Truth NEW BLOOD WANTED.

NZ Truth, Issue 95, 13 April 1907, Page 4

Truth

NEW BLOOD WANTED.

PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MOBNINQ AT LUKE'S LANE (OFF MANOTRSSTBEET), WELLINGTON, N.Z. Subscription (m advance), 13s. per annum.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1907

The day is again ; idfawing near when the citizens of Wellington will be called upon to choose the men into whose hands they will put the destiny of the city for the next two years. It would be well if ratepayers would' remember thip fact, . and. show, by their attendance at the polling booth, that they taKe a little interest m the welfare .of, their, city. It is remarkable how, not only the people >of Wellington, but of all the bigger cities m New 'Zealand, are content to let any little cliqiue of fanatics, or wire-pullers, rule the roost at ■these municipal elections. They are as apathetic m; regard to municipal matters as a Maori is ahout the fleas on his dog. Any sort of old women who can ohiin-wag a little, and have a bit of cash, can make certain of seats m the Council halls. The public never seem to think that running suoh huge concerns as city tramways, water supplies, lighting, etc., is work for shrewd and honest business men 1 ; they appear to be under the impression that such concerns run themselves, and, this it is that so many men who haven't brains enough or sufficient business acumen to run a lolly-pop shop, are elected by their fellow-townsmen, or a small portion of their fellow-towns-men, to run the business of- a big city.

Among our present Councillors m this progressive city of Wellington are some beautiful samples of what an Alderman shouldn't be, and if the ratepayers don't make a clearance at the coming poll, they deserve to have their money misused and frittered away on useless undertakings. Wellington is only beginning to be a city, and during the next 10 years enormous sums will have to lie spent m maintaining and extending all municipal works. It is the height of folly for ratepayers to flatter themselves that the finances and conduct of a big town are all right just because that town happens tb be prosperous and money plentiful, and that any old sort of dunderhead is good enough to represent a ward m the Council /Chambers. It is about time that idea was battered out of the citizens heads with a lug club. A Corporation, like a business, no matter how prosperous it may be at the present tiime, cannot be run by either boodlers or fools— .that is successfully run, it can be run into the bankruptcy court easily enough. That lit" the Electric Light Plant deal which the Council accomplished recently is an instance of how the citizens money can be wasted-, and is, m itself, an excellent reason why the new Council should contain new blood m large quantities..

Speaking at the Druids' Hall on Wednesday night Mr D. McLaren 'and Mr Hindmarsh, the two labor men m the Council, made a strong case for the representation of Labor m that body. The worker contributes indirectly, more towards the up-kjeep of a city .: than the landlord and factory owner and has as good a right to toe represented m Municipal Councils as he has to be represented m Parliament. He is governed by the local by-laws just the same as the pro-perty-holder and the big employer, ari>d why should he not have a hand m the making of those by-laws. Mr McLaren stated that eight labor candidates would run at this election pledged to advocate the establishment of public markets, Mundcipalisatioh of the milk supply, erection of abattoirs, workers' homes, and the maintenance of a mmimum wage standard for all Corporation employees. The policy is undoubtedly a good one, although "Truth" would, advise ratepayers to pause Hbef ore voting the whole labor ticket,, irrespective oftthe ability of the men who seek representation, it would certainly like to see a radical change m the present composition of the Council, -the Mayor included. It is time new blood' was introduced, and, unless the ratepayers will throw off their apathy and I#ke a little more interest m the affairs of the city, things will m m a very sorry plight before many years have passed.