THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2132, 25 April 1914, Page 6

THE MAYORALTY.

P. LUKE SPEAKS.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.

YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED.

The Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, ivlio is a candidate for re-eicction to the office of chief magistrate of the city, delivered an address in tlio Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last night. Mr. C. 'B. Morisou, K.C., presided. Mr. Luke was well received, and ho concluded his address amidst applause, and was cheered bel'oro the people left the building. In introducing Mr. Luke, the chairman said that the present Mayor had been in public life for many years. Mr. Luke's term as Mayor had been a strenuous one, and the candidate had acquitted himself very well.

The Year's Finances. Mr. Luke traversed the finances of the city. He said that it was out of the general account that money had been spent, and pointed out that there was a balanco of £1700 at the end of the year. It was, he said, proposed to remove tramway centro poles, which would mean the removal of a source of danger. The council had faced the year with a nossiblo doficit on general accounts, but had done a lot of work and had come out with a credit balance. It had been asserted that the estimates had been cut down. Now, tho first estimates had been ohlytrial estimates, but they showed that an increase of rates would bo needed, so they were reduced. The fact was, however, that the work had been done within tho estimates. Tho accounts of the tramway undertaking showed that the receipts were £160,347, the expenditure £144,917, and the surplus £15,430. 'Die surplus in the previous year, was £11,907. Mr. Luko said that he was only making this comparison becauso it was his duty to do so; the result was no reflection upon the work of the previous council, and he .was surprised that • any feeling should bo created by it.'Respecting tlie supply, of electricity,- there had been a surplus of £15,809, as _ against a. surplus of £13,148 in the previous year. Thij showed that there was expansion in this branch of the city's work.' In the tramway department there had been an agreement with the Government which would result in a service branching; out from the new railway station.

City Improvements. Mr. Luke went on to say that tho Roy Street loop had been extended, and was a great benefit to people visiting Newtown Park and the Zoo. The constructing of the central .aisles in tho cars had made a great deal of work, and caused a great deal of expenditure, and had thrown a certain number of cars out of commission. The Willis Street line had been duplicated; and so had tho Brooklyn line. Tho Island Bw and Lyall Bay lines would bo improved shortly. Ho was not claiming that he was a wo 'ling man's candidate, but he was. representing the working man as much as anyone olso. (Applause.) He had worked harder than many of his critics. (Applause.) Ho had had the interests of the workers at heart. He liad given sixteen tram rides for one shilling as against fourteen, and had extended the time for which, workers tickets were valid by bringing in a system of weekly tickets for workers. The council was going to extend tho tram time-table in the, way of late tramg. Street Widening. . Tho Wadestown tram.servico was to lie improved by running the cars through to Aro Street instead of ing them to a dead-end at tho Cecil Mess Tooms and bathrooms had been' provided at the power house, and m this connection he conceded a deal or credit to Councillor R. Fletcher. He had gone into the request of the iielburno Tramways for a supply or electricity, and had fathered a scheme whereby this service could be worked by electricity with general benefit. Ho had caused a reduction m the lwusehold supply of electricity, anfl following upon this had come a'reduction of fivepenco per thousand in the charge for gas. Street-widening in Willis Street had been progressing, and only the Duke or Edinburgh Hotel now remained to be set back, and he believed that, notwithstanding tho large sum that was being claimed in respect of this property, an arrangement would be arrived at. By-laws had not been neglected ihe Corporation was chock-full of by-laws, but one which claimed support was that dealing with the hatpin nuisance, and another that making for the sale ot better food in the public markets. The fish market had proved to bo a financial' success, and it had been suggested that tho corporation should go in for a trawler, but that was a matter which needed to bo approached .with caution, for, among other things, it might not make for cheaper fish. A £75 000 loan had been renewed to tho extent of £67,000. .The price of re- . newal had been criticised, but tho fact i was that tho loan had been procured , at a rate lower than that obtaining top i other municipal loans secured at about i the same time.

Questions Answered. ' Mr. Luke was asked several questions. Among the most important was tho query of a man who wished to know why the Mayor had objected to the formation of a Firemen's Umou. ihe Mayor's reply was that ho hau ?<>t ol) " iected to this, hut had opposed tho firemen's affiliating with any other union this for safety of City property. And this questioner wished to know why the watersidors were refused tho right to the Basin Reserve, and he was told that this reservo was surrounded by Sunday schools, and tnafc rsewtoTMi Park iiad been offered instead. On tho motion of Mr. Oxenham, seconded by Mr. M. S. Gallaway, Mr, Lnko was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. A motion of thanks only was heavily defeated. •

MR. M'LAREN'S MEETINGS. In support of his candidature for the Mayoralty Mr. D. M'Laren addressod two meetings last night, ciio at Northland, and 0110 at the Church I-lall, Kelburnc. Speaking at the latter meeting Mr. M'Laren advocated the retention of all cifcj' endowments. Ho also hold tliat thoy should get the best for the city, from tho city leaseholds, some of which were at present held at very low rentals. He hoped to fight for the city in this respect. After dealing .with tramway and other matters, along linos previously reported, Mr. M'Laren . remarked that it had been said that he was a Labour man, and could not bo a business man. Mo held that a lot of absoluto fudge_ and nonsonao was talked about tho business inan, who was always in tho limelight. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. M'Laren at the conclusion of the meeting.

. SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS. Mr. J. Glover, the Social-Democratic candidato for tho Mayoralty, and Mr. P. Eraser addressed a 'meeting at Kilbirnie Hall last night. Mr. Clover is the party's nominee in place of Mr. 11. Holland, and ho will deliver bis main address oil Monday evening.