MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9476, 27 March 1911, Page 4

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

It is particularly gratifying to note the interest which is shown in' Borough affairs at tin's juncture, but we hope that after the election is held the public will not again fall into that lethargic condition which prevents them from discussing matters of importance to the town. A correspondent in Saturday's issue predicted that the Citizens' League would become moribund in a short time. "We hope not. It is a very lire body at present,-and wc trust that it will long continue so, providing, of course, worthy ideals arc kept in view. The trip to the intake on Wednesday is a commendable proposition. Some false statements have been circulated regarding the work to be carried out there, and it is well that the public should ascertain for themselves what the Council propose to do. Through failure to make themselves properly acquainted with Borough matters even candidates for the Council arc misleading in their remarks, not intentionally, of course. Still inaccurate statements once they have been circulated through the town are hard to overtake by denial. For instance, it has been publicly stated that the Council is carrying out the work at the dam by contract, instead of engaging day labour, and thus giving ratepayers of the working class an opportunity of securing employment. As a matter of fact, with the exception of a contract for clearing the bush, amounting to £3OO, the work of building the dam will be carried out by day labour. As the loan money for the dam totals £6500 nothing can be said against the Council in the matter al- ' hided to. Then, again, we have heard it said in connection with library mat--1 ters that no poll was taken for the erection of a building in Coleman Place, which statement is quite incorrect. The poll was taken during the past twelve months and was not bracketed with any other loan. By stimulating interest in municipal affairs the Citizen's League will be of material ' assistance to the electors, inasmuch as the latter will follow with closer attention the work of the Council, and by becoming conversant with its transactions give credit to men who are striving to do their best for the town, while at the same time the opportunity will he afforded them of criticising any proposal which may be deemed by the majority to be prejudicial to the Borough's interests.