CORRESPONDENCE.

Mataura Ensign, 23 April 1913, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

T THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. TO THB EDITOR, •Sir, —Having lived at Gore for close 1 on 11 years, and being a ratepayer, I \ would like, to have a few words now that the elections arc close at hand. In the first place j I must congratulate • you on Monday's leading article; it was the most commonsense article 1 have read for some time and I advise anyone who has not read it to do so. ; Now, about the election, of councillors. I maintain that what we want in our Council to-day is good, commoji-sense, level-headed working men, men who know something about making roads and footpaths and who know themselves how to handle a pick and shovel should occasion arise. Gore is far - from being a finished' town, and it will bo years before it is' -anything like we would like to see it as far as roads are concerned. Who will bring it to that stage the fastest? It is certainly n-ot the man' who slips out on to the asphalt in the morning with his white shirt on. and goes down to his office or shop, as the case might ho. We want men in our Council to-day who know how to act and when to act <ind what to do and who know what- they arc there for, not dummies who have a name to live and yet are dead. Mind you. I am , casting no reflection on any man personally, for there are some good men in the present Council and have been . in past councils, but there have, been more there to my certain knowledge ' who have sat -there for their whole term -and have never said "Boo!" for ! the simple reason that they are only r there for the honor of the position. . Let me ask the -ratepayers of Gore a ! plain question. Who out of our early pioneers was it that made the country what it is to-day? Was it tho men who ; came here and snapped up tho few easy ! billets or was it the men who rolled up their sleeves and set to work to make tracks and later roadt? for themselves. , To pu, tit finer, the man with -the \ white shirt on, who knew absolutely , nothing about such work, or the levelheaded working man. with his blue ( working' shirt with his sleeves rolled' up! I think the answer is easy. —I am, etc.j W. K. HAMILTON.