Colin Kay

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 7, 29 September 1977, Page 2

Colin Kay

Independent Mayoral Candidate, Mr Colin Kay has hit back at claims by his opponents that he has exaggerated the problems of violence and filth in and around the city. “Whatever the present Mayor tries to do with statistics and last-minute reports, the facts are that thousands of Aucklanders will not come into their city by night because they consider it dirty and dangerous,” said Mr Kay. “The present Mayor and Mr Anderton might be happy with that but I am certainly not. Every citizen has the right of peace and tranquility in their city and as Mayor I will lead a crusade to restore that right.” Mr Kay said he had been campaigning for months on a policy of people turning to clubs, not pubs — of involving school leavers through to senior citizens in the more positive use of leisure time. “There is no question that most of Auckland’s street violence and general antisocial behaviour results from boredom and over consumption of alcohol and the sooner civic leaders, hotel owners and the general public face up to this the better,” he said.

“Auckland is a very beautiful city that is being spoiled for many by a few and it is up to the Mayor of the city —

whoever he is — to face the realities and work for the restoration of decency and civic pride. If elected Mayor of Auckland on October Bth he would * Set up an action committee

of councillors, community and business leaders, sporting and recreational groups, hotel management and the police to tackle the problem of excessive drinking and the lawlessness that follows from it. Measures he would advocate included:

* More policemen on the beat in and around the city and more intensive traffic patrols to stop old bombs using Queen Street and other main thoroughfare? as speed tracks.

* Press for smaller hotel bars and carparks and the provision of food at all times. * Call for tougher court penalties for crimes of violence, and also for licensees who serve the intoxi-

cated. * Urge and assist sporting and cultural clubs to expand their facilities and open their doors to new members — particularly those who come to the city from other parts of New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and other overseas countries. * Press parliament to pass legislation for on the spot litter fines, immediately increase and upgrade the council’s street cleaning and rubbish collections and personally launch a city wide litter prevention campaign. Mr Kay said the same positive leadership would be applied to the financial management of the city so that rates were minimised and the people had the facilities and services they needed and could afford.