CANDIDATES SPEECHES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2442, 22 April 1915, Page 6

CANDIDATES SPEECHES

NEAV SPEAKERS GIVE THEIR VIEAVS. • The campaign of the Greater Wellington Town Planning and Municipal Electors' Association for the forthcoming elections was continued last night, at lk'senoath and Brooklyn.

At Hoseucath Mr. Len. M'Kenzie delivered his initial speech, and reviewed his work during his term of offico, and made good tho position he took up regarding his rescinding motion on tha Courtenay Place tram terminus. Ho showed, he was more concerucd in providing room for future traffic,- and although "his schemc was defeated on tho casting vote of the chair, the main features of his proposal were afterwards embodied in a fresh scheme which has now been adopted. Ho then gave reasons for his notice of motion on the leasehold question which was carried, asking that in future a Judge be appointed umpire over the Court so that better and more uniform awards may result in place of the unsatisfactory conditions which now exist. With regard to the milk supply he contended that a better system was necessary so tliat the various controlling bodies (Agriculture. Health Department, and City Council) could formulate a concrete scheme which would ensure a purer product. He also contended that it would be a step in the right direction to briug tho executive officers of tho Harbour Board, City Council, and Government together so that a definite plan for future improvement of the city as a whole would result. He stated ho was not iu favour of carrying out new works from rovenue as such ideas nm.v lead to future trouble. As to future works he thought the most important thing they had to deal with in future was better development of arterial roads, especially to outlying districts, so that they will bo ready as tho city develops (for future tram extension. Then there was the water supply, and he strongly urged iho citizens to endeavour to obtain the rights over tlie catchnient area at Orongorongo, as it was impossible to loon too far ahead on such a vital matter.

Mr. Robert Hall, the next speaker, said that if elected to the council he would do his best to have the contour of the waterfront preserved in its natural beauty, and Oriental Bay and beyond being the suburb' par excellence everything possible , should be done at that side of the City to make it really a "city beautiful." Healso thought'that to a suburb of that kind, situated as it was on the hills, some better means of access should be given, either by way of tramway extension or a service supplemented by motor buses.

Messrs. Norwood and Cable spoke in similar terms to their first addresses, and at the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks and confidence was passed to the speakers. BROOKLYN MEETING.

At Brooklyn, Mr. Geo. Frost delivered his first address, and strongly protested against the remarks made by Mr. Bennett that many members of the present council seemed to be representative of various companies. He gave tho statement an emphatic denial. and said that his experience of the councillors had been that they were particularly careful in the administration of the City's affairs. He also referred to the statement made by Mr. Jenkinson that the gift made of a portion of the Town Belt to the Kelburn people for bowling purposes had been an example of bare-faced robbery. Mr. Frost characterised the statement as a bare-faced inaccuracy, and said that lio gift was made. A lease was fixed up for a term of 21 years, for a little loss than one acre, and the Bowling Club agreed to spend £1000 in building ajid beautifying the ground, which would revert back to the council at the end of tho term, without the council having to pay any compensation. Mr. Frost drew attention to the improvements made in the old Melrose Borough since it had amalgamated with the city, aad in regard to the milk supply question said that he was in favour of it being dealt with immediately. As to town-planning, he thought this should commence on the arterial roads in the outlying districts. He favoured tho council getting control of the Orongorongo watershed for a future water supply for the city, and said that lie felt that the reorganisation of the tramways would result in better facilities being given to tho travelling public. In any future extensions bo thought that the council should givo attention to Vogeltown and Roseneath. Mr. W. H. P. Barber referred to the growth of Wellington, and showed the necessity of having men of knowledge and business experience to manage its affairs. He pointed to the profit of £10,000 on the electric light undertaking, and thought that the council should take into consideration the question of reducing tho price of current. Ho was in favour of a tepid bath, and quoted figures proving the success of a similar venture in Auckland. Ho deplored the fact that the postponement of the Joan proposals had delayed the establishment ol' a lire brigade station in the outlying districts. As to Central l'ark, which the council had decided to hy out, lie believed it would be the beauty spot of the city in tho lutur»

Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, candidate for the Harbour Board, dealt largely with townplanning, pointing out lhat the Harbour Hoard should lie a party to such n scheme, just as much as the City Council. tie lavoured the sotting up of a Town-Planning Hoard, composed of representatives of the C'iLy Council, Harbour Hoard. Public Works Department, and several members elected biennially by the citizens. The idea should be not that industries should lie removed from the city for health and other reasons only, but that much HetIrr facilities should hp rrcnttid It) snnbU islimLii to ilia cita't

prosperity to flourish in a locality where everything was favourable, such as cheaper land and harbour and railway facilities. On behalf of the Townl'lamiing) Association, lie had drawn up a complete scheme for inclusion in a Town-Planning Bill, and it was proposed to present, the same to the Prime Minister shortly, and ask that legislation should be passed during the coming sessioi\. BUSINESS MEN'S TICKET. At a meeting held yesterday morning of representative business men it was unanimously resolved to 6iipport the candidature of the following gentlemen for the position of. City councillors: Councillors Atkinson, Barber, Fuller, Frost, Fitzgerald, Godber, Luckie, M'Kenzie, Thompson, and Wright, also Mr. John Hutcheson. It was mentioned that all the above councillors had rendered good servico to the City during the past two years, and that Mr. Hutcheson had been a very useful member while on the Harbour Board. They also decided to support Messrs. Cable, Fitzgerald, Hill, and Wriglit for seats on the Harbour Board. A strong committee was formed, and they are determined that no effort will be spared on their part in again electing men who have freely given their t-me and experience in their endeavour to serve their fellow citizens. The full ticket appears in our advertising columns. ELECTION NOTES. Some unfortunate errors crept into the advertisements of the Miramnr nominations inserted yesterday. The advertisements in their corrected form will be found elsewhere in this issue.

Mr. Martin Luckie will address the electors <rf Wellington in the Church Schoolroom, Upland Road, Kelburu. tomorrow (Friday) evening at 8 o'clock.

Signs of increasing interest in the municipal elections are evident in larger attendances at the meetings under the auspices of. the Greater Wellington Town-Planning and Municipal Elections Association. At all meetings there are sufficient speakers to ensure a varied and thoroughly interesting series of topics associated with City Council and Harbour Board administration. Tonight's meetings are at Northland Methodist School and the Bowling Green Pavilion, Hataitai. '

The Mayoral campaign begins in earnest with the retiring Mayor's meeting to-morrow evening in the Town Hall Concert Chamber.

Mr. A. R. Hornblow, who is a candidate for the City Council, will insert an address on Saturday morning giving his views 011 municipal matters.

Mr. John Fuller, jun., announces himself as an Independent candidate for the City Council. Mr. Fuller states in his announcement that he has had four rears' service in the council, and has always kept his pledge to the people for careful, lionest, and progressive administration of the City's affairs. Ho addresses electors in the Century Hall, Kent Terrace, at 8 p.m. tomorrow.