THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 6

THE MAYORALTY.

DR. NEWMAN AT WADESTOWN. A good number of ratepayers attended Dr. Newman'B meeting at Wadestown on Thursday night. Mr. J. G. Chambers presided.In touching on tho finances, tho candidate said ho considered that the incoming Mayor and council would have to bo very careful or else tho rovenuo would not meet the expenditure, and there would then follow an increase of rates, to whjch ho was entirely opposed. This did not mean that there would be any need for retrenchment. Though there were ono or two anomalies, in regard to tramway faros, ho did not think thero should bo any reduction in tho charges at present, boyond remedying these. He was opposed to tho milk supply scheme of tho. City Council, which would cost £20,000 to establish and £7000 a year to maintain. With tho system of Government inspection of dairies and his own plan for supplying tho city with pure milk, by straining it, and then delivering it in hermetically sealed paper bottles, all tho objects in view would bo accomplished. In regard to his plan for beautifying the city.'Dr. Newman pointed out that it would bo a very good means of mooting tho unemployed dilficulty in the winter months. Profitable works, and riot only thoso that wero unproductive, lie believed, should bo undertaken by the City Council. Touching on tho question of loans, he thought that tho only loans floated this year should be those for tho Wadestown tramway and the Northland water supply. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr. Cook and seconded by Mr. Humo, was accorded the speaker COUNCILLOR FISHER AT.KILBmNIE. A largely attended meeting was held by Mr. Fisher on Thursday evening' at Kilbirnie. Mr. T. Fathers, tho chairman, in introducing the candidate, said that in him they had a strong man, against whom bo objection had been raised, save that he was young. But Mr. Fisher had •; shown that that quality did not stand in tho way of his safeguarding the interests of the people m tho past, and he (the chairman) felt sure that Mr. Fisher would carry out his duties faithfully and well. (Applause.) Mr. Fisher, who was warmly received, proceeded to deal with the affairs of the city at considerable length, referring to the balance-sheet which had just come out. He referred to the criticism that had been levelled at him on account of tho safe policy ho had ennunciated, denying flatly that his election'-would mean a period of stagnation. Ho pointed out that during tho coming year there would have to be spent the sum of £40,100, recently voted for tho Wadestown tramway, which should bo gono on with as soon as possible. Then there was tho sum of £22,500. voted for the Wadestown and Northland water supply. There wero also, in course of construction, tho Wainui dam £46,000, and the abattoirs £15,01)0. ..Apart from these items, there would bo other works out of revenue, such as reservoirs for tho high levels and other important undertakings that must bo gono on with. . ' . During the qoming yoar ho - estimated that the council would. have a very, fair programme to carry through,- and councillors would be able to concentrate their attention more oh the works the council already possessed than on *ihe works to be done or acquired. He considered he was I wiso-in suggesting a moderate policy, because the timos demanded it. Tho money market was* stringent;- • and it'was'a'moot point as; to-whether things were not going to get -worse before any sign of improvement set iK, . . . '• At the conclusion, a hearty vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Mr. Fisher intimating that somo questions pertaining to local matters would bo answered by him at North Kilbirnie on. Tuesday next. MR. BOLJON AT ISLAND BAY. ,Mr. Bolton addressed a meetirig'bf electors at Island ■•Bu'y' , 6'rM , liursday night, Mr. R. Keene presiding.- In his address, the caudidato dealt moro especially • with the tramway question, stating that the profits from the tramways during tho year just . closed wore apparently only from £300 to£4oo more than thoso for the-previous year, notwithstanding the largo additional expenditure of capital. The depreciation fund was apparently still assessed on a basis of 2J per cent. In his opinion, 5 per cent., or even . more, would-be the proper allowance. Mr. Ferguson, lately engineer to tho Harbour Board, had always advocated the writing off of 5 per cent, from the board's plant, 'and as the structures of'the Harbour Board wore on tho whole moro substantial than the property of tho tramways, it was plain, he said, that an even higher percentago was necessary. ■_ If: this wore dpne and from 5 per cent, to-7} per cent, wero written off, instead of a nominal profit of £5000 odd being shown there would be in reality, a heavy deficit. Mr. Bolton referred to the agitation for reduction in Island Bay tram faros, and stated that while he considered the Island Bay people had somo grievance on tho score of chamage of their sections, as compared with other lines, he thought the essential thing to be considered at present was to make the tramways pay, and it would bo unwise, ill view of the present balance-sheet, to make an alteration in fares at tho present moment. In his opinion, if tho tramways wore placed under an expert in tramway management such as he had suggested, thoro would soon bo a handsomo profit shown, and then any reasonable concession" in fares or in the direction of remedying inequalities of sections, should bo adjusted. In such a caso ho would be disposed then- to advocate somo concession in Island. Bay sections. As to the question of ; weekly tickets, this was a mat-' 1 ' tor on-which'the opinion'of an expert should bo taken.- At tho conclusion of tho .address the speaker was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.