LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14979, 27 April 1909, Page 10

LYTTELTON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-Your . correspondent “ Ratepayer” has uttered a warning note regarding this election, which comes none too soon. Tammanyism is becoming more and more evident. The affairs of the town are being engineered in the interests of a small section of this community, whose power has largely increased during the post year. It is quite time that we vioke up to the fact that this is going on at an increasing rate. .From a paper recently put into my hands, T find there is at present an overdraft of £4049, and from the same paper I gather that £2029. was spen t oil the streets, the condition of which does not. in any degree reflect credit oil the Council. The Mayor and councillors should be called on to explain this item of expenditure when they address the electors. J appeal to my fellow workers to give careful consideration to what is going on. If there is an increase of rates they must suffer hvhether they be tenants or ratepayers. The landlord will take it out of the tenant every time. 'To prevent this wo must return men who will exercise the strictest economy. As one who has followed tho doings of the Council very cjosely, I havo come to the conclusion that much of the financial success of.- this town in the past has been due to tho care exercised by the Finance Committee. This committee has during the past few years had as its chairman Councillor W. T. Foster, and associated with him has been the Mayor, Councillors S. 11. Webb, J. tt. Webb and F. Anderson. It is well known that a certain section in this town has set itself the task of throwing out these four councillors I have named at the forthcoming election. Tho ratepayers will see, therefore, that to protect their interests and tho interests' of the whole community they are in duty bound to do all they can to frustrate such evil designs.. We owe a debt of gratitude to those four gentlemen, and this should lead us to place them in such a position on polling day as will clearly indicate how we workers appreciate their past services. " It will also be to our interests to find out how things stand in regard to the administration of the borough affairs during the past year, so as to satisfy ourselves that all has beon clone that could be done to. economise as regards both labour and material in connection with the important works now in progress. In conclusion, let me say that for the snke of the honour and progress of the town we must see that we do our duty by voting for those candidates who will work in tho very best interests of the wholo community:—l am, etc., " ELECTOR.