Mayoralty

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19625, 9 May 1938, Page 14

Mayoralty

Sir, —Mr. Coleman told Te liapara ratepayers and others on Thursday night that for many years they had been paying towards the interest and sinking fund on the loans (note the plural) that had been raised for the purpose but had never received the services. He was speaking of sewerage, water and drainage. Water is laid on to Te liapara, is it not? So far as my memory serves me there was only one loan raised for expenditure in Te liapara and if as is stated, Te Hapara residents received no benefit from such loan, Mr. Coleman cannot escape esponsibility for, according to his own statement, he had been in and out ct office, either as Mayor or councillor, for 22 years, and one would have ‘bought that he would have seen to it that Te Hapara's lack of amenities were attended to long ago. As wc are all aware, at the present time rain water is lying about the low-lying areas of Te Hapara and it looks as if Mr. Coleman sought to tickle the ears of his listeners by telling them that he had instructed the engineer to prepare an estimate of the cost of stormwater in Te Hapara with the idea of having it included in the works to be done this year. Let us hope that other areas in an equally unenviable position in wet weather will not be overlooked. As to In's suggestion that the council should apply to the Government lor validatery legislation to provide sewerage and water services for To Hapara without having to go to the ratepayers for a loan well, to obi ain validatory legislation—nice-sounding phrase—is one thing, but to provide the money is another. How does he propose to finance these works? Will Tc Hapara ratepayers meet the charges or will they be spread over all the ratepayers?—Yours, etc.. CRITIC.

Sir, — Your report of Mr. Coleman’s Mangapapa address makes very interesting reading, and is a masterly instance of astute manoeuvring, but on this occasion it will not be accepted by the electors, as Mr. Coleman has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. The chairman announced that Mr. Coleman would be the only speaker, which amounted to nothing more or less than applying “the gag” to the other Labour aspirants, who have to be seen and not heard, which is no unusual thing, ns the Gisborne Labour Party is a one-man party. It will require more than the proverbial grain of salt for the electors to swallow this latest decoction, which is on a par with his water supply schemes.

A brief analysis of Mr. Coleman's administration reveals the following items upon which he remains silent: Awapuni and Taumata water schemes, Park racecourse, the unnecessary expenditure in rebuilding the fire station, also refuse collection, by the never-to-be-forgotten costly and uneconomical purchase oLa 1 motor truck, dug up from some scrap heap, with its costly repairs and renewals, its army of attendants, and enormous running costs —four miles to the gallon—the joke of the whole district, and the result a costly failure. These are conveniently forgotten by Mr. Coleman, but not by the ratepayers.

Mr. Coleman’s reference to the Government housing schemes gives the impression that he pressed the scheme on the council, which is contrary *e fact; he was very luke-warm about it. and was taken to task by the L.R.C. for his failure to advance the scheme, so now he is trying to face both ways. Mr. Coleman’s reply to the question of why only eight candidates had been nominated for nine vacancies on the Borough 'Council is a direct breach of the Labour constitution, and confirms the dictatorship held by him over the local branch, as a certain candidate for the present elections was disciplined for years. After 19 years on the council, the present state of social services condemns his administration. Concerning the 40-hour week for nurses, why does he not attend the Hospital Board meetings, 'if he is interested in the welfare of the nurses, who will not be deceived bly lip service? The sooner the electors wake up to the fact that Mr. Coleman has only just come to light, after three years' boycott of them, and apply the same boycott to him, it will be to their interests. Mr. Coleman’s silence on many things does not warrant any further support.—Yours, etc.. BOYCOTT.

Sir,—Perhaps “British" is to be commended for the masterly way he has castigated for “stupidity" one of those “blasted colonials.” Yet “Matador” was but following out the teaching of our Prime Minister and other Ministers in advocating preference for the New Zealand product. Time and again we have been told by these leaders that the New Zealand product should be our first choice. Is it then stupidity to follow the advice given? Two generations of New Zealandborn have group up under our muchvaunted system of education, yet when it comes to choosing a man as our first citizen we are told by “British,” with true British superiority of tone, that the New Zealander should not have his chance to show what he can do. Notwithstanding “the undoubted right of every man and woman over 21 years to choose for themselves," we are told to elect a Mayor picked out for us by a small coterie.

As a New Zealander born, I say give oui- own lad a chance to show his capacity. It has been said "a prophet ;s not without honour except in his own country.” Let us, as good New Zealanders, show for once that a New Zealand product is preferred.—Yours, elc MATADOR.