LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, Page 13

LOCAL ELECTIONS.

CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION CANDIDATES.

The Citizens' Association candidates continued their campaign at the "Woolston school on Friday night, Mr McGregor "Wright presiding over a good attendance. The chairman, in introducing the speakers, said the candidates of the Association were offering the ratepayers a good deal in both time and labour. Mr R. B. Dalloy said it had been """ith extreme diffidenco that he had allowed himself to bo nominated as a candidate for the City Council. It had always been his aim in whatever district he had lived to do his utmost for that district. He held that service was tho truest test of citizenship, and he assured tho ratepayers that in this direction he woufd endeavour to give his best. He was in the fortunate position of having no past sins to answer for. The water supply schemes, he said, were important ones, and he considered that the defeat of the last two loan proposals was deplorable. The defeat, he considered, was due to a large extent to the apathy of the ratepayers, but there had also been a doubt as to which was the better of two schemes. If they set themselves to the task, he felt sure there would be no difficulty in securing adequate reticulation over the whole area of the city. Referring to the Metropolitan Board of Works proposals, the speaker considered that there was a great deal of unnecessary overlapping of work in municipal management. If the Board of "Works were set up, there would bo a. comprehensive overhaul of tho different branohes of municipal activities, and many of tho failnres which occurred from time to timo would be obviated. Mr Dalley also -advocated the procuration of municipal quarries, which could he secured near the tramway lines, the metal being carted by the Tramway Department during t.ho night. He thought the Council should ultimately adopt the system of laying down tar-scaled roads. Thfc traffic regulations also needed drastic revision. The speaker then proceeded to deal with afforestation, reserves, hoardings, dairy matters, etc. Mr G. Scott, a candidate for a seat on the Lyttelton Harbour Board, proceeded to explain to tho ratepayers the constitution of the Board. The city was not fairly represented on tho Board, he said, because the country members outnumbered th© city representatives, even on a population basis. Tho Board had recently considered tho improvement of the Estuary, but the City Council would aot adopt tho scheme which it had put forward. The speaker stated that he was a strong supporter of tho Port Christchurch scheme. He did not wish to be misunderstood on this point and wanted everyone, to be familiar with his attitude regarding this question. The position of the port as regards tonnage coming over tho wharves had not improved during the past ten years,; rather it had gone back since 1923. The trouble was that there were not enough progressive men on the Board. They were all good men, but they were not progressive enough. Speaking of the widening of the tunnel, he said the city would never get their "need in this respect. The Government might electrify the tunnel, but would not widen it. The fact was that the Government had recognised that the time was coming when there must be a Port Christchurch. . The wharves in Lyttelton were controlled by the Bailway Department. So long as they were controlled by this authority there would be no possibility of having the tunnel widenen to allow motor lorries to go through. The speaker then proceeded to deal with the expenditure of the Board, -and_ said that only tho shipping companies were getting tho benefit of it.

Tlie Mayor. (Mr J. A. FlesherV Crs. A. Williams and C. P. Agar, and Messrs D. Rowse and A. T. Smith also spoke. At the conclusion of the meeting a hearty rote of thanks -was passed to the speakers.

MEETING AT LINWOOD. A fairly largo attendance at the Bolleston street Hall, Linwood, on Friday evening followed with close inter* est the addresses of various candidates on the _ Citizens' Associa:tion ticket. Mr H. J. Otley presided. The Mayor (Mr J. A. Flesher) gave a twenty minutes' address, in which he dealt interestingly with the lines of policy outlined by him at previous, meetings.

Mrs A. E. Herbert, a candidate for reelection to the Hospital Board, gave what she described as an "account of her stewardship" during the term on. which she had served as a member of the Board and later as chairwoman of the Benevolent Committee. She explained the functions 'of the various institu' tions conducted by the Board, and remarked that it was doubtful if the public realised that the Board was in control, of so many institutions. A medical authority who had compared similar hospitals in the Old Country had' stated that it was probable that no other hospital had so many special departments. She was in favour of making it possible for every member of the public to take advantage of those departments. Reviewing the work of the Benevolent Committee, she said that a new line of policy she had been able to adopt had resulted in the weeding out of some of the "waster" types of applications.

Other speakers were Cr. E. H. Andrews, Messrs W. J. Sim, J. N. Du Feu, A. P. Carey, and C. T. Asehman, candidates for election to the City Council. Mr A. D. Ford, aiwrtier candidate for the City Council, was to have spoken, but being unable to attend forwarded an apology. The final rally, before "Wednesday's election, of friends and supporters of the Citizens' Association will be held in the Jellicoe Hall this evening at 8 o 'eloek. A number of the Association's candidates will address tho electors on matters of interest to the city.

Speaking at the band) rotunda, Victoria square, on. Friday night, Or. F. R. Cooke, a Labour candidate for the City Council, replied to arguments, that the Labour Party had no enter into municipal politics. The speaker said that prior to the entry of Labour into ihis class of politics private - ownership of public utilities -was rampant, and the public , were exploited to the greatest extent possible. On Fridav night Mr Joseph Hamlet, a candidate for the Mayoralty, addressed a meeting in the Rugbv street Hall. Merivale, Dr. H. T. J. Thacker presiding. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. tie will address a meeting t»-night m Sydenham Park, and his final address will be given to-morrow night in Victoria square. .

AKAROA-WAINUI ROAD BOARD. The following, the only nominees for the live seats on the Akaroa-Wainui Eoad Board, have been declared duly elected:— Messrs Arthur Bhodes Haylock, Joseph Hayward, Bichard Andrews Mould, Arch. Andrew Isarbey, and Samuel James Vogan.