Manawatu Daily Times The Official Opposition

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3478, 14 October 1926, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times The Official Opposition

The first shot by the opposition to the Agricultural College grant was fired on Tuesday night in the Municipal Hall, under the combined leadership of Messrs Sutton and Milverton. Councillor R. Edwards also gave a hand in laying the gun. The meeting was a larger one than ratepayers’ meetings in Palmerston North generally are, a considerable influx taking place at the conclusion of the Mayor’s meeting in the Council Chambers. This, in itself, should be satisfactory to both supporters and opponents of the proposal, for it shows that citizens are beginning to evince some interest in their own affairs.

It is not our intention to deal with all the statements made by the various speakers. The majority of them were so superficial and illogical that they must have failed to impress .even the most ardent opponent of the scheme. The greatest surprise was no doubt caused by the attitude taken up by Councillor Edwards, for it was generally understood that the scheme had been unanimously endorsed by the Council. If Councillor Edwards is so seriously concerned about the welfare of the ratepayers, and the honour of the city, it is somewhat surprising that he did not voice his objections at the Council table.

If we remember rightly, Councillor Edwards made quite an able little speech at a Council meeting when this matter was discussed, pointing out the many advantages of an Agricultural College and complimenting the Mayor on his foresight in making the offer to the Government. No wonder, therefore, that his friends were greatly perturbed when, on Tuesday night, he associated himself with the opposition. They were rather shocked at' his making use of a term that has become a favourite expression with outside people who are known to be no friends of Palmerston North. "We are referring, of course, to “bribery,” which was so freely made use of by the opposition speakers on Tuesday night. Mr Milverton lost himself so completely ventilating personal grievances against the Council, which are somewhat ancient history, that he forgot all about the College, and it was only after his audience reminded him of the purpose of the meeting that ho wandered back to the subject, and endeavoured to make up for lost time by the extravagant use of such expressions as “graft,” “underhand methods,” and “bribery.” We doubt whether arguments of this nature will appeal to the average ratepayer, and supporters of the College would rather trust to the good sense of the citizens than engage in a controversy with such doubtful ammunition. The chairman went out of his way to belittle the material benefits to be derived from the establishment of an Agricultural College in our midst. If he was really sincere in his professions, he must either be devoid of all vision or he is blessed with an overdose of sheer enssednoss. He lost no opportunity of featuring the Council’s offer as “bribery,” asking what right they possessed to pledge the ratepayers to this expenditure. He was evidently little concerned with the obvious fact that the ratepayers’ privileges had in no way been encroached upon as they are asked to give their sanction or withhold it next Wednesday.

If Messrs Sutton, Milverton and Edwards constitute the leaders of the Official Opposition, and if no better arguments can be produced than those heard on Tuesday night, the loan proposal will be carried by a handsome majority. Indeed, we feel with Mr Christensen that the utter poverty of the arguments used and the general ignorance displayed by the speakers are the strongest evidences of the need of a University in our midst.

The lack of vision, progress and enterprise, not to mention tact and discrimination, displayed on this occasion were most deplorable. By opposing the scheme on such lines, these gentlemen associate themselves with people in both the North and the South, who, for selfish and parochial reasons are doing their utmost to deprive Palmerston North of an opportunity that comes only once in the life of a city. Whatever allowance one may feel inclined to make for the tactics of rival factions outside of Palmerston North, no such excuses can be justly made for Messrs Sutton, Milverton, Edwards and Co.