MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14362, 13 May 1920, Page 5

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

ADDRESSES BY CANDIDATES. EX-MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS. ASK FOR UN*BLOC VOTE. The ox-Mayor (Mr P. 11. Walls) and Councillors, who recently resigned from the Hamilton Borough Council, commenced their campaign tor reelection at the Hamilton East Methodist Schoolroom last night. The building was about bull’ filled. Mr H- >l- - was voted to 11 1 e chair, Tho Ex-Mayor Explains. Mr P. H. Walts safU that Hie first thing they had lo consider was the good government of the borough, and this meant that the expense of living in I lie borough must he reduced to a minimum, and Hie advantages of living in the borough must bo raised to the maximum. They wanted first 'of all low rales, and, with these, good services. There were many candidates, in the present election, and in making a choice the ratepayers must, not he affected by far-away hopes—they wanted candidates who would "deliver the goods.” The candidates on tho platform that night had been connected with the Council for Evolve months, and they claimed that they had a policy which hud been definitely pul on foot, a net for which, in many respects, they could claim a definite achievemcn'. Re would tell them briefly of several matters which had had the Council’s attention. There was great need for a proper supply of road metal, lack ol which had done much to obstruct the advancement of the borough. When they entered municipal Jife they found I hat practically nothing had been done hi meet this need, arid they Immediately set lo work, with the result that they had, obtained an option over firstclass metal near Mercer. The proposal was to erect hoppers, landing stages, etc... and then lease the whole outfit to a contractor, the borough to have first call on the output. This‘worth! he of great benefit to the borough. The Council had always told the ratepayers what, it was doing: he knew of no other Council which had taken the ratepayers so much into its confidence. Another thing the Council had brought to completion was the matter of rubbish removal. and the erection of a wharf and shipping facilities, although delayed by the trouble over a site, was also receiving attention. The Council had done good work in dealing with noxious weeds, the solicitor having been instructed after much preparatory work to take action against offenders. A scheme of systematic concrete kerbing and channelling was in hand, and this would obviate the large sums previously spent on maintenance. The drainage proposals were ready to he submitted to the ratepayers, the raising of a loah of £119,000 being projected, practically the whole scheme having been developed during the past 12 months. The Council had established proper reading conditions, which would he of great benefit, and would lend to stop speculation. What made the expense of living In the .borough was the thinness of population. There were i 8 miles of road, about six houses to a quarter-mile on an average, and they wanted more houses, so that the various*services would serve more houses and become more remunerative. That would make for good government. The Council had brought down a housing scheme, which, with Certain amendments, would do much lo relieve the shortage without a heavy burden being placed on either the borough or the people taking up houses. A borough manager had been appointed, and if the innovation proved a success it would be extended. In the past it had been almost impossible to got at the true position of the borough, tho system of showing receipts and expenditure only being j-eally no test.. To understand the position fully they wanted lo have a stock-taking at the beginning and end of eacli year, and this had been done last year. '

Why Did Wo Roolcm? Continuing, Mr Watts said they had been asked why they had resigned. They did so for two reasons—firstly, because they considered it their* duty to do so. (Cries of “No” and “Yes.") It was the fault of the ratepayers that they had to resign. They produced a dellnile policy, and pift it fully before the ratepayers. The electricity question was one on which only experts could form on opinion, and the ratepayers were not asked to believe the Council, but experts. The result was a vote of no-confldcncc, the policy for which Hie Councillors stood "being rejected by the ratepayers. Having gone out they had been asked to come out and try again, on the ground that the vote did not represent the feeling of the borough. Another .reason for his resignation was that tie was not prepared to carry on without an expression of opinion from Hie ratepayers. Half the time of Hie Council was being taken up by the obstruction of people who did not bring forward anything constructive. He felt that must slop. He could not carry on with that sort of thing if he had only a minority vote of Hie public behind him. He must have a majority vote, in the present election lie would ask them not to vote for men, but for policy. They had formulated a policy, and if thf 1 ratepayers liked that policy (.hoy would vole the ex-Councillors info ' power. Hi*, therefore, asked them to vole for Hie ticket, represented there Rial night. Mr J. McKinnon amplified Hie councillors’ reasons for resigning. Ho recognised that if may have seemed childish, hut they should remember that the nine tricity scheme broughf forward was part and parcel of the Council's progressive policy, and they must have Hie verdict, of the people. In the campaign to defeat the electricity poll there had been much misrepresentation. Ho .■outlined Hie negotiations which had resulted in Hamilton being allocated only 300 h.p. from 11 ora llora, which was quite inadequate for the needs of Hie town. Hamilton had great possibilities os an industrial centre, and an increased electrical supply was urgently needed. Mr Stark's report had been based on practical calculations, and they must accept him as an export. They also had the opinion of Mr Oauvain and the Chief Electrical Engineer of New Zealand, while Sir William Fraser had staled that the maximum obtainable from Mora flora beyond the, present capacity was 2800 h.p. The opponents of the schcnifc had slated that the rates would be. increased if Hie proposal was carried, but there was no justification for this statement. The plant in Australia was to cost £4BOO. (“Why not toll us that before?") They ,them. To find out the condition of Hie plant they had engineer over to Australia, and his action was afterwards endorsed by Mr Stark. No man had cause to cavil at I ha 1.. When the councillors took office they had lo start with Hie spade, no preparatory work having been done, and (hey had done much. Their lickol represcnled the most progressive policy ever placed be - fore the Hamilton ratepayers. The work was half done, and they wan fed to got back and finish the job; but they must have a working majority. Mr S. Tombs referred lo the defeat of the last electricity proposal, and said that the position was that they had carried a poll to reticulate the borough, bul bad not got the current to supply

it. What was the use of having: llio reticulation and not I lie current? The Government had stated that only 300 h.p. would he available for Hamilton, and Mr Birks had said that the supply would never overtake the demand. Tiie biggest curse in local polilics was amateur engineers. The Council put before Hie ratepayers the opinion of experts. The electrical department had always kept before the ratepayers the necessity of another plant. The late M.r Ellis had had it in yiew, but it was held back unlil the supply from II ora It ora was made known. They must do their best for their town. Palmerston North, Wanganui, and other towns had authorised large loans for electricity, and Hamilton should fail into line.' The ex-councillors believed that the people-had been misled on the, occasion of the recent poll. It was nol a question of water-power v. coal. He agreed that water-power was best, but could they get hydro-electricity? The present plant at Frankton was •quite inadequate: even present users of power wore not satisfied.. In regard lo the talk of “second-band scrap iron, 1 ’ ho would like lo say that the only plant which had done Ihc work satisfactorily .at Frankton was the second-hand plant. The trouble at Frankton was from the new plant. He defied anyone to say that tlic plant proposed to he purchased in Australia was not suitable. If the ratepayers approved of the policy they should give the ex-councillors a vote eu bloc.

Messrs T. F. Jolly, W. Burrows, and H. E. Tristram also spoke of what tiie councillors had done during flioir term of office, 'and asked to he returned lo office as a tickd. Questions.

Many questions were asked at the close of the addresses, amongst them being:—

In the event of the candidates being returned and defeated on-a pet scheme, would they resign again?—Mr McKinnon ; No.

Is it the intention of the ex-council-' lor?, if returned, to re-submit the loan proposals for a steam plant?—Mr Watts: I don’t think we will have the chance. The opportunity has probably gone by. If the plant is.available wo will submit the proposal again. Was Hie Australian plant complete or only half a plant?—Mr Watts; We were asking the ratepayers for a loan o’ £17,000. The plant in Sydney was to cost £4BOO, and that did not include boilers, which would have to lie secondhand and procured in New Zealand. What is Hie position regarding the election of Mayor?—Mr Walts: The borough authorities have construed the position to amount to this—that the vacancy occurred during Hie .second year of office. I was declared elected on April 22; 1019. The Act says that the election must be by The Borough ♦ Council.

Mr Cruar; If the Wellington Borough Council offered the Hamilton Borough Council certain second-hand boilers, vbnt were the conditions? —Mr Watts: 1 have no direct knowledge. It never came before the Council. Mr Gruar: Is it not Hie duty of the Council’s servants to place. Hie matter before the Council at the proper time? —Mr Walts; At the proper lime. Or Gruar seems to be an expert at finding out things for inquiry. Mr Gruar objected to Ibis remark, and Hie chairman said, “I think Mr Watts should not have said that.” Mr Watts; The engineer bad certain information, and may or may not have held it back. It‘was the duty ot anyone in Hie campaign to ask for information. Seeing that the second-hand plant lias been tflrncd down, arc the councillors prepared to subirtlt a proposal for an up-to-date plant?—Mr Walts: It is purely a matter of time. If we cannot gel Hie second-hand plant we will have to ask for an up-to-date plant.

Do you consider you are doing-justice f,. the"ratepayers by resigning and then seeking re-election, putting the ratepayers to great expense, besides disorganising the business of the borough? —Mr Whitts: Yes, I do; otherwise I would not be here.

A motion of thanks and confidence in the candidates, and an amendment of thanks only were proposed, the motion, being declared carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.