CIVIC COMPARISONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 644, 22 April 1929, Page 11

CIVIC COMPARISONS

MR. VAILE’S WORLD OBSERVATIONS REPLY TO CRITICiSM Half an hour at the address at the : Leys Institute on Saturday evening by Mr. H. E. Vaile. candidate for the Mayoralty, was devoted to an instructive review of his personal investigations into community conditions in countries throughout the world. Mr. Vaile made interesting comparisons of the conditions elsewhere with those existing in Auckland for the benefit of an enthusiastic audience. He spoke on housing, reading, traffic and sewerage problems in such places as Australia, the United Statey, Great Britain, the Far East and the Continent. Further, Mr. Valle's replies to his critics were well received by the audience. “I have avoided criticising my opponents,” the candidate said, “but the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, has apparently fallen into ap error, which, no doubt, he will be glad to correct. Referring to my statement that Anzac Avenue sections were sold too cheaply, he seems to have said that I desired the Civic Centre leases let at rentals which were too low. Mr. Baildon was not, however, in the Mayoral chair when the sections were sold and I should like to remind him that, during the discussion regarding Civic Centre rents and their fixation, I was in India. “In point of fact, the City Council sought the advice of three independent valuers and took the average, but not one section attracted a tenant. Upon my return, I succeeded in getting the leasing conditions suitably modified, with the result that all the allotments, except one, are satisfactorily let.” ENGINEERING WORKS Mr. Vaile said he would wish tlio new city engineer to make first a report on all existing engineering works and then deal with suggestions concerning traffic outlets. “J. do not wish these things to be discussed in public,” Mr. Vaile said, “because it gives speculators a chance to increase land prices.” The experience Mr. Vaile has had overseas and his knowledge of outside conditions compared with those existing in Auckland were praised by Mr. F. Ambler, who thought that such knowledge would be of great advantage to the city. The candidate, he said, had outstanding business ability, and, as former chairman and now trustee of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, he had done invaluable work for the blind in the Dominion. Largely through the candidate's initiative was due the completion of the finest war memorial in New Zealand. When, on tlie motion of Mr. C. Nixon, seconded by Mr. J. R. Knight, the candidate was accorded a vote of confidence, there were only two dis sentients.