A PUBLIC MEETING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 21 September 1916, Page 3

A PUBLIC MEETING.

HELENSVILLE TOWN BOARD CANDIDATES SPEAK.

On "Monday evening last the intending candidates for the Helensville Town Board election explained their views to an enthusiastic audience, in the Star Theatre.

Mr I. McLeod occupied the chair, and explained the business of the meeting, and said that the more questions asked the better.

Mr Field was the first to speak, and apologised for Mr Spinley's unavoidable absence. He said Mr Bradly was unable by law to contest a seat on the Board.as he was in the employ of jthe local body as wharfinger. The speaker went on to say that two years ago he was returned at the head of the poll, and then appointed chairman.. Two years ago there were a- great many things that wanted adjusting. He referred to the borrowing of money without establishing a sinking fund, They also found the water supply in. a filthy state, and with a bad smell, on account of the rotten vegetation lying about the dam. They had since erected a small dam higher up and cleaned out the reservoir below, and it will cost about £250 before the job is finished, which money is to be found out of revenue Another muddle was in connection with the control of the work of building the new ferro-concrete bridge, which was in the hands of the Waitemata County Council, intstead of the Helensville Town Board, the County offices being in Auckland —too far away. They (the old Board) had a great deal of up-hill work to do on taking over office. There was the drainage of Awaroa Road, which cost a heavy sum in comparison to the revenue. When we took over office there were a lot of accounts which they knew nothing about and had to find the money to pay. They had done the best they could with the small amount at their disposal.

Mr A. Becroft said he had not much to say, but would like to state that he thought the previous Board should not be blamed for mis-administration. It should be blamed on to the Board before that period. With regard to permanent work on the roads, they used to do some improvements every year, but the severe cutting-up by carting while the water and sewerage scheme was being carried out, had greatly damaged the- roads.

Mr Jas. Stewart said he though the past should be buried. He did not want the charge of dirty water in the pipes to be blamed to him during his term of office. He was strongly in favour of having the town lit up. It did not matter whether it was by gas or electricity. In the past he had done a lot of work for the good of the community. He was strongly in favour of a recreation ground in the vicinity, the land to be obtained either by public subscriptions, or through the Board.

Mr Lambert said permanent works, such as water and drainage, were very necessary undertakings. Since the new tanks had been utilised, he did not think there were any complaints about ; dirty water, and he thought it was the best work the Board had undertaken. They had extended the watar supply in Fourth Avenue and also along Awaroa Road. He was glad to inform his hearers that they were now on a square footing. They had also made a lot of improvements at the Springs baths during his term of office, and he thought he had done his work faithfully and conscientiously.

Mr Elliott said the £5 10s annual" revenue from the water supply on the Awaroa Road was good for an ex-, penditure of about £15. What work had been done is now finished with. Let us look ahead for improvements. He was sorry to hear there was so much friction between the two ends of the township. The lighting question was the'present difficulty. We have to depend on a company to instal a lighting system. He did not think the Town Board should be saddled with tree-planting-. They all knew the rates were heavy, and they, should endeavour to keep witnin their means. It should be the aim of the new Town Board to keep the expenditure within reason. The town had now reached that stage when the drainage system should be extended. H_e' agreed that Helensville should he turned into a Borough. L.et th.em reduce the rates and then let the gut-districts cqrn.e in. Voice: J have not heard a.s regards the kind of lighting required, fqr th,e tqwn Are you a ratepayer ? You bet I an}. The Chairman said tfyat all the old members, had s,poken of the work done in the past, but no one expressed views in regard to future improvements. Mr ffield said that the town footpaths should be ker.bed and channeled properly. Voice : What about the dog tax ? ' Continuing, Mr Field said that with regard to lighting, if the gas company did not accept the option, the Bpard. would,,have to go, in, Uy:.\gpmp Qther system. Voice : Aje you in favour oi exten.sv>A of billiard licenses to l\ o/ciaoj^ ? Mr Meld < Jfa \ a,.m, vpi, in, favour of such E*n extension, whjch is not recommended, by the pqlice, Mr L,amb,ert. saic^ tfy^ to work jn f^ M^ bfi. was, always in. &VW o| a, RermaneAt concrete wate*chan,eltmg in, the tq lW ..n, JJ<j bought if suitable trees, § m \(£ he Brocured, he would he iiA fovaiu-- of planting same. Ej;e vtcmtt be w favour of extending the billiard saloon license from 10 p.m. to U p.m., if the people were in favour of it. If the police and publio are against the extension, then it would not be right for him to be in favour of same. '

_Mr J. Stewart: Wit&. VPg»itf, if- t^e future, be w»« h K fcA^u-. of the district TUrii^ea i-nvV a Borough. With

regard to the lighting question, before taking this on they should have the proposition thrown open for competition; The street channelling could be vastly improved, and he favoured treeplanting. Mr H. Graham said that it was new blood now speaking. He was strongly in favour of street lighting, tree planting and also a Chamber of Commerce, which was sadly needed. With regard to the Hot Springs—the Board had allowed private enterprise to come in and take away a large amount of revenue —they could have managed better. He did not mean to crawl for votes, but if elected would do his best for the ratepayers. Mr C. Sandin: Are you in favour of abolishing the taxing of motor cars coming into the town from Auckland ? Yes, certainly. Motor cars should be encouraged, because of visitors to the. Springs, who would necessarily increase. Mr Aitkenhead said that mention had been made by some people that he did not live in the Helensville township. He could assure them that what interested the town interested him,and in the near future he expected to live among them. He would do his best to bring Parakai into the Helensville district and form the whole into a Borough. A footpath is wanted, to the Springs. With regard to. raising of rates from 3 l-16d in the pound, it all depended / whether it was wisely managed or not. Mr Thompson said he had lived in the district for the past 37 years, and understood its requirements. He was strongly in favour of street lighting, tree planting and permanent chanelling. If elected he would do his best for the comm unity, but was not in favour of raising the rates. On principle, he was not in favour of 11 o'clock license for billiard saloons, but he would be in favour of lifting the tax off motor cars coming into the district. Mr Field stated that Mr Spinley was not in favour of an 11 o'clock license for billiard saloons. A vote of thanks to the chair ended the meeting.