MR. WILFORD AS CRITIC.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 800, 25 April 1910, Page 8

MR. WILFORD AS CRITIC.

Sir,-r-Mr. Wilford, at his meeting at Victoria Hall, Adelaide Koad, is reported to have condemned the balance-

sheets as made out by the officers of the City Council. . Is it quite fair of > him to call this'in question now that he is a candidate for the Mayoralty.?. If he is the good cithsen he is wished to be thought, why has he not, being another "Wizard of finance," before this, called the attention of the ratepayers through the public press, not only to this,, but all the other matters of offence that he alleges * have been done by past Mayors, .councillors, and officers of the council ? -I think if the electors will only consider a little, and think of the poation of the harbour with its enormous liabilities for works not finished and great sums wasted, with cue number of cranes never used and various other works, things which happened while he was a member of the Harbour Board, and so far as one knows without his objecting in any way, they will find it moro to the advantage of their pockets not to elect him. It is always an easy matter to criticise the. works of others, and it goes down with the audience for tho time being, but when reason comes back they find there is noi t much real value in such speeches. With respect to the Lyail Bay tram, there has hardly , been time to find out whether that portion was really paying, but if Mr. Wilford-will go out -there, on some fine holiday he will get'.his answer. Mr. Will or it's idea as to whit is charitj is a funny one. He thinks that becaus* work is fonnd for . people during dull times by the corporation, that is charity because it was tree-planting work. Let tho electors consider whether it would not be better to give work of. that kind to those who required it under the same circumstances than , to-let them starve or go to the Benevolent Society for aid. 1 am sure every citizen who was- benefited by the work is grateful to Dr. Newman for suggesting and carrying -out such' a scheme, rather than to have to ask. for food and clothing. It is well known that, when a person wants to get into a position ably filled by another, he is ready to promise everything, and to condemn what the other has done: but it is scarcely >r. Mr. Wilford wants the money that was spent on tree-planting used' for the extension of tramways, etc. I ask him how far •it would have gone towards those objects, and whether, if the same persons were employed on the works he suggests, as were on the tree-plantinp:, would that not have been charity according, to his idea? Apparently Mr. Wilford would not do anything towards the beautifying of the city. I pity his taste! If money is plentiful and costs nothing to get,, and Mr. Wilford can assnro the ratepayers that he can guarantee this, and is willing to put the profits of his business into a sinking fund for the purpose, then elect him. I am one of those men who will always give up a good thing for a better. Better Mayor than Chairman of Committees.. Always be on'_ with -the new love before' you are oil with tho old.—l am, etc;,, EVERT ONE TO HIS TASTE.