MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20491, 6 May 1938, Page 9

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

REVISION OF CONTROL LABOUR CANDIDATES' OBJECTS PRESENT METHODS CRITICISED The policy of the Labour ticket for the coming: Hamilton municipal elections was fully expounded in the Frankton Town Hall last evening, when the Labour cand.dates addressed an enthusiastic meeting of about 300 people. Many phases of municipal affairs were dealt with by the speakers, who were accorded an attentive hearing. The president of the Hamilton Labour Representation Committee, Mr A. Grant, presided. Mr C. LafTerty, celebrating his twenty-first anniversary in municipal affairs, claimed that he was Justified in saying that he was as worthy a candidate as any of the Citizens’ Association's nominees. During his services for the Borough of Hamilton he had saved the ratepayers £115.000 in fighting the proposal to instal a steam power plant some years ago. and in being largely instrumental in having a reduction made in the estimate of costs for the removal of Garden Place mi. National Health Scheme Praised a After referring to his nomination as a candidate for the Waikato Hospital Board. Mr Lafferty made reference to the national social service proposals of the Government. “It will be a fine benefit for the old people,” he said, “ to have free medical attention, free hospital service and free maternity service. The latter will be of Immense benefit to the working man. Therefore, I think the scheme is an excellent one. ”1 do not think there is anything in Dr. Jamieson's criticism of the proposals. The man who contributes to the fund should be Justified in receiving equal services with others." Mr Lafferty said he would, if elected to the Hospital Board, do all he could for those who might be stricken with illness- The speaker considered that the Waikato was fortunate In having the services of such a capable medical officer as Dr. M. M. Hockin as medical Frankton Pays Its Own Way Continuing, the speaker criticised the procedure of the council meetings, stating that much of the business was not placed openly before all the members. A number of papers were brought Into the council chamber and, having been dealt with by special committees, were merely passed at the fortnightly meetings. Mr Lafferty had often protested against this procedure. blit he had been In the minority and his protests had not been heeded. After dealing with the expenditure of rate money in Frankton, the speaker stated that the general opinion in the comjcil seemed to be that Frankton was getting more than its share. This was not so as Frankton was paying its own way and there were several works which should be carried out. A detailed statement of the expenditure of the profits from the electricity account was read by the speaker. Big Electricity Profits "In the year ending March 31, 1935, the council took from electricity profits £11,132 for kerblng and channelling streets, relief of rates and other items," said Mr LafTerty. "They then had a balance of £12,643, all of which represented profits extorted from the consumers. In the following year the council drew* £12,664 and there remained a balance of £7603During the 1936-37 year £14,491 was drawn from the electricity account, which then had a balance £6227. The total gross profit of the electricity department over the last three years, therefore, has been £85,667." The speaker remarked that there were only 5052 consumers in the borough and there were 1500 houses In Frankton. Mr Lafferty continued by stating that the electricity and light charges shot lid be all on the one grading. A consumer had td use at least 20 units before any concession was granted. The speaker's opinion was that the minimum at which the concession should be set was five units, as the average householder did not use more than that amount. “Frankton Starved" “Franktoft has been starved out of practically everything,” stated Mr Lafferty, "and 1 am sure it has been because the people there voted against the Garden Place Hill proposal. For that they are to suffer and the only way to get over that state of affairs is to elect men who will look after the people’s interests. The other men should be given a holiday." Further criticism of the manner in which rate money was spent was voiced by Mr Lafferty, who said that the money should be evenly spread over the whole borough.

In comparing rating valuations in Hamilton and Frankton Mr Lafferty considered that it was unjust that £l5O rates were paid each year for the Winter Show property, owned by the Borough Gouncil, while £275 was paid for the Frankton Town Hall. The former was rated at s» 4d a square foot and the Frankton property at £4 3s id a square foot. Beautifying Society’s Position While acknowledging that the Beautifying Society had undertaken wonderful work for Hamilton, Mr Lafferty was of the opinion that the Borough Council should absorb the society as with plant and staff available", the work could be completed Ejore economically. The speaker considered that members of the society could be absorbed as a special advisory committee. A similar position related to the Domain Board. In an outline of tiie Garden Place removal scheme, Mr Lafferty made reference to the property owners who would sell property to enable the scheme to be completed, several of whom, a 3 members of the council, were referred to by tlie speaker as “interested parties." Mr Lafferty. in conclusion, claimed to prove that Mr J. K. Tidd had once pledged his support to the preservation of the hill, whereas to-day he supported the removal. It was the speaker's contention that Mr Tidd had promised to pay £SO to any institution If Mr Lafferty * could prove such a change of policy. "I think I have proved rny assertions," said Mr Lafferty. “If

Mr Tidd will honour his promise to Hospital Board to benefit from the £50." Qualifications Questioned "It has come back to me that my qualifications and those of my colleagues as candidates at the coming municipal election have been questioned." said Mr W. J. Waters, in opening bis remarks. "As a matter 8 the 26 years 1 have ver seen the qualifications of a municipal candidate questioned. Perhaps it has occurred on this occasion because they are Labour candidates. Since I

was 18 years old I have been a building contractor, and in that capacity I have had to estimate for all classes of work, and I have had to see that it was well done. I think that no one is more capable of judging the cost of borough work than an efficient builder." From a democratic viewpoint, continued Mr Waters, the Beautifying Society and the Domain Board should be under the control of the Borough Council. The people had to pay for the work carried out by those bodies, but they did not have a say in the election of the personnel on the expenditure of the money. Rugby Park Deal An instance of the incidents which proved that the two bodies should be controlled by the Borough Council was seen In the history of Rugby Park. At one time that area was a wilderness of gorse and blackberry and the Hamilton Rugby Union entered into an agreement whereby if it cleared tlief land, it would have the use of the area. It 6pent £SO on that work, but did not have anything in writing, and when the Domain Board chairman of that time, the late Mr Swarbrick, died and his place was filled by another man. the union was informed that it had to pay an annual rental. That would never have happened if the matter had been under the control of the Borough Council. Previous Candidature “I stood for the council in 1919, and at that time I was impelled in my decision by the obviously unnecessary expenditure that was being incurred by the manner in which the Borough Council of the day carried out certain works," continued the speaker. "The nucleus of that council was the same as it is to-day, and those who are not the same are very similar in their methods of doing the borough work. Had the councillors been practical men the useless works that have been seen in Hamilton would never have taken place. “Maeroa and Frankton are the most heavily rated areas of the borough and they are also the most neglected. Whitfora is also neglected, but lately we have seen a certain amount of work being done- However, we always see the same thing just before an election." In conclusion the speaker stated that if the Labour candidates were returned the will of the electors would be observed. The candidates would do all that they had promised in their policy addresses and the people of 1 lie town could rely on them to do what they thought best for the town. Frankton Station In answer to critics v*o contended that the Labour candidatos were without qualifications, Mr G. Duncan reminded the audience that the same was said of Richard Seddon before he became Premier of New Zealand. Mr Duncan considered that a new Frankton station was necessary. Mr C. Wright advocated a revision of the gas and electricity charges in the borough and Mr F. Williams, another Labour party candidate for the council, also spoke. Mr R. J. Brooks, who outlined his experience in medical work since 1914, said that the aims of his party with regard to the Waikato Hospital Board, for which he was standing, were to provide better maternity services, better conditions for the hospital staff a supply of pure milk to the patients, and proper clinic treatment for disease.

Mrs I. R. A. Collins, who will contest the Waipa County seat of the Waikato Hospital Board, also spoke. Mayoral Candidate In the opinion of Mr C. Croall, the Labour candidate for the Mayoralty, the tone of the Citizens’ Association’s objections to the formation of a ticket by the Labour Party was indicative that the association was representative of the National Party, and was, therefore an enemy of the present Government. In answer to the assertions that the Labour candidates had had no previous experience in municipal affairs Mr Croall said that they had all served on committees of the Labour Party, which was one of the biggest organisations at present operating in New Zealand. Labour administration had become noted for wise and humane methods, which were the envy of the world. If tf:c full benefits of the Labour legislation were to be reaped by the community sympathetic Labour interests should control the municipalities. Briefly expounding the party’s platform as enunciated by the other speakers. Mr Croall advocated a more adequate and more hygienic water supply. Throughout its policy the Labour ticket would devote major consideration to the health of the community. The speaker also considered that all business at the Borough Council should be open to the public and that meetings should be held at a time when it would be most convenient for citizens to attend. In conclusion the speaker asked the electors to give the Labour ticket their full support at the poll next week. After a number of questions had been answered a resolution was passed endorsing the policy of the candidates and wishing them success at the election. A \ote of thanks to the chair was also passed.