WILL FIGHT CIVIC LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 12

WILL FIGHT CIVIC LEAGUE

‘A DOMINEERING AUTOCRAT'

INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN PROMISED

Mr. H. D. Bennett addressed the annual meeting of the Wadestown and Highland Park Progressive Association last night. He said that in the City Council lie had the confidence of tlie Mayor, and circumstances had brought them both into the same camp, and he promised that they would be found together when the election contest came round. The interests of such a large citycalled for the assistance of men of business ability, but for too long the citizens had been content with a policy of more or less drift in the selection of men to . fill the responsible positions. The council’s operations were so extensive that one wondered at the success of some of the big trading departments. The tramways had lately been subject to a large cut, due to motor competition, and had the motor-buses been allowed to continue for a limited number of weeks longer, the council would have been comelled to take away the 3d. universal fare. The coming year or two would provide for the application of a tremendous amount of energy on the part of those they sent to look after their interests, lie said. Town planning was going to be of vital interest. He visualised the removal of the slums on the big block in front of Mt. Cook, and the conversion of the land into- a civic area with imposing buildings, consisting of tho new museum, art gallery, national war memorial and carillon in the background. One of the problems facing the City Council to-day, he said, was in relation to the loan proposal of 1919-20. It had been submitted and authorised at a time when councillors and ratepayers were thinking in millions, and now the council had to “carry the baby.” He referred to the Alt. Victoria tunnel which “simply could not be done,” and the Raroa Road tramway proposal, which was “the most preposterous thing ever put forward.” Mention of the latter scheme brought him to the Hill Street proposal, on which the council was evenly divided. He thought he was on the winning side there, by accident, because Parliament came in—“ Providence always come to those who are fighting an honest cause,” he said with a smile. Mr. Bennett stated that they were going to fight the Civic League in an endeavour to remove the dictatorship that had been adopted during the last few years. He wanted to see restored to the people the right to elect untramelled and unfettered the member they might choose-for the senior position of the c’ty. In years past, ever since the Labour Party insisted upon nominating a full ticket of its own representatives for the positions of Mayor and councillors, it had seemed desirable that the citizens should combat this attempt with a similar counter move. It was clear that with the large Labour vote given en bloc to a single candidate, the antiLabour section of the community could not afford to multiply its candidates. “It is the irony of fate,” he continued, “that in the mouthpiece of the Civic League we see to-day the shadow of a Labour Mayor! We could get no better witness of the ills which we now wish to avoid, and yet the league borrows the lesson. From the task of .mediating between plural citizens’ a body has gradually grown to be the octopus we find to-day masquerading under the name of the Civic League. This body has out-heroded Herod. It has beaten the starter. It now functions like a domineering autocrat. Labour does consult its constituent bodiei when it comes to selecting candidates, but the Civic League rushes headlong into its decisions and consults the va J l ' ous ratepayers’ associations afterwards. This is exactly what has happened in their selection of a candidate for the Mayoralty this time. . “In due time we will give the electors an account of the stewardship of the present council. I venture to suggest that the public will accept our work as nt least equal to any other body of men despite the harpings of the disgruntled. The Mavor is not without friends, lie has had “offers of help from many quai> ters. When the time comes we will set up an organisation which will ensure an tensive campaign. Our rank, will be open to all citizens,. and we shall welcome new men. We intend that electors shall know the truth before they go to the poll. It is not proposed that the election campaign should commence noi , but it is necessary, to say that it will commence at the right time* The League has proven itself incapable of correctly sensing the duty a tolerant community expected of ,? nd b J think they are going to be told about it-” .