COMING ELECTIONS. MR. J. GODBER'S CANDIDATURE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 87, 13 April 1911, Page 2

COMING ELECTIONS. MR. J. GODBER'S CANDIDATURE.

In support of his candidature for a seat on the City Council, Mr. J. Godber addressed a small meeting of the electors at Melbourne House, Cuba-street, lasb night. Mr. John Hutcheeon occupied the chair. Mr. Godber, in the course of his address, said he did not apologise for coming forward in this contest. Yesterday was the 48th anniversary of his arrival in the city, and he had had eight years' practical experience of civic affaire in the city, besides having gained a knowledge of civic affairs in other countries. On the whole he thought the affairs of the council during the past year had been very economically administered, and if returned he- 'should oppose any increase of rates,' which ho regarded as altogether unnecessary. At the same time he did not anticipate, and he did jnot know that he would agree to, a reduction of rates. If the finances of the corporation admitted, they should go on improving the condition of the roads, both in the city and the suburbs. Before he left the council he advocated the appointment of an internal auditor. That reform had beeni carried out, with admirable results, but a_t the same time he did hope that some simpler form of balance-sheet would be 1 devised. Ag to the tramways, ho said that without division the council decided that it would own its own trams. He had no recollection of £40,000 having been offered to the council for the trams, but he ( had a recollection of very great inducements having been- offered to some councillors to favour the handing over of the trams to a. syndicate. (Applause.) He thought the trams should be run on business lines, and he regretted that the outgoing council had not set up a committee to see where the leakage was. And even if the council had accepted £40,000 a year from a syndicate for running the trams, where would that money have come from? Out of the pockets of the people least able to bear it. If he was a member of the council he would take steps to see that the trams were run on a business-liko basis. For inetanee-, he was quite agreeable to shortening the road to Karori, but the Karori people must bear their share of the burden. Also, he was in favour of extending the Constable-street tram to Kilbirnie. As to the tramway hands, he would like to see justice done to them, but to his mind justice would neyar be done while the efficient and inefficient, the worker and the waster, were classed together. (Applause.) As to electric lighting, he wanted to know how tho council could supply the hospital at 3d per unit while it paid 3^d for the arc street lights, and 4d for other street lights. Ho was in favour of establishing hot eeawater baths, and that tho public baths should be kept open on Sundays and holidays until at lmst midrfaj. Further, he would like to make a by-law under which it should be necessary for every house erected to have a bathroom. (Hear, hear.) In regard to the milk question, he urged that should strive for a complete scheme of inspection co as to ensure the purity of the milk supplied to the public. To do that it would be necessary to raise a loan. He was in favour of the establishment of a fish market, hut he was not sure about the other kind of market. In any case, he would approach the subject with an open mind. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate.