LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16985, 23 April 1917, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. Sin,—As your paper is always desirous of a fair deal, I should like, in tho best interests of the city, to sco a leader on the qualities of tho candidates for mayoral honours, and also a clear explanation of the way to vote for the election of councillors, as many are not aware that tho city is undivided and requires 18 councillors. Wo councillors, who have- championed a principle which ovory Britisher should bo proud of, havo come in for a fair amount of criticism by anonymous writers, who aro ashamed of their names. To attack men in this manner is most contemptible, and anything but British fair play.—l am, etc., _ C. H. llayward. Dunedin, April 22.

Sik,—Out of tho council which is to bo elected on Wednesday a committee will be elected to manage Drainage Board affairs. This committee will consist of these members, together with tho Mayor and one councillor of St. Kilda. As the ratepayers voted tho Drainage Board should cease to exist, it behoves the ratepayers to see that no members of this former Drainage Board should be elected as members of tho City Council. The members of tho Drainage Board offering themselves for election as councilrors aro Messrs J. S. Douglas, Small, and Kellott. If Mr M'Farlanc's nominee— Mr Sc.u-i— is elected Mayor of St. Kilda he will take up Mr M'Farlane's role on the council as Drainage Board'member. It is an open secret that a corner of St. Kilda' got sonic thousands of pounds at the ex-'" pense of the. ratepayers of Dunedin. It is nn open secret, too. that there is a move iiirnt to oust tho city engineer and put the Drainage Board engineer in his place. When tho ratepayers voted the Drainage Board out of existence they certainly do not want any of its official's in the ' City Council. Let all ratepayers guard their own interests by seeing that these former Drainage Board members are not returned as members of the City Council.—l am, etc., Watchdog. THE MUNICIPAL INSURANCE RISKS. Sin, —A clean-cut division of opinion exists regarding tho question of municipal accident and fire risks. Councillors arc directors, or trustees, on behalf of ratepayers or shareholders. There is no warrant or authority whatever for the council to deprive the ratepayers of the protection or security granted to them by the payment of tho ordinary or widely-established rates of insurance. Such a radical change in the financial policy of any privatelv-owncd company would require tho mandate of tho shareholders. As a ratepayer, I am of opinion that, if it were dulv placed before tho ratepayers of Dunedin. such a proposal would be rejected by an overwhelming majority.—l am, etc., John Lunx. PATRIOTISM. Sin —It is difficult to answer those who are afraid to sign their names. My patriotism is _ being questioned, and that of Cr Green is being questioned. Well, Cr Green has one son in the fighting line. Both my boys aro soldiers of tho King. My only eligible employee is at tho front, and I have been paying him half-wages for a long time. I do not want to go in or bo put out of tho council on my patriotism, as I feel on that point I would get tho total votes of Dunedin. Whether in or out, my patriotism will take practical form, so I ask electors to leave that out, as I am for "the boys" always. I want to be put in or out on my work for the city. If, now that patriotism is so much before the public, one and all will become, members of the Patriotic Association, then the publicity will havo taken a practical form which the association will appreciate.—l am, etc., . ~ „ , R- S. Black. April 21. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER. Sik,—Or Shackiock has stated that the Electric Light and Power Committee was quite aware of the wants of the small users. How can ho make such a statement when the users were never consulted? Was it not distinctly understood by tho council, and by others, that a conference was to be held? Why was this not carried out? Will Cr Shacklcek explain ? A further statement which has been made, that thero were only two or three users affected in the way suggested by Cr Sinclair, was either made in ignorance, or, worse, because it is devoid of fact. As a matter of fact, the intermittent users coming under clause a are in the same position as they were, thero having been no alteration in any shape. Why will Cr Shaddock continually misrepresent our side, in favour of those getting their power at less than cost? For and on behalf of tho executive small users.—l am, etc.. James Knox, April 21. Secretary.

THE ST. KILDA MAYORAL CONTEST. Sib,—ln September, 1912, the electors of St. Kilda decided by a substantial majority to adopt tho system of rating on unimproved values. ThSs caused consternation amidst land speculators and those people who would neither sell their vacant sections nor build on them, but who sat close, and saw their land increase in value by the efforts K and enterprise of others. To try and defeat'this democratic and equitable system, and prevent the application of it to St. Kilda, these people, assisted by the Forbury Park Trotting- Club and tho Agricultural Society, demanded that a poll be taken to amalgamate with the city. The proposal was defeased by nearly two to one, and rating on unimproved values has been in operation ever since. At that time Mr C. N. Scurr cast his lot with tho amalgamation party,' took the platform, and put forth all tho energy, ability, eloquence, and influence he possessed to abolish (St. Kilda as a self-govern-ing borough. Shortly after this ho becamo a member of the Borough Council, and is now a candidate for the mayoralty. As ono who is in a position to know that Cr Scurr would not have been opposed by Cr Dove if it had not been for a renewal and defeat a few weeks ago of the amalgamation question, I am sure of my ground. Cr Dove was chairman of the committee organised to defeat the proposal, and it was decided to try and elect a Mayor and council pledged to' retain our entity. Hence Cr Dove's candidature. Cr Scurr may call amalgamation a red herring across tho" trail, and say it is settled and is a> dead as Julius 'Ctesar, but ho must know full well that it is, like Rip Van Wiuklgs only having a sleep. I venturo to say that, outside tho personal element which enters into every contest, tho amalgamation issue -will 'bo fought again on Wednesday, and tho anti-amalgiimationists would do well to bo sure and cast their votes on that day, as money, influence, and motor cars will not be spared to conquer them.— I am, etc., CONbISTENT.