MAYORAL CAMPAIGN.

Shannon News, 17 April 1925, Page 3

MAYORAL CAMPAIGN.

I MR A. E, HYDE ADDRESSES ELECTORS. SOME CANDID CRITICISM. The Mayoral campaign so far as onannon is concerned, was advanced another stage last evening, when Mr A. E. Hyde, who is. apposing the, present Mayor (Gr. Murdoch) for the Mayoralty of Shannon, addressed' a gathering of electors ait the Maoriland Theatre, and despite the boisterous state of the weather there was a good attendance, who gave the speaker a splendid hearing. Mir T\ E. Thwaites presided.

The chairman, in introducing Mr Hyde, said „ that he was'well-known to them all and: any remarks by him were unnecessary. He said as a councillor he had been the one live wire on the Council, his work having been well and truly dqne and had his counsel been listened to and taken advantage of, the state of our munieioal affairs wouild hava been muen better to-day. It liad been said tnat it was a pity that he was contesting the Mayoralty as if defeated his services would be lost, 'but he would state that Mr Hyde had in any case decided that he would n'Pt contest a seat on the Council. But he would tell them a secret and that was "that Mr Hyde wjiß not. (Applause). " SPECULATORS RETARD PROGRESS In opening his remarks, Mr Hyde said that to realise the position tnat Shannon was in to-day and the reason for it, it was necessary to go back some thirty years to the sale of the Shannon township sections by the Manawatu" Railway Company. * At that time Shannon was considered to have, great prospects; in fact it was looked upon as. the place that would be most important between Longbuan and Wellington, and f°r this reason.It was the nearest railway to the port of FOxton ana around it was some of the finest land in the world, and allthough some of it was subject to floods it was realised even then tliai this could be remedied. The Manager of the Railway. Company took up lana here and .built a fine home. So that when the sale -took place, all the best business and residential sections were bought up—not, .by settlers or business men, hut by speculators and they clung to them waiting for a hig profit. They held the best sites so tight that they defeated their own object •and little by little business was forced to other centres, with the result that until abouit twelve years ago the businesses of Shannon could be counted on the fingers. From the present Council Chambers to Mr Franks' Garage was an open paddock. Alter u*e death, of the owner this was sold and to-day. it is the site of twenty business premises. HOUSES FOR THE PEOPLE.

The position was the same regarding dwellings and although there was plenty of \york in shannon, there were no houses for the/' people, for those able to build would not do so, except for themselves. At this time there were plenty of empty houses in other towns, proving that Shannon had the opportunity but would not avail itself of it. "Without housing accommodaltion you /mtust force the people out," declared the Candidate. "The position is much the same today. We have done a little but--noth-ing like what we should have done. Four years ago I advocated taking some of the money that the Government was offering for the purpose of building Workers' dwelling, and as many of you will remember was subjected to severe criticism. However, we borrowed £4500 and built six' 'homes-. The scheme was so successful that two" years later, when 1 came before you, the position was reversed and both Mayor and councillors were very complimentary. Now, although to build homes for the people was not costing the ratepayers one penny and in fact there was no possibility of doing so, the Mayor declined to go further, although the Government were offering money at 4J per cent. Waipukurau built 28 houses under tins scheme and Shannon could have done the same. RATES HIGH ENOUGH. "It has been said of me that I would make the rates that high that you could not hold property in the Borough. That is not correct. I agree that our rates are quite high enough and every scheme that 1 have brought forward has been self-supporting and would help our town and people at no cost to the ratepayer's. (Applause). MUNICIPAL BUILDING SCHEME BLOCKED. '" "Our library and nfunicipal buildings are worm-eaten and decayed beyond repair, apart from being an eyesore and disgrace to the town. On September 30th, 1984, I moved that a committee be set up to go into the matter of a new building and report at the next Council meeting a fortnight later. . The Mayor was chairman of that committee. I interviewed architects in Palmerston North and several of them were prepared to draw Plans and prepare specifications and if the loan was not earned to make no charge. One local firm was prepared to take a five years' lease of offices in the .building and this together with other rentals would have feft us with a new and up-to-date librarv and reading room, a residence for the caretaker, a Council room and offices and a building to he proud of at no cost to the ratepayers. Five weeks passed and Mr Murdoch d < not call the'meeting, for you know to carry a thing in the Council is one iSh* »nd to "get It done is another. Finally although Mr Murdoch was Salman. I called the meeting: mysolf and that committee was unain■mlUv in favour of the new fcuiWine When the matter was placed before the Council, Mr .Murdoch turned round and vqted against it and councillors who had not attended a meeting for months came along to vote it vou still have the old Building crumbling away. (Laughter).

WASTING THE: RATES. "It is not a question of more rates that 1s going tq improve Shannon, hut how we spend the rates we have. \ large proportion of our general raTe has in flie past been wasted. V° T ™: stance in 1918, the Council required the Bervtlccfl of an engineer to taKe

sweet levels, etc., and similar work, iney employed, an Engineer at a salary oi £a;i lOs pur year and expenses, wc completed Uie work, but the Council have retained his services ever since, xiiati is six years at £52 10s expenses, and have had nothing lor mm to do. Can you imagine any private firm employing a man and nuving no work lor. him? The money tiius wasted would have gone a long way towards making good footpaths. Tins' fee was quite apart from the payments, for the housing scheme auu waier works, and was really money wasted. I have always protestou against it and was. only successful in ending it on the 31st of last March. Aow, if we require an engineer wc can employ one when we have- the work for him. PERMANENT ROADS.

"The Mayor has told you that he was iii favour of raising a. loan lor street improvements, lie also told you that two years ago and lias been mocking , e very proposal ever since, in June oi 1923 1 advocated street improvements of a permanent nature not by raising a loan for there is nu necessity for it, if we use the money we have in a sensible manner. Again in April of 1924 1 gave notice of motion that we proceed forthwith' with permanent street improvements .before our money was wasted. This was carried 'Unanimously at the next meeting but nothing was done. Mr Murdocn will agree with lots of things that councillors bring forward, hut takes good care that they are not earned out.

"Few citizens realise how. much money is wasted on our streets each year. In the year just past we have spent £965 15s lOd on road maintenance, made up a.s follows: £BB-2; 18s 4d for royalty on gravel, wages, horsefeed, tools, shoeing, etc., and £B2 17s fid for the Engineer to watch us do it. Now if you walk along the footpaths, take a shovel and dig off the grass, docks and thistles, you will find some of the gravel. Most of the oalancq has been thrown off the main load intq the gutters by passing motors. It is quite clear that putting gravel on our paths is so much waste. Therefore in July, 1923, 1 strongly supported, the road committee when they suggested putting down concrete stabs for footways. They could be moved and replaced as desired for water or wilier connections and once made woul.u be there for all tunc, but like others, this matter was shelved. With the money w.e have the Council could in a few years have footways second to none and maintenance would be i educed to a minimum.

"Roads are another matter and H has been proved repeatedly that our present roads are not only unable to stand present day traffic but are very costly. It is safe to say .that of the £965 spent on roads, at least £3OO oi U has gone on the upkeep of the main road through the borough. That is, from the old racecourse to the bridge near Mr Fitzgerald's hioiuse, a distance of about 1| miles. This is really part of the Main Highway and the Highway Board have power to pay fat- half the work of construction and one-third of/ tlie cost of maintenance. In December, 1923, I proposed that we get in touch with the BlQard and endeavour to yet their financial aid for tar-sealing this main road. We received several letters from them, one stating that if we took a tally oi tlie traffic passing over the road tliey would favourably consider it. That was months, ago, but as usual it was shelved.

"Now look at the position from a financial point of view. It is costing us at present about £3OO per year to,maintain the road and we have pot holes and loose metal to stumble over. Against that tar sealing or bitfunien roads cost from £I2OO to £2OOO - per mile tioi put down and little or nothing for maintenance for the first ten years. Presuming our 1£ miles of road cost £2OOO, this would allow for a first class road. The highway board would pay half the cost, thus ■leaving us to find £IOOO. TRs at 7 per cent, interest and sinking fund would cost £7O per year as against £2OO at present. The position in a nutshell is; Which is miost economical; our present rough road ait £3OO per year, or a good tar-sealed one a,t £7O. Which will you have? THE SHARON BRIDGE,

Mr Murdoch lias told you • tha,t .ne warned the local bodies and the Minister of Public Works that the bridge over the Manawatu river would be washed away, but when tlie 'bridge actually went he did nothing to get communication restored. Had the moved promptly we would have had the span restored Us a temporary measure at anyrate instead of the costly punt now -in use. Crs. Beard, Murray and. mvself attended a meet ing of settlers at Moutoa at which Mr Linklater was present, and the outcome was that that gentleman and myself together with representatives from the Manawatu County, waited the chairman of the Highway Board in Wellington and asked that he urge the necessity of a temporary span. A meeting of local foodies was then held in Shannon, and on account of the punt being almost completed, our plan to restore the span was lost and a decision arrived at to build a new bridge at a cost of £20,000 to. be completed in about three years ' This, like many other things. is being left to take its own tftne, and if not pushed we shall not have the bridge within ten years. I consider that the administration of our Bo*'eugh affairs has been dilatory and careless and R is now lor the -electors to choose between haphazard methods ■i.nd s'vm.i business Hues. (Applause).

Ql 'ESTIONS. Mr Murdoch, referring to the building scheme asked the candidate if he knew that' after the £4500 loan had been used the scheme was not gone rvn with owing to the Government having brought riown a gcheme where bv they found 95 per cent, of the cost of buiiding? Mr Hyde, replying, said the Government built on their own valuation, which is about 75 per cent, on builder's price. There was a whole lot of paraphernalia to go through and it generally took about 6 m 12 months to get the money. That was 1 the great, trouble. But by local bodies borrowing in a lump sum and erecting the

houses, it simplified matters for the people. Mr Murdoch contended the raising of money by public bodies fur such purposes was stopped. Mr Hyde said it had not been stopped and quoted a local body wine" had raised money .recently. Mr King: Do. you call yourself a progressive person when you tie up business premises and the Druids' Hall.

Mr Hyde replied tlie hall was not tied uip and was free to anybody at a cheaper rent than previously, and in regard to leasing shops it was a purely business proposition. Mr Murdoch asked which of the three schemes in connection with tlie Manawatu bridge he had voted tor. Mr Hyde said the Engineers had iavoured No. 3 scheme of removing Uridge lip the stream, but Hiis wmship had pitted' his knowledge against theirs. Mr Murdoch: That was why the Highway Board had opposed the span on the portion of the bridge washed away. A questioner asked if it was a lact that Mr Hyde had voted in favour of the £2 10s being charged for connections.

' Mr Hyde said he was not in favour and opposed it, hut Mr Murdoch, although he said at his meeting he opposed it, moved the resolution. M,r Murdoch denied this, but Mr Hyde showed that he moved the motion on November 25th, 1924. Do you favour the £lO deposit being made for lease of Borough house in Stout Street, was asked by one of tlie audience.

To this Mr. Hyde said he did not. As the money was costing per cent. and the return was 10 per cent, it was not more than -a private individual would ask. Mr Murdoch said how would you get your tenant for the house. Mr Hyde said he would select them and would deal with the matter the same as if it was his own. Mr Roberts wanted to know what power the Mayor had? It seemed to him he was a little King. Is Jt that the councillors are blind or indi invent or short of knowledge, us to what has been going on in -regard to IP on. I municipal affairs, and he asked Mr Hyde if he was elected did. he think he would have the power or personality to move an .indifferent council? Mr Hyde said that remained to he seen. There were many little things left 'to a Mayor to attend to. Mr Murdoch asked what he had left undone. Mr Hyde said seven resolutions had been, passed before the work of keying the little plot in Plimmer Terrace j had been carried out and this had ! become a joke, nne of the difficulties was to get things carried out alter being passed. They were either lott (o the Mayor or Engineer, who should insist that thev are carried out. Mr Ashwin: Tf the Mayor is responsible what are the councillors doing. Mr Hyde said councillors very often do not have the time to give to every detail, but his experience had been that when any of the councillors undertook to do" a job 4t was done, but in mnny matters the Mayor said "Leave 'it to me," with the result, thai it was never done. After a few minor questions had been answered a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Hyde was earned by acclamation, on the motion of Mr Hansmann, seconded by Mr COyle. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.