last year's valuation, brought in an extra 451142 9s 6d. A» to the extraordinary expenditure mentioned by Mr. Mackay. it had to be remembered that that was always occurring, and ought to be anticipated.

STREETS. Our streets had been shamefully neglected. The tram construction had been made an excuse for this, but it was a weak excuse, as the trams only ran over a small portion of the town. Much had been promised to the "upper end" of the town, but little had been done, and the popular form of footpath there seemed to be a kind of sheep track, with gr.ass on each side. The metal from the-Hylton pit was "good of its kind, but he did not think it good enough for streets, and he strongly advocated broken metal.

TRAMS. The trams were undoubtedly a' splendid convenience, particularly for women and children. They were well worth paying for, and were holding their own better than was expected. At tha. same time, an effort had been made to over-boom them. In the short time they had been running, they could not possibly estimate their actual cost. In other towns the experience was that the cost of renewals and maintenance increased each year after installation up to four years. At the end of that period the motors and gear had to be entirely renewed. Now this involved considerable cost, and there was no blinking the fact that our system was a cheap one. The wires were thinner, the rails lighter, and, wherever a saving could be made, it was'effected. Also, he was reliably informed that owing to the swampy nature of the ground on which a. big stretch of our line was laid, it would always require a lot of attention. After thinking over the matter carefully, he was of the- opinion that we should not do anything in the way of extension, at- least for the present. They should first be more certain of the cost of the present system, and had to remember that money was difficult to get. Of the proposals submitted by the Gonville Tramway Board, he favoured No. 2, the borough to extend to the boundary, and let Gonville run what svstpm it pleased on its own track. But he only favoured this ■when it could be shown to be advisable. He favoured the establishment of a service on the Guyton Street branch. He was against tram concessions, as we could not afford them, and the^free list must be carefully watched.

' GASWORKS.

Mr Muir went on to say that, on liis motion, the Council's system of committee work had been entirely revised. Formerly, a number of committee meetings had beeu beld in one evening, and, as the Mayor was then chairman of all committees, the work bad to be rushed through in order that all the committees might sit, and large expenditures of hundreds of pounds were often very hastily decided on. On his motion, all this was altered, and in the new scheme of committees, he becaaie chairman of the Gas Committee. He did not believe in being a mere figurehead, so he went into matters relating to the gasworks, and when he got a grip of the po. sition, lie was very much concerned, as things were decidedly not what they seemed. In six years they were supposed to have made in round figures some 4312,000, or at least that amount was transferred to the relief of rates, but during that same period we had discarded worn out plant, etc., of equal value. It would therefore be clear that a continuation of tMs policy must end in disaster. The Gas Committee brought the mater before the Council, and be # trusted the scheme of reform -submitted would be adhered to. If returned he would strenuously oppose any motion to transfer money from the gas department for the relief of rates. If the gas manager suprlied,> good gas at a fair price that was all we^ had any reason to expect.- If the making materials depreciated quickly, aud^ if the ratepayers were to prevent overcapitalising, all works of renewal and maintenance, and also, when possible, ox tension, must be done out of revenue, lo exemrlify the two systems of finance, he would mention Greyraouth and Westpoit — both municipal concerns. The former town followed the system Wanganui adopted, with the result' that the capital value i of their works was 4>22,000, and the spiling price of efas wjia 9s 2d per 1000 fee. Westl rort had reduced their capital value to -£12,000, and sold gas at 5s per thousand feet. So that, in the one case, the borough was bleeding the gasworks, and in he other, the works were run as tbev should be run. Again, many works accumulate what was termed non-dividend-paying capital, practically a reserve fund. The Auckland Gas Company had no less than £142,234 17s 4d ear-marked for exceptional requirements. With regard to the gas

manager, Mr Muir was satisfied that he had been handicapped, but his disabilities were being gradually overcome, and he would shortly be in a better position. Last year the works showed a nett surplus of 45622, but with the amounts spent in renewais, etc., the actual profit was ii 1550.

DESTRUCTOE

A destructor was certainly needed, bi-t while we were waiting for it, we ought to have a reform in the method of rubb ; sh collecting. At present, many people buried their rubbish, and this should be stopped. The sixpenny charge should be abolished, and a new* system instituted . dd made compulsory.

RESERVES.

As the town was growing fast, hey should look ahead in the matter of new reserves. Laird Park should be put in order. t Until" he drew attention to it recently, it , had been a wilderness. As the Wanganui gaol was to be closed, he thought the i Council should endeavour to secure tLe site for an additional reserve.

GREATER WANGANUI.

He favoured a greater Wanganui, 'ut had been disappointed at the way the suburbs had acted in this matter. It had; been said that Gonville meant to join the; " orough, but several • people there had told him the opposite. So' far, the only one to join was Durietown, and as it had a strip of dangerous river bank to protect, its 'nclueion was likely to prove expensive lo the borough. There was an idea that, ;n amalgamation, the advantage was all on the side of the borough, but it was the opposite, on acount of the splendid assets the borough had in the rents of its -c serves. The suburbs should show their sincerity in this matter, as the • Borough Council has made the position perfectly clear. Mr Muir- then went* on to advocate a revision of the Opera House charges with a pliding scale in favoxir of local entertainments. As to the question of a ne«v bridge, it was not a pressing need for Hie near future, and considering that a large grant bad been made for the repair of the old bridge, it would be a difficult matter to get money from the Government for a new one. especially as retrenchment wna the watchword.

OKEHU WATER.

Dealing with the Okehu water supply, Mr Muir said the Mayor proposed a settling tank at We3tmere, estimated to cost 4310,000. He would try to show them that there was no need for such an expenditure. He was assured by experts that it by i-o means followed that a settling tank would have the desired effect. For some time past he had taken an 1 interest in this matter and he had <° scheme to submit which would not cost as many hundreds as Mr Mackay's would thousands. From careful inquiries made, it was almost certain that the pollution oi the water was caused by a small stream, which Mr Mcstayer insisted upon including. Experience had proved this to be <i mistake, as during the summer months (the only time it would be useful) the stream was dry, and further became practically a bog, and a happy hunting ground .for frogs, etc. Also a portion of Rangitaua Road and the service road made by the Council drained into this stream. Old i settlers had affirmed that when almost every other stream was discoloured the Okehu would be clear. This was borne out by the Council's employees at the waterworks. With the aid of a plan of the works, Mr Muir then showed how by a tunnel and culverts this stream could be diverted, and save the pollution of the dam. Engineers had assured him that the plan was perfectly feasible, and would only cost a few hundreds.

THE PRESENT MAYOR.

Mr Muir went on to say that the workers need have no fear for their interests in his hands. Instancing the recent dispute with the stokers at the, gasworks, tie told the men that he would be just t them and fair to the ratepayers. The result was that the dispute was amicably settled. Mr Muir said it was necessary for him to refer to the present Mayor, whom he was opposing. He hoped to conduct his campaign free from objectionable personalities, and hoped he would not be out- | done in good nature by Mr Mackay. They would remember that, at the recent general election, Mr Mackay's urbanity was said to be proverbial, and it was even stated that he had a nodding acquaintance with the town clock. The principle had been affirmed that the Mayoral office should be a "rolling one," and they knew that a monopoly oi it often resulted in a hard-fought election, and sometimes in defeat. In extending Mr Mackay a three years' term of office, the burgesses had treated him very well, and his presence or otherwise as chairman could not affect the ] projects the Council had in hand. He thought Mr Mackay's three years had been lean ones. Leave out the trams, and what had he done? And beyond working up a brief for the electric service, what_ had he done for the trams more than any councillor? At the same time, he had been quite ready to absorb any stray limelight. Mr Mackay had certainly been a promising man. Three years ago he bad promised a settling tank at once. And only now had he brought the proposal down. He had said that he had tried to bring it on before, but found there was no money. Well, Mr Mackay was on the Council for a few months before he was elected Mayor, so that he ought to have known before that there was no money when he made the promise. He ought to have known that to make a settling 'tank lie would have to borrow money, and that meant putting up the rates, and that of course , he would not do. Mr Mackay was going to nut the borough reserves -under the Land Transfer Act, but nothing had since been heard of it. The "upper end" had been

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promised a lot, but had got nothing ta speak of. Mr Mackay had said three years ago that the gasworks should be for the benefit of the consumer, that there should bo no transfer of profits to relieve rates, and that the price should be reduced. Now he must have known that, by continuing to transfer the profits, it wae impossible to reduce the rates. The present Mayor had said that if we ran trams to any suburb, that suburb should pay a portion of the cost. Well, the trams were runningto Aramoho, and Aramoho had not been asked for a farthing. At last Parliamentary election, Mr Mackay said he would not stand again for the Mayoralty. Now he gave as his reason for standing that he had been requisitioned to do so. and also because some one said he had got the finances into a mess and wanted to gret out of it. Who was it that said so? Why did not Mr Mackay. give that person or persons' name? Mr Mackay, also^-made/a ipoint of tho fact. that th.c memberq f o4i4h«f' Cf/x^neil had signed r the ; . reguisitjfln^^e <Mr Muir) would rea4rfibßip-,i'a. I qj%ota^i)aa'! on ■Wiat i -subject^- t "He -did, not t-lijnk' ...he should retire' Because it.ip^aiority -of the Council favoured his opponent. The people, not the Council, elected the Mayor. Inl deed,- the f,act that a majority of the Council wanted a particular man mi^ht be the best of reasons for reiectine him." — The author of that opinion was Mr C. E. Mackay, when he firs£ stood for Mayor, three years ago. Mr Muir concluded by saying he hoped to have other opportunities of addressing the burgesses. He had been told that, in tackling' Mr Mackav, he wag tackling a strong man. Well, he liked a fight, and if he. went down he would do so without crying. At the same time, h«» was hopeful, and ho hoped to T>e returned at the head of the poll on the 28th inst. Mr Muir, who concluded amid hearty applause, was asked two questions. One, by a late comer,- was in reference to the Gasworks, and had already been dealt with in his speech. The other was with reference to a recent reduction of wa?ea and extension of Saturday hours of the Borough employees. Mr Muir stated in reply that he was not on the Works Committee, and did not know the facts. He would make inquiries, and answer the question at a future meeting. Mr H. J. TURNER then moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Muir.

Mr T. G. LOVE moved as an amendment, "That this meeting considers Mr Muir a fit and proper 'person to fill the; office of Mayor for the ensuing term." The amendment was seconded by Mr A. Townsend. and was carried Tamid loud applause, with only one or two dissentients. Mr Muir thanked his hearers for the resolution, ' and the meeting concluded with the usual compliment to the chair.

At the conclusion of Mr Muir's address last evening, a meeting was held of thoFe willing to serve on his committee, and 22 names were handed in. Mr A. Townsend was appointed chairman, and a scheme of work was drawn up. Mr J. T. Muir, who ia contesting the Mayoral election, invites those favourable to his candidature, to meet him to-mor-row (Wednesday) evening at the Fire Brigade Hall, at 8 o'clock, for the purpose of forming a committee.

Mr C. E. Mackay hat> been nominated for the Mayoralty by Mrs F. M. Watt, and Messrs N. Meuli, W. Parnell, W. Tucker, A. Moosman, and C. H. Hunt.