[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1913. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1903, 24 April 1913, Page 4

[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1913. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Fifteen candidates have come forward to contest the nine Borough Council seats, a state of affairs betokening keen interest in municipal matters. Had there been fewer candidates offering or had it been necessary t.o beat trie bushes to secure a poll it would not have been a healthy tign, for Palmerston just at present requires earnest and enterprising spirit? to help direct it through an important era. There are important matters coming up for consideration, the most pressing berg the question of street transit, and the renewal of the gasworks agreement or the acquirement of the works. Of the fifteen candidates eighti haying adopted the Progressive League'd pia.iorm, have in doing so declared in favour of elec ric overhead trolly trams, and the acquirement of the gas works. But it is not sufficient that there should be this tacic adoption of two such important proposals without a statement of some of the reasons. The public will be asked to vote for these candidates by reason of the favour they give to the platform mentioned, and if a majority of that opinion a;e e'ected the Bo;ough may virtually consider itself committed to the steps it has supported. In this respect it is rather to be regretted that the municipalisation of the gasworks and the adoption of overhead-trolley trams are combined in the one platform. Many peopla will not favour the former who will support the latter, and vice versa. It is, therefore, to be hoped that the candidates will submit their views fully on these two important proposals, and supply such information that they will not ouly convince the electors that they are au fait with the subject matter themselves, and capable of administering wisely and well should they be returned, but will be able to show the public that the steps they are urging will be for the good of the community. So far only one or two of the candidates have done anything in this direction.