POINTS RAISED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1421, 23 April 1912, Page 6

POINTS RAISED.

MAIN LINES AND SIDE LINES

IN THE SPEECHES. That Depreciation Fund. Mr. Smith made an interesting reference to tramway finance and particularly to the depreciation fund, tt his meeting last evening. He said that when the council decided to draw upon tho depreciation fund for the construction of new works, interest should have been paid to the fund. A resolution to that effect was moved in April, 1909, by Councillor Shirtcliffe, but tho then Mayor (Mr. Hislop) moved to let the matter stand over. The Mayor and Councillor.? Fletcher ■ and llindmarsh voted for this amendment, and Councillors Ballingcr, Shirtcliffo, and Smith against. The Mayor then gave his casting vote for tho amendment. Mr. Hiss was at thaMinJe a"nfcmbor 'of 'the council, but he (Mr. 'Smith) 'failed to see what'ho did in the way of ■ improving the finances. He (Mr. Diss) complained, but did nothing. A motion similar to the one just mentioned was moved in May of tho saine year, and supported by the speaker, but lost. The present Mayor (Mr. Wilfo%l) moved on October 2, 1911, to establish a reserve fund out of the depreciation fund,, to be kept liquid until it reached .£30,000. This was seconded by Mr. Shirt-cliffs, and carried.- He (Mr. Smith') voted for it. The council had thus shown an ability to mend things that had. gone astray.. Mr. Smith and thY'Unions. * "I don't object to\ unions," said Councillor Smith, at his>meeting last night; "what I object to \is the Young and Scmple'partv at the back of the unions, ureing them to do things to the detriment of the city. Mr. Smith went on to explain that the efforts of the unions* had been directed in the past to bettering the conditions of their members, but now some ofthem seemed to have adopted quite' different objects '• These remarks were Teceived with applause, and with a few dissentient exclamations, such a.s "Bosh!" "You're on .the wrong track! His Opponents' Policies. "When I last spoke here,".said Mr, A. S Biss at Newtown last everting, I did not know what the policies of my opponents were, and I am not sure that 1 know now." A man who listened to his address at Sydney Street Mr. Biss went I on to remark, told him that Mr. \\ rights addresses bore a remarkable resemblance to his own. Ho was very pleased to havo what ho had said confirmed by a.gentleman of Mr. Wright's standing. . The Kelburne Tramway. Mr. Biss expressed the opinion at Newtown last evening that- it would be a foolish policy for the city.to purchase the Kelburne tramway, under .the existing agreement. Reports from engineers indicated, he added, that the - carryingcapacitv of the line had ' been already almost'reached, when it was running to Kelburne alone. If it were expected to serve Karori ns well,'people would be waiting for cars all day. Candidates' Claims. An outstanding feature of the city Mayoral campaign was emphasised by Mr. A. S. Biss, in the course of his address at Newtown last evening. All the candidates, he remarked, agreed in starv inc that they were not representatives of any particular. class, but represented the community as a whole. "Therefore, said Mr. Biss, "you have nothing to consider ns to what class we represent, lou need orilv consider the personal experience that each one of us has had. It you compare the theories that some have talked nbout with the practical knowledge of others, you -will come to the best conclusion as to who is fit for this position.