ONSLOW MAYORALTY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2131, 24 April 1914, Page 3

ONSLOW MAYORALTY

THE FIRST ADDBESS

Mr. H. K. Anderson, a. candidate for tho Onslow Mayoralty, addressed the ratepayers at,-Katwarra last evening, Mr. R. Flaws presided, and thero wore about '25 people present. Mr. Anderson said that the borough receipts wero small, but the expenditure was large. They had,, however, one thing to congratulate themselves on, and that was tlic.small general rate, which only amounted to ljjd. in tho £. Ono of the maid planks of tho speaker's platform was his objection to any increase in rates. He thought that *io increase should be made without tho sanction of the ratepayers. There were two difficulties which they had to face, however. One wn-s inevitable—an increase in rates in consequence of their share of £3floo in the cost of Mutt Road construction. Victoria- Road was another problem.' This road had cost £350 and, of this sum, Kaiwarra ratepayers had to pay.£so. Tin's tended to affcet tho rates. In this connection the speaker said that he wished to make himself quite clear. _ Ho totally disapproved of tho principle of any pc-rnui.jicnt improvements of that description being carried out without tho sanction of tho ratepayers. For instance, the proposed improvement of Ngahavifaisga Gorge Road should not bo carried out unless a loan proposal were sahmittied for a poll. Another matter thai had been overlooked by past councils was llangiora Avenue. There was no reason why that avenue' should not have its water and drainage. Turning to the question of roads, the speaker thought that it mast bo admitted that tho mads in the borough were in very fair condition. It hasl been wise policy to go to a little extra cost at the commencement.and put down firstclass metal. A matter which the Gov* eminent would probably saddle them with {besides the Hutt Road) ;was tho removal of spoil from the big slip on ■ tho Hutt Road, If tho Hutt orPeteno ' Councils had had to carry out this work what would they have doae? They would probably have tipped it into tho harbour. Besides, continued Mr. Anderson, why should tho borough bo asked to pay some of the £0000 as costi of the removal of spoil when tho spoil had been used in reclaiming land worth about £10,000 an aero?, Tho speaker was not in favour of the continuation of tho tramways to Kaiwafra. Tho work of extending the trams would cost £3"00, and it was for tho ratepayers, to say whether they were prepared to pay this. It was'certainly net likely that tlip City Council would ex-; pond such a sum for tho sake of the i few passengers travelling to and from Kaiwarra. .In conclusion, the speaker said that tho .general apathy of the people of the borough of Onslow Was distressing. He hoped that they would bestir themselves and take more inter- ■ est in their_ borough, and whether they voted for iiijn (the speaker) of net, they should at least turn out on polling day and exorcise their rights. At th.o_ cHoehtsion of the address a number of questions were answered, and on the motion of Mr. P. ■ Kavanagh a hearty vote of thanks to tho ©anflidato for his address a.nd of confidence ih him was -carried by acclamation.'