A GO-SLOW POLICY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1562, 18 June 1920, Page 4

A GO-SLOW POLICY.

Either the Mayor is growing weary ot well doing or lie lias made up his mind to become an obstructionist in regard to the Citizens' League's programme Of good roads and motor 'busses. He advocated on Tuesday night that the Council should mark time behind the politicians, "that they should hold over the question of transport till such time as the Authorisation Bill (dealing with the railway deviation) was passed and the "cessation of activities" in the direction of laying down a new scheme of reading "till something definite had been arrived at." Later on he said: "I think the trams will come back, that's what it looks ..ike:"' and a municipal echo answered "Nothing surer!" Well, as far as we are concerned we are prepared to discuss any new issue that may be raised at any time on its merits, but we don't like to see any public man or set. ot public men deliberately playing fast and loose with the expressed will of the people. The tram poll was defeated on its merits by the ratepayers and the Citizens' League candidate, who stood lor good roads and motor 'busses, polled more vote:', than all the rest of the candidates put together. This a public man who was not an autocrat would regard as an ultimatum. Now the Mayor wants to hang up the whole progressive programme and "wait and see" what miracles Mr McVilly and the Massey Government are about to perforin. This policy is an opportunist one. We arc not a prophet or the son of a prophet, but we shall be very surprised if the I'almcrslon railway deviation is completed within the next five years. perhaps very much longer. Is all local development to be held up in the meantime*.' The immediate Meed of this town is a system of traction to carry the people about from pJa< e to place, ami the Council will be lacking in its plain duty if it does not, supply this at ihc earliest moment. The Council has been playing with the motor 'bus question for some time now. moving and rescinding motions and marking time from meeting to meeting. In this way they are playing fast and loose with the expressed wishes of a majority of the ratepayers and the electors of this Borough. The people of this ISorough are entitled to a vote on a loan for sj-ood roads and 'busses in the same ■mp ■[';■,:'_ they were given si vote on

trams. To deny them this vote is not democratic and it is not sporting—not playing the game. If the t.rarnites have the courage of their opinions let them put the issue to the test. The Citizens' League is prepared to meet them at every point.