MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 122, 27 April 1925, Page 11

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

ADDRESSES AT HOKOWHITU. EIGHT CANDIDATES SPEAK. The residents of Hokowliitu displayed distinct interest in roplying to the invitation of the Ratepayers’ Association to attend a meeting on Friday ovening to hear several of tho candidates at the forthcoming municipal elections present their platform planks, tho hall being comfortably filled, which wus in direct contrast to the experience in. some of tho more populous areas whero addresses havo been given. Mr A. W. Sutton, who. ccupied tho chair, extended a welcome to tho visitors and took the opportunity to explain that tho meeting had been ’called to enable the residents to hear the views of candidates at the forthcoming elections. The attendance was indeed gratifying and, while touching on the subject, ho wished to take strong exception to the report contained in a morning paper of a recent meeting of tho association. Like all societies, difficulty had been experienced on occasions in obtaining good attendances, and in drawing up the constitution of the association an error had been made in that the number required to constitute a quorum, ten, had been placed too high. There were other bodies with much larger memberships which had similnr difficulty, tho speaker quoting ono with a membership of 1000; yet it had, lie added, found it necessary to fix its quorum at 15. Again, there was the local Chamber of Commerce, which found difficulty frequently in getting an attendance of four per cent, of its membership; yet at the meeting in question 23 per cent, of the membership of the association had attended. It had further been totally incorerct to state that interest in the association was waning, for tho interest taken in the acivities of the assoi ciation extended far beyond tho boundary of Hokowliitu. A FORMER MAYOR. The chairman then called upon Mr R. Edwards who, lie explained, had been a former councillor and mayor, to address the gathering. In his opening remarks Mr Edwards mentioned the apathy of ratepayers in municipal affairs and ho complimented the Ilokowhitu residents on their activities. Proceeding, the speaker deprecated the selection of “tickets” in the elections which was, ho maintained, but a return to old tactics whereby the engineering of square pegs into round holes was mado possible. Ho had ascertained that there were 5172 ratepayers on the roll and at an estimate 4000 of such were house property owners. Yet they had raised in loans ±1825,000, entailing the payment of £57,406 in interest per annum, in the payment of which £20,000 was taken out of revenue, and the speaker maintained that a special rate should bo struck to meet this sum. It had been said that tliis was the lowest rated borough in New Zealand but the speaker did not accept that statement for comparisons wero impossible. A NEW ASPIRANT. Mr G. 11. Trott, who followed, explained that, although resident in Palmerston North for some seven years, previously his vocation had prevented his taking a close interest in public affairs and he was no doubt probably unknown to residents at that end of tile town. lie bad originally been approached to stund for the council and ho had felt it a duty to do so. Roads were essential in the life of a community, and, equally so, drainage anil water systems. It wus, however, to be deplored that, in tho majority of the local cases, lack of foresight had been evidenced in tiie laying qpwn of these systems in catering for future requirements. Tlio speaker took exception to the Mayor’s statement that the sum of £SOOO would bo saved unnually in the collection of rubbish if householders brought their tins to tho front gate, maintaining that such an estimate was inflated.

THE LABOUR VIEW. Mr J. Fahey stated that the Labour party had a platform of 14 planks, one of ■which was economy. Those on tho retiring council had pledged themselves to economise, but they had failed to do so. The electric power schemo and the gas works were criticised at short length, the speaker maintaining that tho Power Board required re-constructing for, on the present basis of representation, Palmerston North, which would consume more power than all the outlying districts when it purchased same from tho board, had only three members, us against nine by the outer districts. Mr Pepperill stated that it was un easy matter to criticise but more difficult to present a construction policy. Much had been said by tho Mayor relative to the apathy of the residents but this, he held, had been due to the secrecy of tho council. The speaker held that the tenant, while not a direct ratepayer, hud an equal right as the owner to vote on borough lonris for he indirectly paid 'the rates. The council had lixed a minimum charge of 5s for the use of ele :trio power and his party was urging that the charge be reduced to 3s. Mr J. Ilodgens detailed his activities as a member of the council. Although returned in 1923, ho had been tile only representative of his party which had placed him in tho position of frequently not being ablo to present business-like motions for the want of a seconder. PROFESSIONAL MAN'S VIEWS. Mr A. E. Jorgenson dealt with the £20,000 road construction loan. £62,000 of the amount had been expended, stated the speaker, when tho -opinion had been arrived at that the expenditure of £2OOO was required for new plant. Such should have been discovered before the work was undertaken and which would have saved a considerable amount of tho estimated coat. The speaker criticised the council’s road policy at length and said ho could boast of some knowledge of sucli work and was now placing liis services before the ratepayers. A RESIDENT CANDIDATE. Mr D. W. Low, in ’making his initial effort of tho campaign, stated that he had been a ratepayer for 20 years. As a teacher ho had formerly devoted his time to the care of the children under his charge but he was now free to direct his efforts into other channels. Palmerston North was a town of which its residents might well be proud, and while its streets had been a bone of contention, ho hold that they could well bear comparison with any others in New Zealand. “While wo can criticise those who have been responsible for tho administration of the city in the past —they have undoubtedly made mistakes —there is nevertheless much to be proud of,’* said the speaker. In the future, ho continued, economy would be necessary and a general overhaul of tho departments should be undertaken. In regard to loans, the town was burdened with a heavy indetbedness and £300.000 would fall due in tho next seven or eight years, so that only loans for the most essential purposes should be~ raised in the future. In referring to the highways of the town, tho speaker held that the bus routes should be tar-sealed. Should he be elected, tho would go to the council with an open mind. The library had been acknowledged a success and the speaker took tho opportunity to compliment the library committee on its action in forwarding books to the schools. He had no definite programme to present, but if returned would give of his best in tho interests of the residents. WARD SYSTEM FAVOURED. In introducing himself, Mr F. W. .Hubbard, statod that, while he had originally been engaged in farming pursuits, ho had for some years been resident in Palmerston North and had taken a keen interest in public affairs. In touching on tho method of election of councillors, the speaker maintained that such should be carried

out on tire ward system, so that each ward could huvo its own representatives to look alter its interests. Under the present system too much of the committee work was conducted in the daytime which prevented a number of good men entering into public activities. In conclusion the speaker explained that his business carried him into the majority of the streets and ho would thus be able to keep in close touch with tlie affairs of the borough. If elected to the council ho would always endeavour to do his best in the interests of the ratepayers. Each candidate was subjected to numerous questions and at the conclusion the chairman took the opportunity to thank the speakers for their attendance.