HUTT MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 4

HUTT MAYORALTY.

"'MR'.' HTJNffT"'AT ST. JAMES ; S HALL.

Mr. E. P. Burinj- delivered his initial address in the Iliitt Mnyornl campaign <it .St. James;'* Hall last-evening. Mr. K. I*. Uishwortli occupied the chair.

- _ In givintf an account of his stewardship, I.Mr. ,Bunny gave full details resucctiuK loans which had been raised for - bor- ' oiti'h works. Ho stated that he (with others) had been able to obtain.loans at low interest. Without undue repetition ;he claimed that he hnd done his duty in ; regard to finances. Regarding the ques- ■ tton of sinking fund, ho said that, before he took office, no provision had existed for tho future, but now a sinking fund .had been established on the basis of onehalf per cent, from ' certain loan?. Vp itill .March, 1912; the total amount of this I fund was XIWO, and, in the conrco of yean, it woitld/of course, accumulate. li TouchiiiL' on the question of drainage .■tho candidate went on. to say that full provision had been made .for the completion of the sewerage scheme. His opponent irad stated that.there had been delay in- cnrryiiip out this work. He (the speaker) would however point out that ■mi) chains had been laid in 15 months, and in sections 23 and 24, 121 chains (with Hβ house, connections), had been put in. In addition to this it hnd to bo borne in mind that the work had been no easy one, awing' to the great, depth of the trench?.--, and water and other obstacles which had come in tho way. In view of tho fnots which ho hod just stated it was not.correct to. assort that the work- on tho irestorn. sidu of the river had. taken a long" time. ...... As to water the present supply scheme was mainly right, but the pumps had always given trouble for some reason orother;, new pump* hnd been ordered, however, ami it wns hoped that the difh'onlty would bo overcome.-A supply from Beimont would not be necessary, ns an enlargement of storage would overcome this' difficulty. -He was certainly of opinion that it was'absurd to raise the cry that ■' the water . supply was failing, as, with a bigger reservoir, and efficient pumps, a supply c<iual to that of any simitar, borough in the Dominion wouM be obtainable. Coining to the estimates of -last year, Mr. Bunny remarked that monev had been disbursed judiciously, and "clothes had lu be cut according to cloth.' , .Everything could not be done, but, with.the works forced on the council, there, had. been a reduction, oil account of jEWO, and, if he were returned,' he hoped that a better result would be arrived at next term. When lie first took office several of the borough accounts had. been in debt, but in 1912 credits had been shown on tho'balancesheet, which at all events indicated there had been no squandering. He would not presume to prophesy reductions of rates, out, with tho flourishing slate of the balance-sheet -just'iiow, there" was no doubt' that the matter might be looked into next year. He had never teen opposed to the question of day labour, but he had raised an objection regarding the western drainage work bceaiis«> he thought' that it was costing too much. Day labour was now being done on the council's works. (xenoralry speaking:, thore : was still a great deal to bo done, and he was anxious that the borough should go ahead, and it certainly would go ahertd with judicious administration. After answeriiiif questions, Mr: Bunny was accorded-, a vote of thanks and confidence. . .