CITY MAYORALTY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2131, 24 April 1914, Page 8

CITY MAYORALTY

LABOUR CANDIDATE

ADDRESS BY MR. D. M'LAREN

SOMIi STRIKE QUERIES -k

Mr. D. M'Laren addressed a meeting ill tho Now Century Hall last, cvcuiisj; in support of bis candidature' for tho' City Mayoralty. Mr. A. Withy presided over an attendance of about fifty persons. Mr, M'Larcn. was given an almost unintemiptcd bearing, but at question tinio was heckled by a member of tho Social Democratic Party. In tho early part of his address, Mr: M'Larcn said that the city finances woro in a sound condition, botli as regarded tho general account and the trading departments. Ho claimed that tho latter bad benefited by liis work during his term as Mayor. He added that £4000 of tho £7000 increaso in revemio bad been raised sis a result of tho new valuation of suburban arc-as. In his opinion it would havo boon bettor if tho wholo city had been revalued. Had tho business areas been revalued first tho residential areas might havo escaped. Mr. link© had stated that the increase in city rents for the. past year was £8474-, but ho (Mr. M'Larcn)'had ascertained, from tho city treasurer that tho additional revenue from rents last year was £1090. If tho estimates for tho year just ended had been adhered to, tho year would have ended with a deficit of about £4000. instead of a surplus. In fact; however, £37,000 was sot down for street works, and only £33,000 was expended. This was tho policy of Mr. Luke throughout: "Promise, promise, promise" At tho last election Mr. Luke had flooded tho ears of 'electors with promises, many of which tie had never oven attempted to carry out. Just before last olcction Mr. I/nko raised a. great outcry about tho now tramway sections to Kilbirnie and Newtown, but the subject had not been board of (luring tho last twelve months, and had only lately been revived. It had been stated in support of Mr. Luke's candidature that ho would revert to the old tramway sections on too Newtown route. Mr. Luke's city improvement seheme was a matter of thin air, and he had taken no action regarding classification and superannuation for city employees. Ho had also broken promises in reference to the Oriental Bay Esplanade and the Island Bay culvert. _ Muck of tho street-widening for which Mr, 'Luke was taking credit had been carried out during his (Mr. M'Larcn's) terra of office. During his term the sum spent upon street-widening was £11,362, whereas during Mr. Luko's term the sum so spent was £580= •

Renewing a loan. Referring to Mr. Luke's renewal of a loan, of £67,000 (tho remaining portion of a loan of £75,000), Mr. M'Laren said that the money had originally'been borrowed, at 41 per cent., but it had been renewed at <tif per cent. Tho money had been obtained from tho A.M.P. Society. Mr. M'Laren averred that the Mayor was at present taking credit for loan proposals which had actually originated months ago sritlj Councillor Barber.

Ceneral Manager Proaesatf. Dealing with tramway matters, Mr, M'Laren claimed that during his term sic had mad'i full provision for depreciation (sotting asido two contributions oi £5000 in ono year), and had personally instituted a popuJar.system.of concessions. In his opinion, the time had come when controj of the city tramways should be entrusted to . a good general manager, who should bo fully responsible in regard to tramway administration. He said this without reflecting upon the good work that'vas being done either i?y Mr, Morton or by ■any other member of the Tramways Board. Tho weakness at present was that thcro was no one administrativehead. Responsibility was divided tip.

I Policy Proposals. ! Outlining his constructive- policy, Mr,. M'Larcn said that ho was in favour ot putting loan proposais before the electors for such woriss as the Constable Street extension, tho extension of the lino from Wallace Street, by Adelaide Road, through John Street, the Jvilbirnie tunnel, completion of tho Oriental Bay Esplanado, and tho establishment of- city markets, hot-water baths, and additional playing (ureas, Tho time. had comok in »» opinion when, in order to deal with congested areas, the City Council should adopt a definite noosing policy Wider which it would from time to time purchase properties for renovation and demolition. A housing fund should bo provided and the work should bo carried out under the advice of experts. He was in favour of establishing .1 clearing house for milk and thought that tho city should also have cheaper distribution of milk. Ho favoured ■ a classification scheme for corporation officers and superannuation tor tho employees of the city and advocated the establishment of a city labour bureau, so that applicants for work would not have to apply to tho Mayor or any j councillor. The bureau might be in touch with othor public bodies and pri* vato employers. In, concluding Mr. M'Laren claimed that during his terra as Mayor ho had appealed to a broad spirit of citizenship. (Applause.) Replying to a question Mr. M'Laren said that he was in favour of issuing a ticket giving 1-6 rides for one shilling, but did not think that power existed at present to make this concession.

A Strike Retrospect. When Mr. M'Laren had concluded his addross several questions were-asked by Mr. T. Glover, who evidently appeared on behalf of tho Social-Democratio Party. First of all Mr. M'Laren was asked why he had not accepted tho offer of tho Social-Democratic Party to let a public meeting decide who should be tho Labour candidate. Ho replied that he had declined in iho first place because, ho was not prepared to pledge himself, to the platform of tho Social Democratic Party. Furthermore, he was convinced that a number of tho p«op}o who had asked tho United Labour Party to enter into tho agreement mentioned, would not stand to any agreement that they made. He added that at. the January (19.13) Congress iu Wellington an agreement was made heween tho United Labour Party and tho Social-Demo-cratic Party to refrain from attacking one another until the July Congress ' took place. The municipal elections in April came between January and July, yet tho very mm who had given their word not to attack the United Labour Party camo out, heckled that party's candidates, attacked them in mibti-e, and helped to elect men who' were against Labour. Mr. Glovor next asked: "When tho 1914 striko takes place, nnd I sincerely hope it will take place, would iho candf. dato bo prepared to swear in strikers as special constables?" Mr. M'Larcn said that regarding the prophecy a man who desired to see auol her strike, and affirmed it, was talking like a. fool. They had not got over the troublo of the lost strike, and it was a very foolish thing to talk about rushing into another one. As Mayor of the city, in tho event of a strike he would maintain order upon the ground of fair play and equality, not taking sides with one party or the other to ail industrial dispute. Iu tfuch an event a really representative citizens' committee should be set up, not an employers* or employees' committee. If it were e«css-

sarf l6.maf>iUiiV'puliliWird<<r..b,v ('."l.finj', spi»:i:t.l " p l li?'st.fiUl*-s ; .>o-it«lN'st.t ;110 Would enrol <2iliaMis;.Vv'liii*'(l('i!ir('(l' ; public- tha I'll fc tli«.tini« of thoVJKj «l.riki> union .imbibers sih'WflU'aa 'iui.-iisoiij.gii!ii'i!i(i"Minim, wero"curdledaft. liipnaiijicimfilablw.':-.! 11 his opinio" 'h'i.v. imi(iii : .:'iriii..,!<ti - ili'Vßli«<il<J. Ho yery cfiroful loiiimiiitaiil,public order,'hecausV l.iHifc : of success. ■?■' Vi-%"r*V,ij%"^'' r T : v , ! '' ■•■ ■': . Further ViiieslMiied.-fMr.': M'Laren n.tid that ho would, "as* J!c;;>idvdom»,\|tbWn bv ■ tho platform of -tlie .org/miwiUm,lii» represented. '. Asked ' what .(illitmlo hss look'up towards- '.'the recent' industrial Upheavftl/f ho said-that. Im bad ndviwd. strongly' (at n meeting,in "the," 'JVwlm Hiii! «f representatives of tlm various unions oti Strike) against. Bprwidinj; the strike into a general strike, ami ho win ijiiito satisfied that if his advice hud bwn taken it would have boon to tin*' advantage of. tiro waterside.:, workers.":'. ■ ■ ; MR.. JJOKE'S CANMDATOIt-E. %< Aiiirgo gathering of Mr. J. P. Luke'ssupporters was held in UodborV Rooms, Courlouay Place, last.flight, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt: presiding:/;- . ; . •Mr- I.uW, who baa Men incapacitated for wrao days with an injured leuco, was unable to attend, but it weis announced that ho would bo abbs to take tho platform to-night. Mrs. Lnko was presont at tho mooting, and delivered mi address, and ■ arrangements wero afterwards mndei to eoniploto tho organisation for polling day. At to-night's meeting at tho Concert Chamber, Mr. C. B. Morison, K. 0., trill take, the chair.' Trior to Mr.. Luke's address, a rneotinf of lady supporters will bo hcM at tho Concert Chmnbor at 7.30 p.m., and after tiro address a. combined mooting will" be held. . .«,

| '■';.:;;?:■:■ NEXT WEEK'S POLL .. ''.. [ 'OVER 40,000 NAMES ON ROLU • i ■ ' ■ ' 1 ■■ .... [ Tho poll for the Mayoralty, which is to take place on Wednesday next, will : bo distinguished in one respect at all events—that will bo on the scoro of the number of electors tlutt are available to decide tho issuo. There aro no fewer than 40.787 names on the new Municipal Electors' Itoll to bo used in. connection with next AVodncsday's po« —an increase from last year of 6608.Manv of those who have studied the figures' may doubt that there aro that number of voters in Wellington City, as Karori, Miramar, Onslow, and tostbourne do not enter into the question at all iu this case'. One citizen points :o«t that, assuming there aro 40,78/ legitimate- electors m Wellington, the* the proportioa of adults to minors is all askew. According to tho >car Book, tho estimated population of Wellington (without the suburbs) en March- ;U, ]013, was 6(3,338, and if, of that nmnbor, '40,787 are 21 years of ago or oven, only 25,551 aro minors, which is not by "any means enough to raako up tho usual 'proportion. It is' conceded that Wellington's population has materially increased during the past year, .but it is argued that the jump m tho number* on the roll tins, year compared with last (6608) is inexplicably abnormal. ' Tho figures are such that tho returning officers will of necessity havo to watch as closely as possible on tho day of the, election to safeguard the poll against people voting under false names. . "What can wo do?".said tho Chief Returning Officer, when approached yesterday. "Tho papers come in by the thousand a day or two before the supplementary roll closes. All wo can do is to see that tho names sent in on the application forms are not already on the roll. If they are well and good—if not, tho name is included in i tho supplementary. We cannot oven -say that' the name represents anyone— we' havo not got the time to inquire into that or an elector's qualifications. We can only include all names that, are not on the main roll."

MIRAMAR EOROUCH. MR. F. TOWNSEND, MAYOR, Mr. Frederick Townsond lias- been returned, unopposed for the Mayoralty, of Miramar. His n-omhiaiofs wore; Messrs. F. R. H, Mildenhall and David Skinner. Mr, Townsond. was tho first Mayor of Miramar iu 1904, and was re-elected in ISOS and 1908. Ho was once more elected in 1913, and now is returned again without opposition.