LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1944, Page 4

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

(L.R.C. Publicity Committee.) It was with some interest w e perused a letter appearing in. the “Star” of the 16th inst over the signature of Mr. J. Saunders. This gentleman is a member of the Borough Council and when we saw his letter headed “District Affairs,” we expected it to contain items of interest relating to borough affairs. However, Mr. Saunders dealt with such subjects as coal, gold, farming and timber etc. He takes a great deal of credit for having made our Labour Government step on the gas in relation to reafforestation. We understand, however, that Mr. Saunders is vice-chair-man of the Greymouth Borough Works Committee and that, during the period Mr. Boustridge (the chairman) whs in the Armed Forces, Mr. Saunders was virtually in charge of borough vzorks. It would appear that

Mr. Saunders’ mind was so filled with indignation over the Government’s tardiness in respect to re-afforestation that he failed to observe the sad and sorry state of our footpaths, streets and 'drainage. When it is remembered that this tardy Labour Government made available the sum of approximately £63,000 as subsidy, during the years 1939 to 1943 to the local Borough Council, we immediately enquire what is there to show for it? Surely, it is not too much to expect that vice-chairman of works, he at anyrate, could have, through the press, during the last three years explained to the electors why our streets, drains and footpaths are in such a bad state. While it can be appreciated that Mr. Saunders is interested in district affairs, there is a faint suggestion that the proximity of the borough elections coincides with his attempt to publicise himself, iWe consider, however, that he is ( too late, and that the citizens who have often ploughed through our flooded streets' and footpaths during wet weather, will express their indignation at the ballot box. When Labour is elected, the people ! |. of this town can be assured that they will receive full value for every pound spent. Forward with Labour. We live in 1944 not .in 1880!