MUNICIPAL ELECTORS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2015, 24 March 1914, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTORS.

THE MAYORALTY.

MR. J. P. LUKE SUPPORTED.

STRIKE MEMORIES.

Preparations for the impending mtjjiicipal campaign and references to surrounding and related events loomed largo at the annual meeting of the Greater Wellington Municipal Electors' Association, held last evening. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt presided in the absence of tho president (Mr. J. Q. W. Artken),

Moving the adoption, of the g annual report, summarised in TeE PwiiNioft yesterday, Mr. Hunt referred to the successful part taken by the- association in tho local elections of last rear, life mentioned that the Mayoral election to be held next month was the last at which Mayors" would be elected for one year only. All Mayors elected at snb- ■ sequent elections would hold office for two years. In a passing reference ta the strike of 1913 he said that when an influential delegation waited recently upon Mr. Luke to ask him to stand for re-election as Mayor he (Mr. Luke) urged that they should let bysoMS lm bygones. Personally, said Mr." Hunt, he considered that it should be left to each man's wisdom and magnanimity to decide for himself whether it was wise to forget'thoso who had injured the country's progress and prosperity at the timo .of the strike. At anyrate he thought they would be fools if. they did not remember those wlio stood} by the country at that time. Mr.. Luke was one of these gentlemen, and whether- it. was ,i Cabinet Minister, tbo Mayor of the City, or their ..fellow special <s«nstables, those who stood by tho country in tho time of trouble should not be forgotten. Mr. Lnke had ncnuitied himself with a great, deal of credit and tho speaker hoped to see liitti returned by an overwhelming majority. .

Town iftipravßinent. Mr. Hunt expressed regret at tile fa.et that the. debates inaiffiiirated last year foil through for lack of support and espressed a hope that they/ would he revised during the coming year. Tile subject of town planning was oße which deserved all tho. attention thu association could givo it. Arrange.meivts wer-u being made for a visit by a celebrated lecturer who would describe tho progress of the town planning movement in other, countries. Ho hail.noted, with pleasure the action recently taken in regard to minimum frontage <rf buildine sections. Much emplvasi-s was often laid 1 by lecturers upon the desirability -of clearing slum areas, but to lilto: it ed even more important, -so far as New Zealand towns wore concerned, to prevent slums growing up. in tsho bate paddocks. What wa3 really wanted was a town planning board which would elas* sif.v the different districts into areas in each of which appropriate building regulations would apply.

, Mr. Hunt stated, in cofteJ.usion, the association was composed partly of ordinary members, and partly of delegates from kindred bodies in othor parts of the city. Some of thesa bodies had u:oi yet i sought representation on the Greater Wellington Assoera-tion, but he hoi>cd that they- would eome in. The report and balanee-shoet were adopted. Officers EtdflMd. Mr. J. G. W. Aitko« w-as re-elected president. Other officere elected for tho ensuing year were Messrs, A. Leigh Hunt (re-elected) and T. 33allin,ger 5 secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. L. Arcus (re-elected); auditor, Mr. C, B. Roberf» sou (re-elected); committee, Jlcssfs. E, G. Collie, J. S. Barton, E. C. Jack, D. l< , . Skinuer, G. A. Hurley, and fcr. A. K. Newman, M.P. ' ' Ono vacancy on the eom'toitttie is to bo filled by its members.' The Mayoral Campaign. Mr. T. Ballinger proposed the foltewing motion:— v "That this meeting . .. » heartily endorses tho candidature of Mr. J.-P. Luke for the offico of Mayor for the coming year, and instructs the incoming executive to take all necessary steps to assist in securing his return." Moving, the 3lr. Ballingor said that 'he had had an extended acquaintanco with Mr. Lujte during'the latter's fourteen years of service as a city councillor,- and ouo ycaf as Mayer. and he was quite sure feat Mr. Luke was a fit and proper person for tho position. _ Mr. E. C. Jack, in seconding the motion, said that Mr. Luke had done good work during the past j-oar, but owing to the strenuous time which ho had experienced lio had beeii unable to. go fully into'the question of the loa?» that ho had to put before the city. It wss undoubtedly very desiraUb that Mr. Luke should be given, another twelve months in offico in oriter to cgmplflto the works ho had undertaken to- put "be* foro the people at an early date. Hβ was sure that not only tho members of the association, but a very large proportion of the people of the city would strenuously assist Mr. Luke's candMii* turo on this occasion, ■

The motion was carried tfiianimonsly. Mr M. P. Luckie said that they' should leavo no stone unturned to secure the return of Mr! , , Lube, because there was no doubt tbftt a wy strons effort would be made by other parties which were oven better 'organised tlian that wliich supported Hi". Luke.

The City Loan. Mr. D. F. Skinner ifloved.; "That. this meeting supports tho City Council' in its proposed loan, .believing that the said loan is fully justiied by the rapid growth of the city." There might be. room, for -cfiffe-erloe of opinion, Mr. Skinne; Venwrked, as in some of the proposes details of expenditure, hut "ho was satisfied tfet the loan proposal in itsrtf deserved the general support of citizens. Some of the proposals might not fee as popular as others, but. putting parochial considerations aside, money spent in the citv benefited the city as ji whole. Dr. A. K. Newman, Jt.P,, said thati; to pass Mr. Skinner's motion wonVd be liko Riving a blanlc cheque. The loan proposals wero. not through Conraiittee. and voting at this stage members of the' association would fiot knew what ■ they were voting for. ' Mr. Ballingcr took a similar view. Dr. Newman added that tho sSiibjirct could bo considered at n> future iiteeting of the association, when the specific loan proposals were available. Mr. Skinner said that lie was quite willing to postpone his motion, and this course was agreed to. Officials Thanked. On the motion of Mr, W. .T. Tli&ftu son, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to tho chairman and members of the Into executive for their work diirin.<; the wast year. ' OLher votes of tlinnlcs wore passed ■ to the secretary (Mr. J. Ji. Arevis) for his signal services during tlw stren- , nous times of tho past year, and to Sit , . ] A. Leigh Hunt for his services .is vicepresident and actiiifr-MesidiMit. • • Returning thanks, Mr, Hunt express-, ed n hope that somo euthusiasm would* bo aroused on tlio part of Hiemters in connection with tho assneintion's work. In particular he stressed the clucatjy.e ] valuo of tho debates ofganisnt} last year, and their influence in i.itingidß the association into touch with "the general body of electors. Jfe urged members to do all they could t-a secure n good attendance at the debates to hi promoted this year.