Aelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1907. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. FUTURE OUTLOOK AND ADMINISTRATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 23 April 1907, Page 2

Aelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1907. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. FUTURE OUTLOOK AND ADMINISTRATION.

THE biennial election of City Councillors and the annual election of Mayor will be held to-morrow, and the occasion is of unusual interest and importance in Nelson, lor Councillors there is a large nomination, if not a greiit range of choice, and the electors, if they desire it, may make a "clean sweep" of the old Council and substitute therefor a new body. Similarly there is a straight-cut contest between two candidates for the Mayoralty, and as both have a strong following it if premature to predict the result. It is not our intention in this article to urge the claims or the merits or demerits of the candidates, either for the Mayoralty or for the Council. The acts cf the present Mayor and the old Council have been prominently before the electors, by means of full publication of reports of meetings a_d latterly of the election meetings that have been held. The public have made up their minds by now, and comment one way or the other i 3 hardly likely to affect the result. Our object is to impress on both electors and candidates the importance of early amendment in municipal system and administration, in order that ,i city which depends so greatly on progress and maintenance combined with reasonably low rates may continue residentially attractive and uphold the calm dignity cf its municipal deliberation more efficiently than has been done recently. #*?-_• It is satisfactory to note that since our last article on municipal matters in Neluon appeared tho question of the reduction of rates, or at least the question of rigidly keeping the rates to a maximum of 3s Id in the £, has become a vital issue. All the candidates have now fallen into line in this matter, and each party promises more than the other. Summed up, the pledges given amoxint to an assurance that be readjustment or other means a penny in the £ if not a little more will be taken off as soon as possible. That this can be dono easily has been demonstrated in theso columns more than once. As we pointed out previously, by reassessing frontages concerned for betterment through the removal of the old tram line; by making the Abattoir self-sup-porting ; by putting the gasworks on a more businese footing ; and by pushing on with the dralnago works in order to relievo the general rn^jo of the sanitary sorvice of about £800 per annum, much might bo done to bring the rates into reasonable proportions, in other words, ensure a reduction of at least a penny in the pound, without lessening the revenue or impairing the municipal spending power, * * * » » Four of the issues referred to in the foregoing are essential and immediate : (1) Putting the gasworks on a more businesslike footning by the appointmnt of a sepatatp manager and the spending of the gas loan as soon as possible in order to improve tiie j-eticu-lation and to avoid the waste of labour, time and money now the rule when tinkering with local complaints. (2) Reticulating as much as possible of the drainage scheme, either to give a portion of tl>p residents an immediate advantage cf connection, or to hasten the time when it wili be feasible to dispense with or reduce the present sanitary servico charge on the general rate. (3) Reviewing the fees I charged at the Abattoir and the wages paid in order to bring them into line with other places in the colony, with the object of making the Abattoir either entirely self-supporting or in a degree a mejns of municipal profit. It is unquestionable that at present the fees are less than in many other municipal or other abattoirs, while fhrough most unbusinesslike drift the establishment has remained a charge on the rates. There has been no compensating advantage of cheap meat to the consumer. The price of meat in Nelson is as high, if not higher, than elsewhere ; hence the only argument that might have been urged in favour of permitting the Abattoir to bear a rate instead of earning its own revenue _ufli_ient to meet its ex- . pendilure cannot bo maintained. (4) I Insisting on more thorough supervision of Corporation labour. It is commonly admitted that the leakage because of the "Gorpoi-ation stroke" is enormous, and it is essential that the staif, from the City Surveyor and the foreman downward, should cive the ratepayers the best valuo for tho Binaries and wages paid. It will be seen that the new Council, if it mean to justify its existence, | reconstituted as it may be on tho basis [of public opinion, will hava its y/ofk

of reform and economy to perform without wasting time on wrangling and | more or less ineffectual real or imaginary "exposures." If exposures have Wn made, the day ot protest and deoate is passed, and the day of punishment has come. If officers, contractors, etc., cannot be trusted, they must be got rid of. It is idle to go on objurgating and denouncing them and still i retaining their services. Such procedure merely entails loss of time, money, and dignity, while the utter demoralisation of the Corporation service may be traced almost entirely to the futility of retaining in their positions officers and others who are impeached again and again on various counts of maladministration.

In conclusion, the electors are exhorted to avail themselves of the privilege .of the franchise and to record their vote, even if at personal inconvenience. There are about 2600 electors on the roll, and of these at least 2200 should go to the poll. If candidates for the Council see that keen interest is taken in the doings of the local body that administers the affairs of the city there will always be a fair range of selection from among those who may come forward to seek municipal honours. By that means, instead of the control of the municipality being left to the survival of the unfit, men more suited to the conduct of public business may be induced to take their part and do "their duty by their fellow-citizens.