NUMEROUS QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 197, 18 May 1944, Page 3

NUMEROUS QUESTIONS

Addresses By Labour • Candidates

MR. ROBERTS’ APPEAL

“Many people think that the whole ot their efforts should be directed to the election of members of Parliament, but civic administration and services come closer to our daily lives,” said Mr. James Roberts, Labour candidate for the Wellington mayoralty, in addresses at Roscueath and Karori West last night, in urging citizens to manifest a keener interest in their city's progress and development. Civic business, he said, did not belong to Mr. Appleton or his supporters alone. It belonged to the whole of the people. It' they exercised their vote they would surely not permit the maladministration of past councils to continue. At both meetings questions were numerous. A survey of Labour’s policy on finance, housing, slum clearance and transport services was given by Mr. Roberts, who concluded that the issues before the electors on May 27 were mainly (1) were tliey satisfied with the present housing position? (2) the water supply, _ (3) transport, and (4) the general cleanliness of their city. His remarks on.these issues followed the lines of previous ad; dresses. In dealing with the failure of the city council to take advantage of the labour available during the depression years to build houses, Mr. Roberts said that during that same period the Christchurch Labour city council had built numerous houses for old people at rents from 10/- to 12/- a week. In his latest advertisement, Mr. Apple; ton had denied that he had said he would increase suburban rates, but his address to the New Zealand Institute of Valuers made it clear that his. opponent favoured rating on the capital value, said Mr. Roberts. When the capital value rating system had been superseded by the unimproved value system, largely through Labour’s efforts, suburban rates had dropped substantially. Past councils had since had two new valuations and suburban rates had increased. Mr. Appleton’s address emphasized that more rates would have to come from suburban properties. That meant another valuation. The report of the city engineer on building in the city over the past 12 months showed that permits valued at £638,261 had been issued.. Only 62 private homes had been built, some flats and the Government had built 75 homes. If the cost per home were estimated at £l5OO, that still left a substantial balance out of the £638,000. In a recent speech Mr. Appleton had quoted a whole list of figures to show tiie amount of private building. They included State houses. Actually very few other homes had been built. The establishment of a civic centre and the fostering of drama, music and the ballet, were dealt with by Mr. Roberts. Young New Zealanders, should be given opportunity within their own country. They had proved among the best soldiers and airmen in the world, and should be given the chance to show what they could do in other walks of life. Advocating tepid baths, Mr. Roberts said plans had been prepared for them 37 years ago. There had been talk, ever since without anything being achieved. Last election an. application to raise a loan of £44,000 for baths had been refused. This year an application for permission to raise a loan of £156,000 had been made. That was a most absurd sum for tepid baths—baths as good as those in Sydney could be built for about £BO,OOO. The Loans Board turned that down because it knew ■ the council was only tinkering with the matter. Replying to a question. Mr. Roberts said Labour would not increase rates unless property owners sought better services. That would not be opposed. The trouble at present was that the services given in return R>r the rates levied were inadequate. Labour advocated that all sewerage and water services from the mains to the house should be laid by men employed by the city council. Drainage from the home to the mains was a very costly business to the individual owner, but it would not be costly to the city council, which would have a properly equipped staff to look after this job. Thirteen candidates in addition to Mr. Roberts spoke at the meetings. Mr. P. A. Hansen, who is secretary of the Tramways Union, dealt with tram and bus services, and maintained that a regrouping of cars, a review of stopping places, and an overhaul of timetables could do much to rectify the position. The tramway officials were agreed on the question of stopping places and a report was compiled. In a recent speech Mr. W. H. Stevens (Citizens’) had said the time was not opportune for its introduction as “it was too hot to handle on the era of an election.”

TONIGHT’S MEETINGS

Meetings of Labour candidates for the Wellington local elections will be held today as follows:—Mornington Town Hall,' meeting for- women, 2.39 p.m.; Town Hall, S p.m.; and Houghton Valley Hall, 8 p.m. Citizens’ candidates will hold meetingstonight at Webb Street Methodist Hall. Hataital Realm Hall, and Hataitai North Public School. The speakers are advertised elsewhere. All meetings win commence at 8 p.m. Meetings of Petone Citizens’ ticket candidates for local elections will be held a* Korokoro School tonight at 8 P.m.