LOCAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2446, 27 April 1915, Page 6

LOCAL ELECTIONS

TO-MORROW'S POLLS

FIVE ISSUES FOR DECISION

RETURNING OFFICERS' TASK

There is' important work to be done by the municipal electors of Wellington to-morrow. Never in the history of the City have the burgesses been asked to decide five issues at once, yet this-pos-sibility has been provided for in the ' Local Elections and Municipal Corporations Acts, of the last three years. The Weekly Half-Hoilday. Two years ago four issues were submitted to the public—Mayoralty, City Council, Harbour Board, and Hospital and Charitable Aid Board —but this rear the number has been increased by.(tlie addition of. a referendum on the half-holiday question, whicE has been worried over for the past five years by those desirous of a general closing on the Saturday afternoon and evening. The issue is an important one in that the Saturday afternoon precedes a day when all shops must close, and, if carried, will mean that -householders will have "to lay in provisions on Saturday forenoon, to last until Monday morning. Saturday night in town will lose its customary vitality and radiance, and the householder will have to think ahead in half a dozen ways. On the question of convenience the Saturday half-holiday may be the reverse of convenient to the general public, but on the other band is a concession, to people whose - employment necessitates them working on Saturday afternoon ,and evening. At present our sports grounds are fairly adequate as the public is divided as far as the day on 'which, the weekly half-holiday .is observed is concerned, but if all are to observe the Saturday overcrowding must result, and further expenditure of city money must inevitably be incurred to catch up to the demand. There is considerable opposition on the part of smaller city shopkeepers to the proposed general Saturday halfholiday, but it does"not appear to be nearly so emphatic as it was two years ago. The.issue is being put to the electors'in "the fairest and broadest manner possible. Instead of only the two days (Wednesday and Saturday) being set out on the ballot paper, every day in the week.(barring Sunday) is printed, and it is' the duty of the elector to place a cross in the .space opposite that day .in. the week on which he would likel to see the; half observed. :. In the Polling Booth. The Returning Officers in the various booths/will have their work cut out for them to-morrow. The "Returning Officer alone has the handling of - the ballotpapers, so that when an eleotor gives his name and is located on the roff by. the attendant clerks, the Returning Officer has to take one each of the five voting .papers, initial each one, noting down 'the .roll'iiumber ,of the' elector, gum ■down the,corner on which he has written the number, and stamp.it; This .'has' to be'done with, each ,of the five papers, when' they will all be pinned together and handed to 'the elector. . He is expected to make all the marks necessary on each paper ■without removing the pin, and having .done that the little bundle ;of papers is dropped into the ballot box ■all together. With five issues it was never contemplated that a box should be. provided for each of them; instead, the pinning'of all the papers together in the same order is calculated to make the work of sorting .them easy.. The'colours of the different voting papers are as follow Mayoralty, white; City Council, pale green'; Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, red; Harbour Board/blue j half-holiday, buff. : * ' • ! UNDER THE NEW LAW. V — — - PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES. ./ It must be within the recollection of all citizens -who recorded votes at the local elections two ago that tickets or cards or handbills were circulated very freely at the entrance to polling booths in the interests, of single or groups of / candidates. This imist not be' done at the elections to-morrow, for in the 'year of last, elections, 1913, the Act was amended to make the law relating to Parliamentary elections apply to local elections.' . is the section' of the Act applying to such practices "Every person»is liable .to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds who at an election,— (a) In any way interferes with any elector, either in the polling ; • booth or while on his way thereto, with the intention of influencing him or advising him as to his vote; or

•or ' < . . (b) Prints or distributes or .de- ' livers to any person on the day of the poll, or at any time during the three days immediately preceding the poll anything being or purporting to be in imitation of • any voting paper to be used at the poll, and haying thereon the names of the candidates or any of them, together with any direction or indication as. to how any person should vote, or in any way containing such direction or indication, or having thereon any matter likely ; to influence any vote;,or (c) During the hours in. which, the. poll is being taken makes any public demonstration having reference to the poll by means of living . . figures, effigies, paintings, placards, 'or other like means." TROOPERS AND THEIR VOTES. LEAVE TO BE ALLOWED. Yesterday the • Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) communicated with the Defenco ■Minister (Hon. J. Allen) on the matter of allowing the Wellington'men in camp at Treiitham leave to come, into town to-morrow for the purpose of recording their votes on the several elections to be decided. Mr. Allen gave, the Mayor an assurance that such an arrangement would be made, so that all those men in camp who are on the roll will be afforded opportunity of exer. cisingtheir franchise to-morrow. THE MAYORALTY. MR. LUKE'S CANDIDATURE. There were about 70 ladies and gentlemen _ present at tho final committee meeting held in Godber's rooms, Courtenay Place, in connection with Mr. J. P. Luke's candidature for the Mayoralty. Those present were enthusiastic, and several addresses wore delivered by members of the committe, urging upon all concerned not to relax m their efforts to secure Mr. Luke's return.

MR. R: FLETCHER AT WADEStown. ■Mr. R. Fletcher addressed a crowded meeting.at <Wadestown last'night. Mr. Joplin presided. Mr. Fletcher devoted some time to a reply to the argument from" figures, put before the elec/tors by.Mr. H. G. Hill, a candidate for the Harbour Board. He said it was unfair to compare tho figures for 1909 and 1914 without comment as Mr. Hill had done.- :..Mr. Hill had not mentioned, for instance, in his comparison of increased working expenses that in 1909"waterside labour was paid for at Is. 3d. per- hour, whereas in 1014 the rate was Is. od. gor houj.'. The ill-

crease due to the increased rate of pay for labour was £5800. Mr, Hill tad not allowed for increased cost of material. For instance, hoop steel, of which the board used a, great deal, now cost from 30s. to 355. per ton more than in 1909. Since 1913 the superannuation scheme had been in operation, and this had cost £2900 a year. The board had also lost £4700 by private competition in the dumping of wool and hemp. During 1914 there had been the strike, and very great loss of revenue from the exemption of duos on all transports. This latter item alone amounted to £2000 in six weeks. The profit and loss account of the board from 1910 to 1913 inclusive showed a profit of £44,779/ Last year the loss was £3549, leaving a net surplus for the five years of his (Mr. Fletcher's) chairmanship of £41,230, making the average annual profit for, the five years £8247 s after providing for interest and sinking fund, repairs and maintenance, and depreciation. One of. the most satisfactory features of the board's accounts was the increase of the balance of assets over liabilities from' £343,473 in 1909 to £548,559 in 1914. \ CITY COUNCIL CAMPAICN. CANDIDATES 1 MEETINGS., Candidates on the ticket of the Creator Wellington Town Planning and Municipal Electors' Association addressed meetings lart night at the Victoria Hall, Adelaide Head, and in the open air at Clyde Quay. ■ The first speaker was Mr. George Frost, who supported a pure-milk scheme, but pointed out that care must be exercised not to make it too costly. He referred to the ohange in the tramway management,,the control now being in the bands of /one man. This was a distinct improvement. When tramway extensions were being considered, the claims of Vogeltown and Roseneath must not be overlooked. Mr. Frost also dealt with the reserves, the Zoo, and tbn question of hot and tepid saltwater baths.

Mr. R. A: Wright said the council must seriously consider the dust nuisance in Wellington. At the present time the dust penetrated disastrously the business portion of the town. Experts alleged that until the northern end of the city .was wood-blocked the evil would continue. •He urged that this work should be undertaken. Dealing with' tbo alarming increase in the price of meat, he said that if this state of affairs was to continue it would become necessary forihe council to turn its attention to the wholesale meat business. . He, was not in favour of competing with the retail butchers. They were not in any way responsible for the rise in prices.

Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, candidate for the Harbour Board, made a strong appeal, to the electors to support'those ■ candidates who would be best able to deal. with the growing competition of the porta of Wanganui and Napier. If Wellington _ rates were raised to any extent ,it simply meant that we would jose the trade. He advocated caution in this respect, not in the' interest of traders or exporters, but in the direct interests, df\ the city elector, who would ultimately have to bear the burden of any deficiency brought about by loss of the port's coastal trade. ' Last''year's coastal wool , showed a drop of 24,000. bales. ; Where did. this go but to 'War nganui and Napier? -Mr. Fletcher's proposal. to increase the export rates would but play into the hands of those who elsewhere were doing their best to capture the trade of Wellington. Far bettor make up the board's revenue by: obtaining reasonable rents from the many broacf acres of the board's lands now lying idle on the foreshore. This was a vital matter, for the cost of handling goods over our wharves had gone up from 13.07 d. to 15.44 d. in the course of three years:

Mr. H. G. Hill, candidate for the Wellington Harbour Board,' continued his campaign in Viotoria Hall last night. The candidate dealt with the main points previously outlined in these columns.He made special reference to the question of traction on the wharves and the attitude adopted by certain persons with' regard to his criticism of the board's finances. Referring to the question of transit on the wharves, Mr. Hill contended that the use of motor trucks would revolutionise the work of the Wellington ■ Harbour front. Coming to the question of the board's finances, Mr. Hill said that he read, a letter in a City paper from the pen of Mr. D. M'Laren. This gentleman stated that we had at least the satisfaction of Securing a plain statement of the actual affairs of the Harbour Board, and suggested-that he (the speaker) was actuated from personal or political, motives in quoting from the-years 1909 and 1914. In reply to this, Mrg> Hill stated that the jears mentioned were quoted by the chairman, showing the increases which had been effected during his regime as chairman of the board, but in -that statement, as Mr. Hill has already pointed out, the chairman' made no reference at all to expenditure.

Mr. L. M'Kenzie occupied the chair ftt the Alexandra Hall last . evening, when eoveral candidates for the , City Council addressed the electors. Mr. A. R. Atkinson gave an account of his stewardship, dealing more especially with City teases,, he having been chairman of the Leaseholds Committee. Mr. Norwood 6poke on general matters. A number of questions was asked and answered by the candidate. Mr; Bennett, after dealing with matters previously touched on, referred to the leasing of portions of the Town Belt to Bodies. He could see no valid reason why selected portions, should not be leased to any body of citizens who desire to lay out and beautify it for sporting purposes, under proper conditions, and one of these oonditions should certainly be that plans for any'proposed orections should have the approval of the City authorities as to design and position, due consideration being given to the surrounding residents. If this had been done, sureTy something more artistic and less obstructive would have been erected on the new green at Kelburn. However, he saw no objection to granting ,the lease,_ for there are other points of vantage within 30 or 40 yards 'of this position, where botter views can be obtained, and in any case in this or other parts of the Belt leased, for every person that visited these particular, spots hundreds will now go, under pleasanter and more comfortable conditions. If sports bodies i are not encouraged along these lines, the City must face the problem of providing playing spaces for our young folk, more especially if Sat- , urday ■ half-holiday is to .come into force. There would still be plenty left to plant, and to form into promenades. It was only by a little such help that our Town Belt could bo made (the beautiful asset it ought to be. By courtesy of tho chairman (Mr. L. M'Kerizie) at last night's meeting in the Alexandra Hall, Councillor J. E.Fitzgerald addressed the electors present in support of Ilia candidature for the City Council and the Harbour Board. Tho candidate dealt particularly with the outlying districts, and traced their progress during the four years of his term as chairman of the Outlying Districts Committee. Dealing with tho tramways, ho referred to the formation of the hoard which he was responsible for setting up, and which had placed the .tramway undertaking on . a satisfactory and financial basis. Although tho net profits of the, tramway, undertaking were, only £115,306, it must lie remembered that we had purchased considerable property, constructed new cars, and made many extensions out of tlie. general revenue. Dealing with the "milk question, Councillor Fitzgerald was distinctly opposed to the erection r.f a depot. He did not believe that the City was justified in spending. £.10,000 or £12,1100 iu erecting a. building which _could only guarantee tho receipt of pure

milk. What the City Counoil should do was to o(H)perate with the Government and appoint additional inspectors, who would take samples more frequently, on the lines of the system adopted in Melbourne,

Mr. W. H. P. Barber presided at a meeting addressed by candidates at the New Century Hall last night. Mr. J. E. Jenkinson, the first speaker, said that any promises he might make must be subject to the state of tlio money market. He considered that the Town Hall should be reserved for public use and that no concessions of parts of it should bo given to particular sections of the people. He advocated the location, of schools 011 tlio Town Belt area for the reason that this would allow generous playing grounds for the children. He thought that the Technical School should be removed to cheaper ground; and the- present site utilised for the library and art gallery. In order to provide cheaper homes for the people, the defence reserve at Miramar should be made available for settlement. He was in favour of another alternative tram route to Brooklyn in preference to the duplication of the present line. Mr. W. Cable, a candidate for the Harbour Board, was the next speaker. He said t.bat the Harbour Board had done good work for commercial and shipping interests 6iuce its establishment' in 1880, but all other itnerests had been neglected. Some attention should bo given, he said, to the providing of modern equipment for the repair of vessels. 'Wellington was the only port of the Dominion so neglected in this respect, and it could be the premier port if provided with an up-to-date graving dock. Ho was sure that labour troubles on the waterfront would disappear if' the dock were built, for an abundance of work would be offering at the dock. If elected ho would use his endeavour to have a small dock built suitable for the repair of .small vessels. Generally he favoured prudent finance. Mr. Robert Hall, a candidate for the City Council, exhorted electors to make up their minds as to how they would vote on the many issues to be decided before going into a booth, and thereby avoid delay and confusion. In the choico of candidates they should sclcct those men with a large vision of the future. They ought to consider the needs of generations to come, when we would have & population not of 80,000, but of probably 200,000 or 300,000. He was in favour of the ■ raising of loans for public works rather than the payment for them out of revenue. He favoured municipal control of the milk supply, the construction of tepid swimming baths, the issue of workers tramtickets, to include 9 o'clock workers,and a reduction in Sunday morning tram fares.. He thought also that the tramway goods delivery seirvice shoula 'be put upon a basis that would make it remunerative to the City aJid of benefit to the community. ONSLOW COUNCIL. At the Khandallah .Hall last night Messrs. A. E. Budd, J. M. Dalei, and Ernest Hobbs, candidates for the Onslow Borough Council,. ■ addressed' a meeting of about 200 electors. ,Mr. J. M. Richardson presided.-. The candidates- quoted authorities including Mr. IT. Beauchamp, Mr. Massey, and Mr. J, P. Luke to show that at the present time it- would be disastrous for local bodies to-raise money for any new schemes. The candidates : -dealt generally with the platform of their opponents. At the conclusion of the meeting numerous questions were answered and on the motion of .Mr. Meadowcroft a vote of. oonfidence in the three candidates was carried. MIRAMAR POLLING ARRANGE*ME NTS. The Miramar Council having no polling booth in the city publishes the time-table of the Seatoun cars running during polling hours for the information of city/residents entitled to vote at Miramar elections., MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION TICKET. The full list. of candidates r.ecom.mended for support by the Greater Wellington Town Planning and Municipay Electors' Association' is ' advertised this. morning. The association has not pledged any of those on its ticketj but it urges electors to support these can-, didates because their reoords show that they may be relied on for faithful, effi-. cient service. . , The final meetings held under the association's auspices are, announced for to-night,-' when representative men on the "ticket" will address the electors at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, and at the Methodist- Schoolroom, r,Molesworth Street. ELECTION NOTES. Mr. C. M. Luke, who is a.candidate for a seat on the Hospital and Charitable Aid.. Board, has been a member for over twenty-five years, during which period he acted as chairman. Mr. Luke's long-service Tecord is specially to in an announcement in our advertising columns^

The different candidates for municipal honours in the City" and Suburbs at to-morrow's poll announce their policies in this issue. :

. The question of whether the weekly half-holiday is to be held on Wednesday or Saturday is of great importance to tho email shopkeeper.. Reasons for voting in favour of Wednesday' for the half-holiday are. set out in an advertisement in this issue.

' Times and places of the candidates' final addresses to the electors of Wellington and the suburbs are announced on Page 3,0f this issue.