THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 1908. OUR TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 108, 19 November 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 1908. OUR TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS.

The triennial election of legislators, both local and national, as far as New Zealand is concerned, has just been recorded, and the country is faced with the responsibility of carrying out a policy for the good government of the Dominion. The wider national policy has long been established, and according to the voice of the people, is to be

continued in the hands of the party j which has for some years been entrust- I e-d with the administration of the j affairs of the Dominion. Within j our own immediate sphere we have j determined the election of represen- j tatives on the local body, and are j confronted with the responsibility of j formulating a policy for the satis- j factory government of the affairs of j our district. In dealing with ihe j question of local policy it is unnecessary to dwell at length upon what, has j been done in the past by the Waitomo | County Council. The Council was inaugurated at a time when settlement was considerably less than it is at present, and the understood policy to be adopted was one of economy and care in all respects,. The ruling condition of the district with regard to roads, land tenure, and settlement presented many difficulties, and without well established precedent to guide them, our councillors were naturally desirous of proceeding with care. During the tenure of the old Council, the progress due to increased settlement and new legislation, combined with the experience of the Council in dealing with affairs within its jurisdiction, has cleared the way for the adoption of a more definite and progressive policy than could be looked for in the past. The new Council will enter upon its duties untrammelled by any cramping pledges, and fortified with the knowledge that within the past three years a much more sympathetic understanding of backbloek conditions has been arrived at by the Government. The members will, moreover.be in a position to profit by the experience of the old council. Experience usually means mistakes, and it would be idle to pretend no mistakes have been perpertrated by the old Council in the past. Atonement for mistakes ensues when remedial measures are undertaken, and there are existing conditions which have, yet to be remedied. The first essential to the carryng on of any busncss is the establishment of proper premises, plant, and staff. Without such necessary equipment the starting of any business is but courting disaster. Moreover, if the County cannot afford the first essentials for its work, there is no justification for the Council's existence. However, we have ample confidence in our district, and in our settlers who evinced sufficient enterprise to inaugurate the Council, to believe that in placing matters on a proper business-like basis, the Council will receive the unanimous support of the ratepayers. The members of the local body are devoting time and effort for the benefit of their neighbours, and only by according their representatives loyal assistance, and proper facilities for carrying out their functions, can the settlers hope to be served in a satisfactory manner. We trust the first business of the new Council wlli be the consideration of the acquisition of a County office, equipped with an efficient staff, and placed in the most convenient position for the carrying on of the County business. Such a step will mean additional expense for administration, but it will aiso mean the conducting of the public business in a profitable and satisfactory mannerwhich is the only rational method yet discovered of conducting any business.