The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1919.

Evening Star, Issue 16987, 8 March 1919, Page 6

The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1919.

Next month, the citizens of Dnnedin will bo railed upon to elect a.new civic government for the ensuing two years. The present Mayor and Council then retire, and others have to be elected in their places. The occasion therefore present* a unique opportunity both for the election of new or the endorsement by reelection of old members, and for the inamgnration of a thoroughgoing policy of reform. The return of a party pledged to a policy of municipal; progress ought to be assured, but obviously this in'itself is not sufficient. If Dunedin would regain that gride pi place which, once was Jiers among

Tha Coming Municipal Elections.

the chief cities of this Dominion, there must not only he a party of progress in its Council Chamber, but a known platform of municipal progress and reform to which that party are pledged, and by which they will stand. Is thero at this hour, and within little more than a month of the elections, such a party or such a platform in existence? We think not. Wo can detect few, if any, signs of exceptional interest in the contests that lie immediately before us. At a time .when the whole Empire is emerging, safe but sorelyshaken, from tho meat fiery ordeal it has ever been called upon to undergo, when those many institutions which ore the living evidences and visible monuments of our centuries of struggle for freedom require strengthening and possibly remoulding to meet that now spirit which is supposed to be everywhere abroad, we look, but look in vain, for some definitely active and living signs of its existence in. our own midst. Thero exists an apathy as appalling as it is depressing on the part of those whom it is customary to call "leading citizens" in all that municipally concerns the Oily in which they live and move and have their being as well as make their wealth that is as much a reflection upon their business acumen as it'is upon their patriotism. Why are not the citizens being interested and educated by rival candidates each eager to further, not so much his own particular theories and beliefs, but a policy which has as its foundation'the removafof a-reproaob. that has too long been ours, and the consistent development along approved lines of policies that make for tho stability, attractiveness, and future well-being of _ the City? To the intelligent observer it is sirnnlv amazing that, where thero is so much" to do and so much that not only can but must be done if we are to prove ourselves worthy of ear present privileges the majority of citizens should apparently bo content to have themselves thought absolutely disregna-dful ot what mav m- mav not befall Dnnedin provided that they are left alone to pursue their own individual bent and inclinations The next two years are fraught with importance to the community. What may be done or left undone, municipally and socially, will not impossibly materially affect ouv subsequent status as a commercial and residential centre. Is anything seriouslv being <!one at this hour to make plain that we appreciate our responsibilities in this relation? Municipallv Dnnedin has failed, and continues to fail, in utilising and turning to account those assets that are hers to command, but which now lie ami have long lain dormant. To mention one item only, though possibly the most important, that of Tramways. The City and suburbs are not as well 'supplied with these conveniences of travel as they ought to be. North and south, east and west, there is room for extension, and the keynote of our civic street traffic should be not how little we can do with, but how best in the public interest can we extend and develop it. We ar» not doing, and. are far from proposing to do, not nbme what is possible, but what is essential in this department of civic enterprise if we- are to progress to the utmost of our possibilities. What is "wanted primarily is that these questions should be approached in no narrow restricted spirit, but in the light of that lavecer vision which looks beyond tho immediate moment and the immediate need to the by no means distant future and its immense possibilities. Is there not .need for the institution at once of a Katepayers' Association that wili propound a "live" policy, and produce candidates pledged to carry it out? Irociallv, the next two years will throw a heavy burden upon the occupant of the may.n-al chair. Among those distinguished visitors whom we may with confidence look forward to welcome are the heir to the throne. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wal->=. and the victor of Jutland. Admiral Lord .Jei.Hcoe. each of whom —the one for his hi_'h efFice, and the other for his exceptional services to the Empire, as well ps for ov.v own credit's sake—must be fittingly K-ecived. In this relation we suggest that Parliament should empower municipalities to increase the mayoral honorarium to an amount proportionate to the .needs of the occasion. That voted for tho Mayers of each of the four chief centres may well set the standard for the rest, and in Auckland, Wellington, Christchnrch. and Dimedin a reasonable honorarium for these coming years would be £I,OO-0. In this relation the Mayor in a special manner will represent tho whole of tho citizens, not one of whom desires that tho chief magistrate of our City should fail through lack of due provision to extend to the City's guests that hospitality and welcome the occasions demand.