ELECTION POINTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 4

ELECTION POINTS

Great Advances In the beginnings of the Waipori hydro-electric scheme, the dam was 15 feet in height, and it was thought that would be sufficient for many years. However, it was later raised to 47 feet, said the Mayor, Mr Cameron, speaking at Tainui last night. “They were sure that height would be right for all time,” the Mayor added, “ but the dam was raised a further 20 feet. In the last three or four years it has risen to 110 feet, and we have the biggest storage capacity in New Zealand.” He added that the council had plans for the future development of Waipori.

Work on the Mole “When the board started to construct the mole, it got out a certain distance and stopped the work,” said Mr F. M. McLeod, Labour Party candidate for the Otago Harbour Board, at Cargill road last night. When a gale came along, it blew a lot of the superstructure out. A lot of money had been wasted there.

Travelling Refrigerators “ Who devised the open trams which operate in our winter climate? ” asked Mr E. J. Anderson, at an election meeting last night. “It is like travelling in a refrigerator.” Primitive Facilities

“ We have spent thousands of pounds at Wakari, thousands of pounds which should have been spent years ago,” said Dr D. G. McMillan, chairman of the Otago Hospital Board, in an address at Cargill road last night in support of the Labour Party candidates for the board. “The money which should have been spent during the past 50 years had been spent by the present board.” Dr McMillan said that until' the board had effected improvements, the only facility that had existed for the sterilising of bowls and instruments at Wakari was a fish kettle which was boiled on the gas stove in the kitchen with the “ tucker! ” Sixteen Councillors

The opinion that 12 councillors were insufficient for the Dunedin City Council, with its large trading interests, and that a panel of 16 should be seriously considered, was expressed by Mr L. M. Wright, Citizens’ Association candidate for the council, during an address at Tainui last night. There were 21 on the Auckland council, 18 in Wellington and 16 in Christchurch, he said.

Labour Wants an Answer “Mr Cameron, the Citizens' Association candidate for the Mayoralty, has said that he wants a good team to work with on the council—in other words, that he can work only with a Citizens' Association council,” said Mr -E. F. Jones. Labour candidate for the city mayoralty, at Cargill road last night. Mr Jones said that the question the Labour Party wanted answered was what Mr Cameron would do if he were re-elected as Mayor and a Labour council were elected. The speaker contended that Mr Cameron would then have to resign.

The Individual's Right The plain individual had fought the war and every endeavour should be made to direct administration into his hands in time of peace, said Mr E. J. Anderson, a Citizens’ Association candidate for the City Council, last night. “ To see groups and divisions and party cleavages operating in the city of Dunedin is plain anathema to me," Mr Anderson said. “ It's nauseating.” He drew the audience's attention to a quotation from Robert Burns—“ The rank is but the guinea stamp; the man’s the gowd for a Y that.”

Trolley Bus System “ I have said before, and I say now, that 79 trolley buses will not do the work of the 81 trams we have got in Dunedin.” said Mr M. Connelly, M.L.C., Labour candidate for the City Council, at Cargill road last night. Mr Connelly added that he believed another 30 buses would be required, and if these were purchased at £7OOO each, they could see just how much the trolley bus loan had been underestimated. “ Waving the Wand ”

Speaking of the City Council’s role in housing construction at an election meeting at. Tainui last night, Mr E. J. Anderson, Citizens’ Association candidate, said that it was no use councils “ waving the magic wand and putting up houses ad lib ” in the midst of the present post-war problems oi material and labour. “ Housing by all means, but housing with care, and Scottish prudence we can expect from a Dunedin City Council,” Mr Anderson said.

Kaikorai Housing Proposals “The Kaikorai proposal does not provide for a housing settlement —it is not a housing scheme.” said Mr M. Connelly, M.L.C., Labour Party candidate for the City Council, at Cargill road last night. “It is merely authority for the subdivision of sections by the City Council to allow it to sell to the public to enable them to build their own houses. What the Labour Party proposes, is a housing scheme.”