THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 736, 8 April 1910, Page 9

THE MAYORALTY.

•MB- T. CAMPAIGN. ;;.•;::• 'INAUGURAL -SPEECH AT iri:^;;; :^QKLm-.-;,: : -.voyer|on6,: hundred ratepayers" were present' / /at Fullford's Hall, /Brooklyn, gowning, when Mr. T. M,-Wilford, . M-F.,.candidate for ;the city Mayoralty, ?aye: : tho, inaugural address of- his campaign. :/Mr. A./ Bates; /occupied- ■ the chair:- : -•-..;. ; '- .;■.' ■•.-' '-/.'--- . ■ .■'• ■

.-Tho xhairman stated that Mr/ Wilrord, reminded him: 'of King : Bruce 'arid ■tho.spider;;-, He;had triod/and tried and: .thed,again, irud ho thought that on this , sqcasion lie would/without doubt gain his end,;.Other/Mayors of Wellington bad ..held;. seats. in Parliament and con-1 Uo . ) i od V a: >rgo pfivato business during /theii' time of ;pfficb; .Mr.- Wilford 'never i ■took more than he .could-manage: any . haoVheld ho had nfcitl ' WW a- CO ?W->«>t'be said, that Mr; i Wiltord,-ivas a drone"ifi the community; the waited for .the liorkers.to accumulate somethino' it^^l*^--it. Mr. Gilford was workmg at a disab K&i? f ough "he spsence 0l bis wife, who might be called Mrs !>t rl'' H °i t ! id ■**■ thil * that : ws, Crawford could- make- such a

/ ://- aSoitio Points; ■'.'■: r was /applauded was tt • fißF>; T al i'- ? aid that *•>»" Has the -fifth, timejie,had tried to win "teLfaSfw 41, > n ™fi ho had' been lefeated before ho hacT never been disced, vfle/'lobked upon defeats,as milestonesjn the path to victory. (ApHo .was.not going; to let this ■■Sfi P* h K ai ht: • He had-been-coh-gratulated by Government and Opposition :on . his impartial .work as' Chairman, of Committee of the House, and ne had received the -same praise from of .the. Harbours Committee and Barbour Board. If he was apS d fe^ polit;cal P ,jll woud count with iim,:/butFoach iide would w;-V? re «o nted {fa and impartially. f 7 <H a! ?3?/3' e «s of been 17-.years,in public life. He proposed to give some new * thoughts; oh . municipal affairs vwhich might be/ controversial, ;but which, would stir the citizens froih :.the^ : apathy these -questions -which sometime S] oyertbok them. . He' claimed no. particular ;he i clataed .energy,. ani j .he;had tho 'ordinary cbm--6d to public office. Mr.

■:;''.;t^;Parididate^ ! Platform. ':;:>A ; lA? and ol Jigations, already, incurred. '(2) Safetheir .every-interest. , ,(3) Givine an °X Um }l %%* to dlid" nnder ; the control of>'the... council or m.der;thecare.of aboard.'.]? thek£ savmg .to the ratepayers 0 f approximate y : £4200 would take place Of such, sums -as ■ may bo available in no sinking fund-' MOnded./To; provide .thatVart future tr^ay.extensibns.bi.cMstrucie^n. amiual Isavmg on' the'life" of the g ra ! : E^ TO f : p or tkm. of the te P asset made to. provide the cash: necessary for the of track. in.\Lambton/Q„ly* Willis Street, and Street (7 To .carry out the obligations o nt cty ■WM n l «& nd '- k>femic,---and Wedestown end -especially., the ..obligation; incS ™m to,private, arainage, connections on the deferred thHiU T'T' ■' (8) T of R^pnir+l, 9 vU pump i n S scheme for &M 8 S'&L3 O f mt , rodu . ct '">n of a permaretens *?k of ' cha TS' n g the .tramway returns Wl th a part cost: of the citv engineer's,,, supervision. :. (10) ■•! The ex P?^^of:£s?,ooo,'at, prosit. £ hand and, unexpended, : out of tho d»i£ ?i,i 1' 1 i"° i - expel V 3lturo so 'when the revaluation;of ; cityHeases 'fahVta at the begimrmg of 1914, a reduction dee™^ readiI y .wi£ decreasing .the annual amount available

■;V '% ;;Beauty ; Wfthbut Cost. ■ '■■ ■'A not;-the- time,-Aaid .Mr. ; trShr° T • e , xp f l,dMS ,lu 5 e sums in but he .would,tell them onTw 't ' P r f t'cally-no cost, fl' iwJ ®f m ??K pcrfedt beauty -spots .for,tbe city.that could .be -desired' ?1 dGoyeS residence, had to be widened/, and he W»f..takii W ..;,amiy the-- dirty |S h6h \disgraco to -the city" ilghting. up the- beautiful paths, .arid :the garden; and Ufr, ffi op ™ to.the, public..'This would, provide a to' the he htr Z r ? + ? erh ? Wen » a . : an d n ,hIE- " ° f tllr<)win g it open, to the public view,was a new thought. . :'■ "

;The City's Water Supply, ;-• He, proposed' to: put ,on record tho posit.on of the wate? supply/the assete of the city from a.' water point of view! and tho drainage facilities of tho city There, was, at< Wainui-o-mata a new reservoir constructed 'at a contract price, of about £46,000. haff of which hadbeen already spent. Mr. Wilford •gave a technical- description of "the roseryoir, and:.said 'that' when it was completed the .total storaeoicapacity Z the p C i ty il . Wo " ld . be 248.million galJons.., But the Ijmit'Vof -the -outflow by tho pi osent.conduit' pipes from Wainui was 4} million gallons, and the average consumption of the city and: suburbs was 3,20.0,000 gallons a day. The thickness, of -. the -shell of the present pipe was-causing a trouble'to the engineer; which must be faced by the duplication of the mam. There would bo an increased strain on, the pipes, as the requirements of the city grew,'and it was a pity that'a sinking fund had not been provided for the duplication of tne mam. New service, as distinct from . storage, reservoirs, would' be needed at. various points- around the city.. "Mr. Wilford referred also to'the pressure-maintaining tanks, and : stated when the Wainui main was'dupli-cated-Wellington would have a "water supply that would last.for many years. All his statements' were based on information ■ which he had carefully acquired. He thought, from his conversation .with engineers; .that,the estimate of £120,000 which had been quoted for-the.duplication of the main would be found to he very much above the' mark.; ' ; - :- : ■:■ • Question of Drainago, Speaking oh drainage matters, Mr. .Wilford' ; quoted the .advertised' terms of ,the loan proposal on' which tho Melrose borough ratepayers voted,"authorising, a: loan of £100X00, and asked/if owners had been, allowed in every case to, make their connections with tho main, sewers, on the deferred payment system,.as was set out in the advertisement' of the loan. He believed that where a loan was raised on special representations those representations Bhoiild be strictly observed.; Of the loan of £100,000 raised for drainage in tho suburbs). £40,000 had been spent, and more .than'half tho work was' done, so that apparently they were going to get a contract within an engineer's 'estimate. (Applause.)- The septic tank at Island Bay was working well, and its construction was a matter of congratulation to the city. Ho wanted, to say

a word for the good work that wan being done by the destructor, which was saving the city £800 a year hy supplying compressed air. Mr. Wilford gave a technical explanation of ' this process, and wont on to consider the state of drainage of the various suburbs. Ho was informed by the City Engineer that as far as ho was concerned Brooklyn would bo connected uo in six weeks, and he '(the City Engineer) expected that the-whole of the'loan proposals should be fixed in Molroso by tho beginning of next summer.

Deferred Payment for Lighting. Tho deferred paymont system, which was tho only fly in the', ointment, of the drainage question, suggested a iie«' thought tbliim. The difficulty of getting people to instal the electric light was the initial cost. They knew tho facilities for initial installation held out by the Gas Company. If the city, conid not deal-with- a- private owner till tho connection was made, let if be made on the deferred payment system, or let an oxtra half-penny, sajybo added to the consumer's cost per unit over a number of years' until the cost of wiring was covered.; The consumer would even then get cheaper lighting than he could get in any other way.. (Applause.)

Tramway Matters. ■--'■;■ ■ Dealing with the tramways, Mr. Wilford said that there would soon berequired practically a wholesale reconsideration and rearrangement of tramway fares.,in Wellington. Ho had tried to learn what was the proportion of revenue from'the now portion of the Lyall Bay line as-compared with the old section,,so as to show' if tho extension was paying, but it was impossible to get the information; Ho thought that information of that kind should be, available. It was not true that there was.no depreciation fund in connection with the tramways: the depreciation funds up to this year had been, /expended • not in . renewals but in increased : .capital construction. I- was correct to sav that. there was no depreciation fund in liquid cash inere were differences of opinion as to which was tho, best, method of ■ dealing with a depreciation fund, but tho pu£ chase of-land for the. tramway shed at rhorndon must certainly be counted as an asset. Tho tramways . balance-sheet should not include the sale of electrical energy, but the' accounts should bo kept quite,separate. (Applause'.)

•'.•■ Reclamation. Rents; Speaking of the prospeot of reducing rates,. Mr. Wilford said that one of the .greatest assets.of the city was the reclaimed; land; leases. The corporation leaseholds, niost of which fell, in'before IJI4, ivere let years ago when land was not so_ valuable; as now.. .As- an indication; of what ■ would happen- when these •leaseholds fell in; ho would quote the experience' of the; 'Wellington ' Harbour Hoard, which renewed the New-Zealand Itfan and Mercantile Company's lease ;at £800 per annum, though the former ground rent was but '£200. It was not ..extravagant to, say. that by the beginning 0f.1914 the corporation rents'would be increased.by re-valuation from £6000 to £26,000.,-The general rate for the city was now 2 l-10d. in the £, producing; £82,659. An extra £20,000 from the . increase . of :,the, -city's rents would amount to one-fourth of the general rate now collected. With "careful '.administration,'-therefore,' the" council should be able hi; 1914 to.reduce.the rates. • ■;:. •-,-■.■. ';.,•■' A'.- .'.-''A-Promise. .-: ■', ;Mr, : v.Wilford' .said' he .had.'one"-'an-nouncement; to- make,, ;6f- .which the press would report evory..'word; ■;•-■ "They saythat. I have got too much .to do. I!don't think so., J don't think I have got nearly enough;'-.'but I-am going- to do this.. I am going to say'to you/that if,'l; obtain the. position of :Maypr, in order to give eonfideioceHio %Ssb' : :who > are; afraid, .that I ican't undertake ,'tho : .duties cast "upon- me,-1' will resign my position as. Chairman of. Committee, of the. : House of ■Representatives."-? (Applause.).. -He supposed that even, then some people would say_ he had too much to do, but he had never let his private business interfere with his public work. His ambition would hot let him' do.so.

Questions. ,;.", _.In' answer.to "a question; Mr." Wilford stated that-the Charlotte-Street' fence which he. proposed .to remove; was not the property of the corporation, but, of the Government. The corporation', therefore, could not take it down, but part of'it'had to be taken down when the street was widened, and. the- council, might use- its- best endeavours; backed by, the. people of Wellington, and make representations to get the beauty spot shown to the people. Mr, Wilford stated, in reply to another question, that ho would do his best ; to obtain ;• a fresh-water bath for Brooklyn, or for; any other .suburb that required one.. ';• Miss Wilford, who had a "scat, on the platform, .said, she, was.'very .sorfy that Mrs. Wilford was away, but sho.was going to do her best to help her .brother. ;' ■ .'/■ .'-." •. ■•"-.-.: -:■■■--.:.

, Vote of Conndence. ./ .-.' Mr. M. Robinson moved:— ,'. "'"•-'' '"That this meeting of Brooklyn municipal ratepayers has" erefv confidence in Mr. T. M. Wilford and ; his administrative ability, and will . give him it's, support in his.candi- ' dature for the Mayoralty of tho . ... city of . Wellington, and, will „Use ; its -best endeavours to secure his election."--; ~:;•:.. .:'.-.; ,'-,•.- : 'VThe, motion was seconded by Mr. J. A. Short, and carried unanimously/-;

MR. CRAWFORD AT KILBIRNIE.

RECLAMATION AND- SPORTS .;•■"■ GROUNDS/ BETTER ROAD AND TRAM COMMUNICATION.. O'Donnell's Hall at Kilbirnie was well filled last night, when Mr. C. J. Crawford, one of the two candidates for tho city Mayoralty, delivered an . address. Mr. Fathers was voted to the chair. '-'Mr'.- Crawford, who had a cordial reception, said he did not wish to claim' too' much credit for' himself, but ho thought no one had done more for Kilbirnie . than. ho. had.' For' instance, if the City Council had accepted his offer ,of 500 acres iri return for the establishment of tramways through to Miramar some years_ ago the tramways would have been installed at a much earlier date. As a result of tho development of Miramar, Kilbirnie now had a better tram service than would otherwise be the case. • Then, again, it would-bo remembered that he had helped-Kilbirnie in connection .with tho reclamation scheme at Evans Bay. -With a few others ho had worked for about four months with tho object of knocking out the objectionable betterment clause proposed -by the .Wellington Harbour Board, and as they were all awaro their efforts had been successful. If this work had not been put in that clause would have still remained in the Bill, and the people concerned would have found it a charge on them, in perpetuity, and they would have had to pay a higher sum in regard to advances on their properties.

Reclamation Scheme unreasonable. • It was his opinion that the Harbour Board had got power to reclaim too large an area in Evans Bay. He felt' that the people of Kilbirnio and immediate district should protost against tho Bcheme which tho board has taken power to carry out. .'There wore several spots on tho harbour between Kilbirnio and the Patent Slip which were eminently suitable for mooring yachts and small boats., and as everybody know, such places were only too rare. On the south sido there were several large patches which should be reserved for playgrounds for

children. Ho would not opnoso any reclamation that was absolutely necessary, but wholosalo reclamation as wan proposed was not desirable for tho community at large. If the population ?' J'lO district continued- to increase as it had boon doing of recent years, it would not bo long before more wharves would bo required in this locality, by that timber, coal, etc., could bo lauded right, up to the ratepayers' doors, as it were.' In connection with any wharves which were needed a certain amount of reclamation, of course, would be neces-sary,-but ho-would submit that there was ao necessity to havo given, the Harbour.Board power to reclaim such a'largo amount of land.

Kilblmle Recreation Ground. . ..In regard-to recreation grounds, Mr Crawford pointed out that tho ground in front or. the hall had been given by his father to the residents. During the whole of the time, it had been more or less in a disgraceful state. It had been given on tho. understanding that it would bo "a bona fide recreation ground and a beauty spot for tho district, but instead it had been used in great measure dumping-ground. Some time ago £27,000 was borrowed by the Uty Council in connection with the various, recreation grounds, including the, one m question. Instead of. some ot. the money, being spent in tho improvement of this ground, the wholo or it had been spent on grounds elsewhere. In his opinion, Kilbirnie nad been very badly treated in tho matter, there was no question about it that this work should bo proceeded with but_there was one ■ difficulty :■ for beyond the area that the City Council had the power ,to reclaim was under the- jurisdiction of the Harbour Board and ho understood that the board would object to the reclamation of any considerable area unless a wall were erected, and this would prove very expensive.. If he/were elected, he would do everything in his power to see that ■tno ground was improved.'

Need For Additional Connecting Links.

. Mr. Crawford next dealt with, the .question of better (road or 'tramway) communication.between both sides of TnT/R V /<- oto V?', and that P art ' °f the Town' Belt which ran south along the TCrtern, boundary of Kilbirnie to Meliose.. .Right from the top.' of Mount Victoria to Melrose there was only one road connection. It ouMit to be m ! nd - t J lat befor6 many years' the Kilbirnie: side would be carrying a very heavy population, and then it would be found that' one road for heavy nn,i° ,vo "i d '"°t oe anything like adequate. What,was wanted was for the IfL™FT? and vtto tramways engineer to. bring, up a really comprehensive .scheme on,the- subject? North K-' birnie and Hataitai had a real grievance m connection with the tunnel. He thought that .the tunnel ought to have been lower down; also.that.it oughtV have contained a foot passage. When the population increased the peoplo would require some.other mode of communication apart from the trams. -There •?i TV n agitation for a. footway through the .tunnel, hut tho Government s adviser considered that it would bo dangerous, and although ho' (tho candidate) sympathised with those who had made the request, he could not see his way to .urge. , that. it should' bo granted, m face, of the opinion of such an-expert as Mr. v Holmes, unless more favourable..evidonco was adduced. It was a problem that would have to be solved; and : in his opinion. .it would bave\, to.be.tackled .before Jong.-' Ho considered, that..there''.was nothing "to" prevent the ■construction of a road: for light traffic from 'a point near 'Maioribanks Street over, to Kilbirnie. Then, again, for a considerable 'period he had advocated the laying of a tramway from Constable Street to Kilbirnie. He FMs/bJceto.see this matter thoroughly gone into,''as well as liis, proposal "in regard-to better, road communication..' ; .How to;Cet Permanent Playing •-•■ ', •"' t :'"■' Grounds. " :.•'■: Another matter touched upon by the candidate, was ; his scheme, whereby athletic bodies would be assisted to procure playing grounds,. He said that to take, hills and. throw them into gullies was a very.-.dear:method of forming level grounds. It had to be remembered also.that the athletic, bodies could not: contribute...towards tho "cum. 'of-: upkeep of' these - grounds,.. because they had insufficient funds, 'as- they were not allowed to charge for admission. It would not be long before many of the grounds which were now being played on .would be occupied: by houses. To meet the present demands 250 acres of flat land were required, 'and'if the future,heeds were ta\en into account, at least 500.acre's would bo necessary. It would thus be seen that in'this connection the city ■' would before' many ■years be faced by a big problem. Parliamentary authority should be- sought to enable athletic bodies .to take u? land ; themselves, under , agreement "..■'with tho city or Government. An essential condition would require; to be; that, the, athletic: bodies should not be given a chance to take up land for.' speculative purposes. If this embargo were insisted upon they would not themselves be able'" to borrow to form the land and erect. pavilions. . Then either the city.; or. the. Government-r-he favoured the.former—should be empowered to advance money to the athletic . bodies. for tjiose purposes. . It would be necessary also to prevent tho athletic bodies'' from' making more money than was necessary to meet interest and cost-of upkeep. Such grounds should, in his opinion, be free from rates and taxes. -

Answers to Questions. : After having: dealt with, other.' ques-: tions, which were covered ill his'pre-' viqus addresses, the candidate answered a number of' questions. With' regard _to tho gasworks, ho said.he was not m favour of their acquisition by the city..: Although the City Council had very excellent officers in the electric light department, if there was the gasworks-in competition it would keep them up to the mark, and vice versa the . electric light department would keep the Gas 'Company up to the mark and the result would be that the' residents would got, much cheaper- light. He was strongly, in favour of heavy fines or some other Temedy. being invoked to put a stop to tho cattlewandering.nuisance. To another question Mr. Crawford said that he would not pledge himself to support the construction of a' wider tunnel until an estimate.of its;cost had'been"prepared

Votes of Thanks and Confidence. Upon the'motion of Mr! Burke, seconded by Mr. Easson, Mr. Crawford was unanimously accorded a"'hearty voto~ of thanks and confidence, and aftenvards quito a ; number'of theresidents- waited- behind to. form a-com-mittee to further his candidature. Tho -Seatoun electors are invited in connection with Mr. John Brodjp's candidature, to meet at "Mahaki," 'near tho tram terminus, to-night, at 8 o'clock, to form a committee. Ladies who are willing to . form a working committoo to. .assist ■Mr Townscnd's candidature in tho'Miramar Mayoral election are invited to •■ meet at Mrs. J. Paul's, at 2.30 p.m., to-day. Mr. E. P. Bunny, candidate for the Lower Hutt Mayoralty, will spoak at tho Town Hall, Lower Hutt, at 8 o'clock to-night. Mr. Frederick Townsend reaffirmed his intention to stand for tho Mayoralty of Miramar at a meeting of ratepayers held yesterday afternoon. A committee of which Mr. D. K. Blair is chairman, was formed to forward Mr. Townsend's candidature. Mr. Townsond will address the electors at tho Kiosk, AVorser Bay, on Monday evening. '