The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1910. MUNICIPAL "PICKINGS."

Bush Advocate, Volume XXII, Issue 63, 16 March 1910, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1910. MUNICIPAL "PICKINGS."

CIRCULATES IN Dannevirke Mangatoro Tamaki Ngapaeruru Mangahe Weber Ti Tree Point Waione Wimbledon Herbertville Akitio Horoeka Oringi Kiritaki Maharahara Woodville Umutaoroa Matamau Piripiri Makotuku Ormondville Norsewood Takapau Whetukura Awariki Otanga Kumeroa Rangitane Raumati Rua Roa S. Norsewood Tiratu Tipapakuku Mangapuaka Mangatuna Makaretu

The prominent attention recently directed at Napier to breaches of the Act by certain members of the Borough Council, in allowing their business transactions with the municipality to exceed the 'limits required by law, has excited interest in several other quarters, and it is satisfactory to notice that there is an inclination on the part of several councils to put the municipal house in order. The question has cropped up in Wellington, and judging by a somewhat heated debate which took place at the council meeting last week, an unsatisfactory state of things was disclosed. More will be known of the subject shortly, when a return showing the. transactions of councillors and companies with the council will be submitted for examination. When we affirm! that "an unsatisfactory state of things was disclosed" Ave do not necessarily mean to imply that gross instances of veniality were revealed. It is very satisfactory to be able to state that in all the cases of alleged municipal "pickings" in NeAV Zealand that haA r e recently been referred to, nothing of a gross nature hais come to light, and it has not been shown that there has been any organised attempt to exploit the municipalities, or to develope a Avholesale system of "graft." The breaches that have occurred have been simply trivial matters, in Avhich the amounts permitted by IaAV have been exceeded through carelessness or absolute indifference. But in Wellington a somewhat different phase of the question has been developed. It is that of the relations of shareholders and directors of public and private companies, av'lio are councillors, Avith the council. It is admitted that in the Wellington Council there are men aa-'lh> occupy these positions. It Avas alleged that in one instance one councillor held ninety-ni.no hundredths of the sha.res in his company. At least three prominent members of the council Ave re inA r oh'od, and it appears to ' us that the Wellington experience supplies aiii unansAvorable argument in favor of an amendment of the Uiav '

which, will prevent shareholders and directors of companies from being l>laced in a different position in this matter to the private individual. Many business firms of recent years have been converted into private companies, and the tendency is for the number to be increased. It will be seen at once that a grave danger in municipal government is thus threatened. We believe the gentlemen in the Wellington Council who are involved in this argument are all honorable men, who would not descend to take of their position. But these' men have no fixity of tenure. Their places may be filled by men who have not such a. scrupulous regard for their personal honor as the present councillors, and the temptation to secure some advantage as the result of the patronage they hold might prove irresistible in some oases. It is very desirable in the interests of good and honest government that any temptation of this nature,should be removed, and we therefore submit that an alteration of the law which will provide this necessary safeguard should be passed without delay.