MAYORAL CONTEST

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19566, 3 May 1935, Page 7

MAYORAL CONTEST

MR J. R. FOW’S CAMPAIGN. FINE RECORD OF SERVICE. MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE. ■BOROUGH PROGRESS REVIEWED A frank, straightforward account of his stewardship as the town’s ohief magistrate during the past two years and of the progress made In the borough during that time characterised the first and only address of the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, given at (Pearson’s Hall, Hamilton East, last evening to further his campaign in the Mayoral contest. Mr 'Fow rqade no reference to his opponents in the campaign and marshalled some telling facts and figures to demonstrate the municipal improvements during his latest term of lengthy ofilce. He was given an excellent hearing from an audience of about 150. Mr FBest presided. In opening, Mr Fow expressed deep appreciation for the warm support which had been freely accorded him at every poll since 1907. He proposed to refrain in his address from Innuendos and personalities and give a plain unvarnished acoount of accomplishment in the borough during his current term of ofilce. Two years ago he admitted it would be impossible to solve all labour .problems in the borough, but he had assured all that he would be approachable to anyone wanting a hearing and he felt sure ratepayers would agree that he had kept to his promise. He had then not proposed a radical programme and his slogan had been “ what we have we hold.” He considered the report he intended furnishing indicated a most successful and progressive term pi office.

Rato Reductions.

Thfc total rate reductions in the last two years were: Hamilton and Claudelands, id, in the £; Frankton, i(M6d in the £; Maeroa, 17-32 d in •the £; refuse collection, 3s. These with the drop in rateable values represented no less than £9267 per annum. Aotual receipts had been better than expeoted and once again the arrears would show a reduction. In the coming year there would probably toe another slight reduction in the rates as the result of the favourable position attained in the finances over the last two years. Eleotrlolty Position Clarified. Referring to statements made at Frankton which he described as misleading, Mr Fow said the number of electricity consumers was practically the same as the number of residential and separately occupied premises In Hamilton so that there could toe no very considerable increase in consumers.' .

Power, in not a few Instances, was cheaper Ilian in several of the larger centres, notably so in the case of electricity used for radiators and by the larger consumers; other than for cooking, it compared favourably with other places. There was no possibility of doubling consumption within a short period nor could this be done except at a very heavy cost for new mains, additional transformers and equipment. 'No 'star chamber’ methods were adopted, and full information was available both through the press and otherwise as to the department’s accounts. It was true that from the surplus or profits of the electrical department £SOOO was taken 10 years ago as a nucleus of the Insurance fund. • After - allowing compound interest at 5 per cent, on that, the insurance operations showed & surplus of approximately £IO,OOO after 10 years and the consumers of electricity as well as the ratepayers were benefiting as a result. The department had also substantially contributed to the costs of kerbing and fbotway sealing in the, last year, but could it be denied that its consumers were reaping the benefit? It was undesirable to raise loans for these purposes if funds could be obtained in any Other way for the sinking fund charges were exceptionally high for footway work, and generally it was agreed that the town had enough unproductive debts until the population nad increased sufficiently to ease the present burdens.

“It is not true that the department’s consumers are over-charged to the extent of 50 or 60 per cent and Mr

\ndrews or any one else can obtain he audited figures showing the correct position on application to the Council’s offices,” added the Mayor.

“Striking a Balanoe.”

"The council has to strike a balance between the advantages of electricity and gas and to sell both at figures which will preserve each department’s revenues and provide the people of the town with the best possible for their various purposes. It believes this can be achieved by making its prices for lighting and for driving machinery as low as possible and by popularising the use of gas for cooking purposes. During the last twelve months, lighting consumption has increased by 11.6 per cent, power toy 12.66 per cent, water heating by 20.04 per cent, while sales of gas are up 1.9 per cent and It can safely be asserted that there are few concerns whose load has increased in like proportion in the same time. A comparative statement of the electricity charges made in various centres for each purpose, proves conclusively that the present charges in Hamilton are not excessive. As to what they will be in future, I am not prepared to say. The accounts for last year are not yet finalised. The financial position as a whole w r ill bo carefully scrutinised by the new council in the' next few months, and the question of reducing charges for electricity will be dealt with then. "I have yet to learn in what way there is bad administration In Hamilton. Improvements may be possible —in few concerns-where the human element enters are things perfect and I make no such claim for the council or its officials —we do our best and are always willing to listen to advice and where it is possible, to use any suggestions for the benefit of the majority. “If by the competition of eleotrioity the council had to close the gasworks, which were now successful, it would mean that the ratepayers would have to pay for the loss for years to come. As long as the gasworks paid their way they should be retained. At present Hamilton had a community lighting system second to none in the Dominion and the admiration of many visitors. It had been stated that Auckland could not have such a system because the city was in a .power board area. Loan Conversion Saving. “The conversion of the council’s loans covering £684,853 ordinary debenture loans and £82,000 instalment repayment loans was practically finalised during the year only £3OO, apart from the parcel of £3200 unclaimed since 1914, remaining to toe dealt with. The applications totalled 188, premiums paid in cash amounted to £13,528 4s 10d, 38G1 new debentures were printed and Issued in exchange for those surrendered. The expense involved totalled £737- 4s 4d, details being as under: Advertising, £l2O 9s; printing debentures, £1.70 16s 3d; Insurance, £lO3 8s 3d; bank charges and commission, £258 14s; sundries, including postages, exchange, etc., £B3 16s lOd. These costs have been allocated to the various accounts benefiting by the interest reductions, which compared with the amounts we contracted to pay show a saving of £7528 19s lid per annum. , “During -tii'e year "the "sUfffiof £3OOO was obtained at 3f per cent for a term of 35 years on account of the Fairfield bridge and arrangements have .recently been made for an advance of £SOOO being the estimated balance required for this work at 3b per cent on the instalment repayment system spread over 25. years. “There has been nothing spectacular in our work o,ver the last two years," the Mayor added. “We have raised no loans because the times have not warranted it. After all, this town has advantages not shared by many other towns. In the previous term we did large works with loan money—the £IOO,OOO drainage scheme and the £BO,OOO street improvements scheme.

Unemployed Rellof. Commenting on the unemployed relief during the last two years the Mayor stated that on behalf of the Government, on No. '3 Scheme, £14,G 74 was spent compared with £17,370 last year, £15,521 for 1933, and £13,456 for 1932. The maximum number of payments made was for the week ended August 18, 800 (414 maximum last year on August 5, with maximum 1933, 358).. The minimum was reached on February 23, 1935, 19G; it was 223 on February 10, 1934, and 154 in April, 1933. At March 31 last the number employed was 229 compared with 237 a year earlier. The average number over the year was 270 per week compared with 323 last year. The council’s out-of-pocket costs on the No. 5 Scheme this year were £1470 2s compared with £1094 12s 9d last, year. These figures did not Include any part of the expense in(Continued in next column.)

volved in supervision, laying out the work, cheoklng of wages sheets, payment of wages, claims for refunds, issue of tools, or depreciation, etc., of transport engaged, all of whi'en were oarried by the ordinary accounts. The true costs were consequently much in excess of the figures quoted and in the last three years would undoubtedly average over £2OOO per annum. During the off week in the winter months a further £994 10s 2d was spent in providing two days additional labour for No. 5 Scheme workers, who were ratepayers or had resided in Hamilton for the 12 months last past.

“Unstinted Service.” Continuing, the Mayor referred to various permanent street works (referred to elsewhere). He said most of the great improvements done in recent years have been duo to the self-denial, sacrifice, and loyalty of the.citizens who offered their services gratuitously to the residents.” Mr Fow went on to refer to the various prominent figures who had visited the town in the last two years. “Having been so many years in Hamilton I don’t consider it necessary for mo to press my claims much," added the speaker. “However, as there has been a political aspect to this election I may state my reasons for asking for your support again. Firstly, I 'have grown with Hamilton; secondly, since i'9o7 I have given unstinted service to Hamilton, and thirdly I am a considerable ratepayer and have a stake In tho town. lam not here to-day and gone to-morrow. I employ a considerable staff and, despite almost universal action, I have never reduced the wages of a single employee. lam second to none in my pride in and loyalty to Hamilton. (Applause). I ain deeply touched with the enthusiasm and friendliness shown by all classes‘of the community to mo. If I go out it will be with the Hag flying and surrounded by •friends. I leave myself in your hands." (Loud applause). After Mr Fow had replied to several questions lie was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence amid enlhuslaslic acclamation.