NEW MAYOR INSTALLED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 6

NEW MAYOR INSTALLED

MR. R. A. WRIGHT, M.P., ASSUMES OFFICE CITY’S PROGRESS REVIEWED CAUTION AND PRUDENCE URGED The ceremony of swearing in the Mayor-elect (Mr. 11. A. Wright, M.P.) took place at noon yesterday in the Council Chambers. Councillors present were: Messrs. W. J. Thompson, C. B. Norwood, W. H. Bennett, W. G. Gaudin, 11. D. Bennett, T. Forsvth, L. M'Kenzie, M. F. Luckie, B. G. H." Burn, S. H. Underwood, J. Burns, C. H. Chapman, P. Fraser, and Mrs. A. M'Vicar. There was a large attendance of the general public At the outset the chair was occupied by tho retiring Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke, M.P.). Tho retiring Mayoress and tho incoming Mayoress also occupied seats on tho platform. Mr. Luke, in addressing the gathering, expressed his profound gratification that the selection of the citizens for the Mayoralty had fallen on his old colleague and trusted friend, Mr. R. A. Wright. As a councillor of considerable experience, Mr. Wright brought to the office great ability, coupled with integrity. The city would be the gainer by haring a change in Mayors at this stage in its affairs. Mr. Luke also expressed his pleasure at the presence of Mrs. Wright. The citizens had, continued Mr. Luke, manifested their confidence in tho old council by re-electing, with one exception, all those who had again offered their services. He took it that this was an endorsement of the work of the council as a whole. City’s Rapid Development. In tho course of a brief retrospect of the eight years during which he was Mayor, Mr. Luke said that the city was moving along with great rapidity. He quoted a few figures instancing the growth of Wellington since 1913. The revenue of the corporation had increased from 41451.000 to 411,078,000; the capital value from .£19,000,000 to .£25,000,000; and the population (including that of tho associated boroughs now amalgamated with the city) from 66.000 to 90.000. Looking to the future, Mr. Luke said that the. greatest need of the city was primarily the amalgamation of the two or three outside boroughs lying alongside of Wellington. Wellington woulfl never lie a metropolitan area, possessing all the force necessary for proper development, if there was a multiplicity of smaller local bodies. The local government of Wellington should be centred in one metropolitan area, and the sooner steps were taken to bring about this change the better it would be for everyone concerned. (Hear, hear.) Continuing, he said that he regarded the. prosecution of the hydro-electrical scheme as the next

most important work ahead of the citv. If they looked at the’ map they would find that there were other places than Wellington that had the opportunity of undertaking the trade that lay at the southern portion of the North Island. Wellington was essentially a commercial centre, and it behoved them to take every step necessary to develop the city along this line. In order to successfully cope with the transport problem involved in the handling of the jxrrt’s trade, it was necessary that the commencement of the. work of building the new railway station should he expedited. He hoped the new council would approach the question of improved railway facilities tor Wellington from the standpoint of necessity. Necessity would not tolerate the building-up of a large city Without proper railway facilities. Another point made by Mr. Luke was that eventually a main arterial road would have (o be constructed through the city in order to relieve the congestion of traffic. Lastly, he urged that until the council co-oper-ated with the Harbour Board, in order to bring about the construction of a dock for the port, Wellington was not coin" to get the volume of trade that i ? t had the right to expect. Concluding, Mr. Luke, again wished his successor every success, and expressed every confidence in the outcome of Mr. Wright’s administration. Mr. Wright then made the statutory declaration, and took the oath of office. New Mayor Speaks. On taking his seat for the first time, the new Mayor gracefully acknowledged the complimentary remarks paid to him by his predecessor. Mr. Wright referred in eulogistic terms to the work of Mr. and Mrs Luke. Mr. Luke had occupied the Mayoral chair for eight years, several of which were critical years, not only for Wellington, but for New Zealand. He had passed during his tenure of office through a. period of industrial stress, through war, and through a period of epidemic sickness. In this connection Mr. Wright enlarged upon the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Luke in regard to all patriotic work, particularly in meeting transports. Passing on. he said that he was following in the footsteps of a Mayor who had set a very high standard. Mrs. Wright also realised that she was succeeding a Mayoress who had proved herself a wonderful woman. The Alayor then went on to congratulate the present council—particularly tho members of tho retiring council—on their election. Finances Reviewed. Dealing with finance, Mr. Wright briefly summed up the present position of the corporation as on March 31 last, the end of the finaneial'*yenr. The revenue from all sources totalled .£1,078,428, compared with .£893,683. The expenditure under all heads, however, was rather more than the revenue, totalling .£1.106,496. or <£20.067 in excess of that of the previous vear. Bearing in mind the adverse conditions under which the council bad laboured, the position was. said Mr. Wright, nothing to bo anxious about. The” overdraft on March 31 stood at <■6212.900, and by August next it would be increased bv a further sum of approximately 4170,000. The increase was due to the fact that the council had been forced to do necessary capital work out of revenue. After August, when the rates would begin to conic in, the position would become easier. The tramways’ bank account had an overdraft of 4155,000. This money did not represent a loss on the undertaking; it bad been used for capital expenditure. The corporation had assets for this amount of money. On the other hand, however, there were sundry credits amounting to .£47.565. and sums totalling .£165.095 on fixed deposit. Ro far they had not felt tho benefit of the increased tram faros, but he had no doubt that Inter on there would be something better to say in regard to tramway finance. The Outlook. Turning to the future, Mr. Wright said that one matter requiring the early attention of the council was the raising of money for works that had been sanctioned at the recent loan poll. The council had decided to go on with the most urgent of tlio loan works, and the problem would be to find the money at a rate of interest that would not be extortionate. They hoped to be able to get a portion of the loan advanced at a reasonable rate of interest. The public debt of the City Corporation stood at .£2,500,000 on March 31. against which they had sinking funds to tho amount of .£500.000, and the assets of the city, not including tho reserves, were valued at not less than .£4,000.000, Tho city had grown in population. Since 1916 the population had increased from 79,301 to 90,099. "Wellington will and must increase in population,” continued tho Mayor, "and we must prepare for it in every way. The city is thoroughly sound. It is an sound as the Bank of England—commercially and otherwise.” Ho added

that there was nothing to fear, but in view of tho present financial position they must pursue a policy of caution and prudence. Touching on another matter, Air. Wright said that a proposal would be. submitted to the non' council for a conference on the question of a new railway station, between representatives of tho Harbour Board and the City Council and the General Alanager of Railways. The object of the proposed conference was to expedite the commencement of tho erection of flip new station. The council would also hare to consider the overcrowding of the trnnicnrs, which was very marked. The question of dealing with unemployment in the city would a.r-o engage the attention of the council should the necessity arise. The necessity for purging the municipal roll, which he said was in a very bad state, was also referred to by Air. Wright.

Councillor L. Al'Konzio. as senior councillor, assured Air. Wright of the earnest and strong support of the council during his term of'office in every endeavour made to advance the interests of the city. Ho also paid a deep irihnle to tho work of the retiring Mayor and Mnvoress.

Councillor M. Luckie followed in n similar strain.

Subsequently the council met in con? mittee an.l set up various standing com mil tecs.