MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 482, 15 April 1909, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

DR. UEWMAN AT CENTURY HALL,

Dr. Newman addressed a meeting in the New Century Hall, Kent Terrace, last night. There was a fair audience, Mr. Pavitt occupying tho chair. The speaker dealt with the question of thrift and economy in city finance as of supreme importance. He advocated that the Town Belt and Mount Victoria, at the very gates of Wellington East, should be roaded and planted—a little year by year —and then in a very short time Wellington East would have a beautiful recreation ground, with walks and seats. The beautifying of Wellington by tree-planting could be done cheaply, and would pay. A vote of thanks and. confidence was carried by acclamation. -

THE HON. J. RIGG AT NEWTOWN.

The Hon. J. Bigg, M.L.C., addressed about seventy electors at St. Thomas's Hall, New town, last, evening. Mr. 11. Al'Kenzio acted as chairman, and briefly introduced the candidate. Air. Rigg, who was well received, spoke for a little over an hour mainly on the lines of his opening speech, Referring specially to electric lighting and the ceti mated debit balance on March 31, 1910, of £24,103, ho stated that much misconception existed in regard to the matter. This sum should properly be charged to capital instead of to revenue, and, if that were done, the electric lighting would show a credit balance instead of a debit balance, Assuming, for the sake of argument, that if further new works wore undertaken for the remainder of the financial year ending March 31, 1910, there would be shown an expenditure that should be charged against capital oi _ £41,846, against a debit balance of £24,103, or a balance in favour of the electric light works of £17,743. For the year ended July, 1903, there had been a profit of £6122. Ihe so-called debit had been incurred in buying new machinery, which would render the production of electricity less expensive and result in its being sold to the consumer at a reduced price. There would thus bo a doable saving to the consumer, a less rate for the supply of electricity, and the additional saving effected by the use of the new lamps. (Applause.) Mr. Rigg also spoke warmly m praise of the earning capacity of their tramways. The control of the milki su pply a plank in the Labour platform, and m regard to this,, Mr. Rigg explained that, while he would prefer that the council should undertake the sale and supply of mdk to the citizens, he did not think the time was npe for such a proposal. He spoke not only for himself," but also for the Labour candidates who were standing tor the council, when ho said that they wore prepared to accept the scheme contained m the report on the milk supply. Air. Rigg concluded with a strong appeal to the workers to do their duty at the forthcoming election. If elected, he would be the first Labour Mayor in the Dominion. (Loud Applause.). In reply to a question, m was Dot in favour of the town Hall bemg let for concerts on Sundays wlien the object was private gain, but he was m favour of Sunday concerts when undertaken for charitable or altruistic purposes. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously.

MR. BOLTON AT. KILBIRNIE.

Mr. F. 6. Bolton addressed a well-attended meeting at Kilbirnie last night, Sir. Arthur George presiding The candidate dealt fully with the financial position of the corporation, pointing out that the incidence of taxation was, as far as lie could judge, about ss. in , Tho position could not be reached any closer, as part of the rate was levied on the capital value, but the greater part on tho unimproved value. Mr. Bolton pointed out. m regard to the remarks of Councillor Ballmger, oliairman of the tramway committee with respect to the Harbour Board methods of writing off for depreciation, that what ho had said was that Mr. Ferguson had recommended a 5 per cent, depreciation in the case of the board's structures and plant, and that the board had always endevoured as nearly as possible to carry out that policy, and also stated that, if this basis of 5 nor cent, was taken as a reasonable one for depreciation of the tramways, there would be a loss of at least £6000 on the £ennn "!??•' In3f j cac ' °* a nominal profit of £5000 odd, as shown by the corporation statement of accounts. If, on tho other nana, the prudent method of the Glasgow Corporation wero followed by this city, there would be a loss of £20,000 to £21,000 on the years w/>rk after allowing for interest and sinking fund. The only euro would seem to be tho placing of the tramways under the control of a qualified and expert manager. At the same time, ho might state that ho had no wish to say anything against Mr. luchardson, who was a thoroughly qualified elcctrical ongmcor, but not necessarily a husinoss manager. With regard to tho Gas Company purchase, lie favoured going slowly in this direction, and thought that if tho electric light undertaking was run on business linos, ill all probability tho Gas Company could, by activo competition, bo forced to reuueo tho prico which thoy were asking from the city. As to tho proposal for municipal markots on tho Haining Street sito, ho wished to omphasiso that tlio corporation noed not go in for any groat expense, but could test tho advisability of establishing tho markets by erecting a temporary structure until tho demand increased. If tho markets provod a failure, tho corporation could easily reimburse itself for tho purchase of tho land by throwing tho alignment of tho street to cither north or south, and thereby creating sections with a good depth, which sections could be sold for factory purposes at a price exceeding that paid for tlio land. Ho was in favour of tho council completing Kilbirnie drainage undertaking ana

other outlying district works. Ho did not favour the raising of a. loan for tho Constable Street tram extension, but thought that work should be undertaken as soon as possible out of revenue. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and confidence.

COUNCILLOR FISHER AT ROSENEATH,

Councillor F. M. B. Fisher addressed a woll-atteiided meeting at Rosoneath yesterday evening, and remarked that it would bo as easy for him to strew tho path to tho Mayoralty with promisos, as it was for auy other candidate, but, so far as ho was concerned, ho preferred to tako a safo course, and bo in a position to inform tho citizons that tho councd was already managing tho trams aud the electric light in a businessliko manner before asking for further authority to embark on such enterprises as tho purchaso of tho gas works or the establishment of a municipal milk supply and markets. It was loss thau two years ago sinco the electric light works, then showing a profit of £22,000 per year, wore taken over. At that timo tho Mayor predicted that within ton years the profits from the enterprise would be so great that they would wipe out the whole of tho capital cost, but after 18 months' operations the electric light works were showing practically no profits at all, and ho urged that it was tho business of the electors to see that the largo business enterprises which they controlled were managed on a sound financial basis before they gave authority for any further acquisitions. Speaking with reference to tram fares, Mr. Fisher said that there was not a shadow of doubt that tho whole system of tram faros should be revised. On <no section at present a passenger could travel two miles for a penny, whilst ou another section, less than a quarter of a milo long, tho same faro had to be paid. Such anomalies were bound to bring about complaints from different sections of tho community. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and confidence. MR- WILFORD AT ISLAND BAY. A large meeting of electors at Island Bay was addressed bv Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., last night, Mr. P. J. O'Regan presiding. Replying to a question at tho conclusion of his address, the candidate stated that if tho City Council purchased tho Gas Company's works, it would tako over the employees of tho company. Then, if a superannuation scliomo had been established by the City Council and tho Harbour Board jointly, tho former employees of tho company would receive the samo benefits as other employees of tho corporation. With respect to tho question of cheap tram faros, Mr. Wilford remarked that cheap railway fares between Wellington and tho Hutt had promoted settlement. The present faro for workers from Wellington to Lower Hutt was 2s. per week, which worked out at 2d- per ride for nine miles. If thoso faros wore contrasted with some of tho tram fares in tho city it would show that cheap fares undoubtedly meant quick settlement of areas at a distanco from a city. He considered that fares should not bo fixed for all time, but that tho closest scrutiny of altered circumstances should ultimately effect alterations. On the motion of Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr. Keene, a voto of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate. THE ROLLS. The supplementary municipal Toll, prepared for tho elections of April 28, closed with the Returning Officer, Mr. James Ames, at five o'clock yesterday afternoon. All day yesterday, fresh claims for enrolment came in, and the officials were kept busy up to a late hour last night in sorting out and numbering .thom. It is estimated that no fewer than 500 applications were received during the day. Tho main roll contains 28,239 names, and thero will be over 1000 on the supplementary roll, making tho total number of electors considerably over 29,000. Mr. Fisher will address the electors at the Island Bay Hall to-night, and at Northland to-morrow night. Mr. Bolton speaks at Fullford's Hal], Brooklyn, to-night, and at the Now Century Hall, Kent Terrace, to-morrow. ' Mr. Wilford is announced to speak at O'Donnell's Hall, liilbirnie, to-night, and at the Sydney Street Schoolroom, on Friday night. Dr. Newman speaks at the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom to-night, and at the sohoolroom, Maranui, on Friday night.