Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JULY 7, 1919. COUNTY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9651, 7 July 1919, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JULY 7, 1919. COUNTY COUNCIL.

The members of the Ashburton County Council on Friday, had a busy day with various questions to discuss and problems to settle. It is to be regretted that some Councillors showed too well their annoyance at the unexpected alteration in the peace celebration arrangements. The Dominion authorities cannot justly be blamed, and anxiety over consignments of fruit was^^not sufficient evidence warranting a charge of "fooling the public." Such statements., . harmless enough perhaps in intention, dp not add to the reputation and dignity of an important local body, and they have the effect of inducing those in other centres to misunderstand the attitude of the Council, and to pay less attention to its requests generally, than its importance deserves. It would have kn wider, we think/ Had the County Council striven to encourage district enthusiasm for the peace celebrations, especially as' the recent developments will add to the task of the various committees. Not having the power, apparently, to subsidise an auxiliary mail /'service, the Council could do no more than protest at the inconvenience caused to rural dwellers through the sudden restrictions 0f.... the train services. There are obvious reasons why the Postal Department should hesitate' to permit the mails to be handled m.a semihaphazard manner, but it is a clear duty of the Department to make official arrangements, minimising the loss to country people through delay in delivering and collection of mails.! It is in keeping with the "official mind," that because one' Department confesses itself unable ir unwilling to study public] welfare, another Department shculd make this an exouse to adopt;a similar go-slow policy. Mr Maksey's article on New Zealancfs conditions, published in tht London "Financier," and cable! here at considerable expense aril with no delay, (meanwhile, important business and private ! messages are. enduring ' lengthy; delays) reads rather amusing, yhen the present-day handicaps !of. New Zealand people are 'considered v The remainder of the bjsiness at the Council's meeting telated to district affairs, and few will quarrel over most of the decisions made. The wisd>m of the Council taking over t|e control of the Ashburtbn Saty'ards can be proved by future rehlts only; if rumour is correct, the .Saleyards Company has lot found these yards super-rernuieratiye.