THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 8

THE MAYORALTY.

ADDRESS BY THE HON. J. RIGC. The Hon. J. Rigg, tho Labour candidate for the city Mayoralty, gave his opening address in tho Druids' Hal], Taranaki Street, last evening, Mr. R. M'Kenzio presiding over an attendance of about 120 persons. ' The speaker mentioned tho fact that he had been in Wellington for forty years, and had ho not been asked to como forward by tho Labour Representation Committee, it would have been another forty before ho did so. He had at heart the interests of Labour, and ho believed tho time- was ripe- for a great upward movement in tho Labour ranks, and if they could get good men to como forward at tho next general election, Labour would score a conspicuous victory. One reason ho camo forward was to test tho solidity of the Labour peoplo in support of one who had done his best for them. It was very easy to criticise anything already done, but ho had no word of blamo to say against tho City Council, which was a very advanced one. It had good officers and he was glad to give unstinted praise where it was due.

Tho City's Finances. ! There had been great progress in the city, and the foundations of future prosperity were already laid. Many people considered that the brake must be put on, but he insisted that we could not stand still whether wo would or not. (Hear, hear.} In ten years, the population would be 100,000, and preparation must bo made for this. Because financial depression was on, the advocacy of stagnation should be sufficient to condemn any public men. (Hear, bear.) The land-owners would benefit by a progressive policy, and they would gain far more than any rating they might bo called upon to pay. Therefore, he regretted that tho recent loan proposals had been rejected. Ho thought they were going a little far in the matter of recreation grounds, and Anderson Park should be sufficient without Kelburne .Park, in reference to workers' homes, for which £27,500 was asked, prejudice had a lot to do with the rejection of that , item. It was one of the 'first reproductive works that should have been proceeded with. The people would benefit by reduced rents, increased sanitation, etc' It was regrettable that the proposal to . borrow £46,000 for lighting and tramways was not carried, the more so as only 2000 people exercised their power of voting. Tho decision had been recorded, and it had given rise to serious consideration. Tho money had bcon anticipated, and he was not in . a position to say how the difficulty was to be met. As to tho increased rates, this should not terrify peoplo who could afford to pay as it might mean—as it did mean—an increase in the general prosperity of tho city. If the owner brought about a period of stagnation by his own act he would himself suffer. They had to consider , that the value of property was going up by leaps and bounds, and an increased rate should not be objected to. This did not necessarily mean a bad thing for them. No doubt tho depression—which was more serious than most peoplo imagined— caused the ratepayers ,to reject the loan proposals, but they would only increase tho depression. _ This was not the time to shut down on big works, and he remarked, after a referencG to'civil service retrenchment, that the outlook for the workers was not very bright. ■ Money could still bo raised on favourable terms, and ,they should contimio to raise it until it could not be obtained on such terms. Ho pointed out that for many years tho rates had not been increased, but the values had gone- , up. Would ■ those, he asked, whoso values had gone up,' object to this increased value? . Far too much, ho thought, was being made of this matter. The only way to reduce rates was' to spend money in reproductive works, and'with tho profit to , relieve, tho rates. Ho. quoted ;,the-. rosults'iof - ■ ownership' at Home, the profits of which were applied to tho reduction of the rates. The secret of success in this question,, ho mentioned, was not to charge a minimum price at the outset.

Tramways and Lighting. It must not be thought from what ho had said that we had no profit-earning municipal concerns in Wellington. Those who spoko of: loss on the tramways did not know what they were talking about. The tramways were a littlo goldmine, and the time- was not far distant, about fifteen years, he thought, when all charges in connection with their establishment would bo met.' The net profit on tho trams for five years was £16,891, with a depreciation fund of £43,696; thus over £60,000 had been earned by the service iii that time. In this 'case, the upkeep was borne'out of revenue, and cars had been built out'of the depreciation fund. "You can. take my word for it," the candidate declared, "that if I am sufficiently lucky to bo elected Mayor, I mil see that proper consideration is given to every proposal that mny come forward." Dealing with tho lighting question, Mr. Rigg said that a great doal of costly development had gono on, but the cost would cease soon. If tho corporation wished to purchase tho gasworks, it should simply promoto a private Bill. Previously, they had gone tho wrong way about it. Tho application of electricity was in its infancy, and its future development was impossible to foresee, but it seemod that gas would bo superseded, and it was a question if the gasworks should really be purchased in view of these facts. By new lamps the price of current was being reduced by two-thirds, and how could gas compete with this? His advice was: "Let us go slow; there is no hurry; The people of "Wellington have got the Gas Company by the wool— (laughter)—as the company cannot cross the old Melrose boundary without the permission of the city. To hurry the purchase would give tho company everything it likes to ask." If it was necessary to acquire the property, he thought it could be purchased on better terms in a year or two.

Various Matters. Some things, said Mr. Rigg, must be gone on with irrespective of their power to earn revenue, and the public health must be safeguarded.. As to insanitary dwellings, there were a lot that should have been pulled down long ago. (Loud applause.) Enterprises such as public markets, municipal lodging-houses, workers' dwellings, etc., should be gone on with, and that quickly. To secure sites, he suggested that about 150 acres of waste land on the Kilbirnic side of tho Town Belt should be brought into use. It was only used for grazing a few horses, and was retarding tho development of Kilbimie. Then the newspapers, would say: "Hands off the Town Bolt. Ho agreed with this where reserves were to be provided, but the sentiment should give- way to purposes of utility. Works of the greatest necessity should bo taken first, and the others in their order. As to tho "dirty streot" question, a good deal of nonsense had been talked about this. Tho pavements should bo completed at the cost of the property-owners. "Of course, I recognise that a Mayor is only one man in a community," remarked the candidate, " and you need not be afraid of me. I'am not go'ing to bolt. If I do, I hope they will pull me up quickly." The duties of the Mayor were to look after the finances, the interests of the city, and the employees of the council. Appointments should be by merit; he would never allow a policy of " spoils to the victors," and if there was to be any patronage it should be at the disposal of the council. Briefly, his policy was: To increase in every possible way tho revenue of the municipality from reproductive enterprises, so as to mako charges of government fall principally upon those enterprises, so as to reduce the rates until the time may come when rates may not bo required at all for the municipal government of the city. " TS;«t sounds' Utopian," he added, " but it will come beforo tho social State does, if we proceed on sound business lines." In conclusion, the speaker declared: " I will say nothing 1 do not believe, and promise nothing I will not fulfil. If elected, I will do my best for tho people, and always endeavour to uphold the dignity of tho city." (Loud applause.) In answer to a question, Mr. Rigg stated that he believed in State control of tho liquor traffic. On the motion of Mr. A. Parlanc, seconded by Mr. A. Levy, a hearty vote, of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate.

DR. NEWMAN AT ISLAND BAY. About fifty people wore present in tho Island Bay Hall last night, when Dr. Newlnan delivered another speech, in tho course of his .Mayoral campaign. Mr. R. Kcene occupied the chair. In introducing tho candidate, M'f. Kceno referred to the need for going slow in tho matter of finance. Tho ratepayers, he said, should take an intelligent interest in municipal politics, and see that their money was properly spent. Dr. Newman first outlined' the principal points in his policy as in previous speeches, drawing attention to tho fact that tho of Mayor was no sinecure, and the man iwho took on tho position should be one with ample time to devote to the duties. He himself, if elected, would bo ablo to devote the greater portion of his time- to the work. Continuing, ho stated that ho tvas not there to oiler them a "fireworks" policy. It would be very pleasant to do so, to go round to ratepayers and ask them just to state what they wanted, and then promise it to them, but with the present state of finance that could not be done. Hetrenchment in the Government might affect the revenue of the council, for people would not spend so much money on trams, electric light, etc. They therefore had to consider how they, could make the money go farthest. But he did not see any great hardship in that, for a great deal in the way of works had been accomplished in the past. There were the tramways, which had been well constructed, and the only trouble in regard to them was in the matter of dividing the sections. He certainly thought that there was room for improvement in that particular, for on some sections people could travel almost two miles for a penny, while on at 'least one, the journey was not more than half a mile. There were various ways of remedying this. A telescopic system might be adopted, making suburban sections longer than the central ones, or else concession tickets might be issued to regular suburban travellers. He realised that Island Bay was not at such an advantage as other suburbs, and if elected he would look into tho matter. Island Bay and Brooklyn would soon bo as well off as the city 'in regard to sewerage, etc., for the septic tank which was the centre of their drainage system was almost completed. In conclusion, Dr. Newman emphasised the need for going slowly in the- coming, year, and doing without any further loans. No one having any questions to ask, a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate, proposed by Mr. A. Odlin, and seconded, by Mr. Hume, was carried by acclamation.

COUNCILLOR FISHER AT WADESTOWN. Councillor Fisher addressed the electors ati Wadestown last evening, Mr. Joplin presiding over a large attendance. Speaking of the obligations of the city to the outlying districts, the candidate stated that these would have to be carried out in due course. The city engineer was going on with the,'drainage of Brooklyn, and a portion of Northland and'then Wadestown would follow. On the subject of tramways, Mr. Fisher remarked that a poll had been takne, a route decided upon by tho ratepayers, and it only remained for the council to proceed with the work, which would no doubt be started at the earliest possible moment. liiv connection with the negotiations between the City Council and tho Highland Park Trustees, he said that the council was trying to do its bost in the interests of the city and, while he did not believe the city should force the situation, he believed they could rely upon the incoming council to arrive at a settlement, of the dispute as soon as possible, as no good was boing_ done at present to the trustees or the residents, and the 'sooner tho matter was tho estate was dealt with so soon would it contribute its full sharp towards tho burden of the ratepayers in connection with the trams. ■ . 1 Mr. Fisher dealt at : some length with'the various services which the/municipality had taken over. At the conclusion of the meeting he was asked why it was that the present.Mayor/.had stated, before. the loan proposal'in connection with, the trams was I Without 'the. council's going to'the market, whereas quite recently he (the Mayor).stated that the money would' have to be .raised by loan'and that, at present,'it was liot opportune that this should be done: Mr. Fisher replied that he was' not responsible for the statements made by the Mayor, and he had ■no doubt that Air. Hislop would bo able to answer tho qwstirn. i A vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was carried Jnanimously. MR. WILFORD AT BROOKLYN. 'Mr.-T. M. Wilford, M.l\, delivered his second, address in.the present contest for tie Mayoralty to a crowded audience in Fullford's Hall, Brooklyn, last night. Mr. J. O'Brien presided.

• In the course of his speech, which was largely on the lines'of the one he had given on the previous. night, tho candidate announced that according to an approximate estimate made by Mr. Stuart Richardson, tho surplus of revenue over expenditure on the tramways for the year 1908-9 was over £5000. Mr. Wilford dealt largely with tho policy of the council in regard to depreciation funds, and discussed the proposals of tho committee on milk supply. Coming to the local requirements of Brooklyn, ho said he was prepared to.assist in obtaining a recreation ground on tho Town Belt for the district, and ho would advocate the .taking over of tie private streets that were formed under the authority of the Alelroso Borough Council, before amalgamation with the city. In regard to tho extension of tho tramway system to Ohiro Bay and thence to connect with the Island Bay line, the candidate'said tho negotiations with the Jacob Joseph Estate had not brought a solution, and it seemed to him that the owners of the estate should realise that great advantages would be gained by them if the tramway lino were extended through their property, -. and they should bo prepared to meet the council with a concession in the shape of 20 acres of land for a recreation ground at the head of Ohiro Bay. Speaking further on the subject of recreation' grounds, Mr. Wilford said that whilo he approved of the council's expenditure for that purpose, he thought some consideration should be shown to bowling clubs, which had spoiit substantial sums of money in forming excellent grounds from waste portions of tho city, and whilo paying huge rates and heavy charges for water, were not ablo to obtain gate money. Tho loan moneys available for works approved by the ratepayers should be used as soon as possible, to relievo the distress caused by unemployment. With £150,000 in hand for drainage and watersupply, no time sliould bo lost incommencing these very necessary works. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, and a committee of ladies and gentlemen' was formed to work the district in Air. Wilford's interest. MR, BOLTON AT THORNDON. Mr. F. G. Bolton addressed an audience of about fifty at St. Paul's Schoolroom last evening. Mr. B. Drake occupied tho chair. The candidate advocated that- tho municipal tramways' should be placed in charge of an expert manager; that municipal markets for the sale of fish, fruit, and vegetables should bo erected, though not necessarily on the reclaimed land as suggested, as the cost of that land, about £7000 per acre, made it too valuable for that purpose; and that all petitions and complaints as to the unfair treatment of corporation employees should bo considered by the council as a' whole, and not by a committee as at present. Ho would debar Asiatics from holding stalls in tbo municipal markets, so as to allow white traders an opportunity of competing with their shops. Ho urged that tho recre.v turn grounds, including Anderson Park should bo completed out of revenue and that loans should be avoided as far as possible. Sinking funds should bo established in connection with all loans, in which connection he stated that there wero loans aggregating £244,000 that had no sinking funds attached to them". In referring to tbo'complaints of employees, ho instanced the case of tho resignation of tho h're-brigadesmen at Newtown (referred to elsewhere). A voto of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr. A. Haddon. and seconded by Mr. M. Kemp, was carried. Mr. Bolton will speak at Palm Grove Borhamporo, to-day, at 8 p.m. " ' Dr. Newman will speak at tho Sydney Street Schoolroom to-night at 8 o'clock, giving special attention to the city finances.