The Ashburton Gurardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1891. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 2470, 25 September 1891, Page 2

The Ashburton Gurardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1891. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

The result of the Borough Council election shows strikingly how little interest is taken at present in municipal matters. There is no difficulty iv finding the re isou ; the Council kis •committed-.itself to a policy of rigid economy until its overdraft is wiped oft"; there is thus no money to spend, and the usual attraction of a seat in the Council, to help in spend- j ing the money, is absent. Still many matters of great importance will have to be dealt with by the Council before ' long. The winter has passed without having replenished the dry wells, and I the question of a regular water supply will have to be faced. The extension of the Borough will have to be considered; as, whatever might be the opinionsof the speakers at the recent public meeting, a large proportion of the residents of the suburbs are anxious to participate in the benefits to be gained by amalgamation with the Borough. The working of the general Board of Health for the Borough and suburbs has yet to be arranged, and this should not be delayed fof a moment. There is some difficulty as to the basis on which the cost of this Board shall be raised, the Borough contending for the population and the suburbs for the rateable value basis. We might suggest a compromise, namely, that the rateable value be the basis, excluding from the calculation the value of buildings in which nobody lives, aiid which do not come under the Factories Act. This, we think would be an equitable arrangement. There is also the question before the Council of completing the asphalting of the footpaths and concreting the channels of the Borough —necessary works of which some of the principal streets sire still destitute. These and many minor matters should be of sufficient importance to induce at least the requisite number of those who are interested in the well-being aiid good government of the Borough to :

seek seat on the Council. It may be said that there were four candidates yesterday for the two seats, but it is no secret thai Messrs Thomas and feealy had no desire to re-enter the Council at present, and only came forward as there was an insufficiency of candidates at the regular election. Their apathy has led to one of them being defeated. Mr Scaly has been replaced by a useful man in Mr H. M. Jones, who has given considerable attention to municipal matters, and will be a thoroughly independent Councillor—and by this we do not wish to imply that the other Councillors are not independent, but that Cr. Jones knows enough of thb duties of a councillor to have his own opinions on matters that come under discussion. Mr Scaly has done good service, and we regret his absence from the Council. Mr Thomas is an excellent member of any body, and we welcome him back to the place lie occupied so long and so worthily.