THE PALMERSTON SEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 209, 2 August 1935, Page 6

THE PALMERSTON SEAT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —We often heard in the past the remark “Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., has done great work for Palmerston North.” To-day we hear a lot about “wliat Mr Mansford has done for pur city,” but seldom do we hear anything about what Mr Hodgens has done. He must be worthy of recognition, for lie has been elected time and time again to public bodies that call for some measure of administrative ability. Let me deal with the three gentlemen separately. 1 find on looking up the newspaper files that Dir J- A. Nash served the city without any pay for two years as a councillor; then he was elected Mayor and, later, M.P. For both services he always had a regular pay day. Now take Mr Mansford. He, too, gave two years’ free service as a councillor; then he was elected Mayor, and has for the past four years been receiving remuneration in return for the service that he gives. I have been told that he gets eight pound? per week for being Mayor. Then we consider Mr Hodgens, who has gone a long way towards putting up a record in local" politics in this city. He has never received one penny for his services from the ratepayers; yet, if it could be said that service to the city should be measured by those who render true altruistic service, then Mr Hodgens has won the confidence of the electors by sheer voluntary work. To me it is a pity that a man with the proven ability" of Mr Hodgens, with his natural courtesy, is not better known and appreciated by his fellow citizens. One has only to be in his company for a little to feel that all the weird things read and heard about him are far from the truth. Of course, Mr Mansford has made himself “a good fellow,” but the ratepayers have helped him. The City Council establish each year a Mayor’s fund of between four and six thousand pounds out of rates. I put it to you, Mr Editor, that you and I could just as easily become “good fellows,” in fact “exceptional good fellows,” if we had such a nest egg to work on, and particularly if we got eight pounds a week to be the “good fellow.” —I am etc., WORKER.

The Mayor’s fund, referred to in the above letter, was established by the City Council to assist the unemployed and ratepayers desery ins. of consideration. A considerable portion of the money has been applied in the direction of enabling ratepayers m unfortunate circumstances to meet their obligations in the matter of rates, gas and electricity charges.