MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. THE CITY COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 86, 12 April 1911, Page 3

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. THE CITY COUNCIL

MR. A. LEIGH HUNT AT WADESTOWN. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt, a candidate for election to the City Council, opened his campaign at Wadestown last evening. Mr. C. E. Joplin presided over an audience of about thirty. The speaker was given a very attentive hearing j throughout. i In introducing the candidate, the chairman said he had been chairman of the Otaki Road Board for some time. Mi*. Hunt expressed the opinion that the standard of local bodies in New Zealand was a very high one indeed. He wished to make it clear that he did not represent any class ; he did not believe in class representation at all. Labour men were out, but he had yet to learn that Labour had any special grievances, although they 'had their particular aspirations. Ec thought the City Council had catered for the citizens as a whole, and if elected he would hope to do the same. He stood for careful and economical management of the city's affairs. The city had passed through a bad time, and they should go slow. Still, stagnation was undesirable. The speaker was in favour of the beautification of the city. If the trams were not paying, something was radically wrong considering the enormous traffic. He was not of opinion, however, that such a concern should exist solely to pile up profit. If returned, he would look very carefully into the tramway accounts. There seemed to be a leakage somewhere, and it should be ascertained where it was and what each section was paying. The leturns should tabulate the figures for each section separately. The prime want was more cars, and it was quite evident that more would have to be built before the next summer. He entirely agreed with The Evening Post in" objecting to the dead running obtaining at present. The speaker said the Constable-street extension wonld have to be made, but he failed to see that it was a work of great urgency. If municipal markets were established, would the people patronise them? Some proof that- good use would be made of them would be fneeded. If one were established, his company (the New Zealand Farmers' Distributing Company) would probably be the first to take a stall. At any rate, the council should try the experiment of haying a fish market. Milk needed inspection, and a depot should be established near the Te Aro railway station. If a good case was made out for cutting the Basin Reserve in two for tramway purposes, it must be looked at in at reasonable way, but a particularly good case would bo required. He was in favour of the reafforestation of the town belt. The Zoo was costing a lot of money, and he thought an amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act should be obtained so that a small charge for admission could be made. Instead of pulling up the- To Aro railway, it should be extended and made to, pay. A goods shed was badly needed. He thought the council should urge the Government to make the line available to the fruit market, and avoid the tearing up of the roads by the heavy traffic. As the dock was not being proceeded with, part of this area should be secured for tho goods shed, milk depot, etc. It was inevitable that industries were going to Evans Bay, and the railway should go there too. If elected, he would strongly resist any encroachment on municipal preserves by the State. In fact, the time had come for the extension of municipal power rather than its .curtailment. Although on ,the " citizens' " ticket, he was very sympathetic to friendly societies and the working classes. The candidate explained the part he took in connection with the Crown Suits Act. It was only right that the Government ehould have to toe the mark like any employer. (Applause.) On the motion of Mr. F. Larkin, eeconded by Mr. W. Nash, tho speaker was accorded a vote of thanks.