The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated "THE EGMONT SETTLER" (Established 1890.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1933 An Outspoken Mayor

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 356, 13 September 1933, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated "THE EGMONT SETTLER" (Established 1890.) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1933 An Outspoken Mayor

——— WHEN Ministers or heads of Government Departments come to Stratford or any other town, it has been usual in the past for them to listen to their praises sung with vigour by the ' various speakers, although the said speakers have often been ! known to pass uncomplimentary remarks in private. But the ! usual procedure was somewhat departed from yesterday when I Mr. lessop made his appearance and met the Mayor, Mr. J. I McMillan. As everyone knows, Mr. McMillan is not the type of man to say things unless he means them, and if he has any criticism to offer he offers it. If straight talk were indulged in more frequently when people in high places pay visits to towns, perhaps the country would not be in the state in which it is today, for empty speeches scattering still emptier compliments far and wide never get anyone anywhere. We will admit that Mr. jessop is a man above the average who administer Government Departments, mainly perhaps because he is not. a Government official but a man brought in from outside, but the o—able is that he has probably to depend a good deal upon the information given him by permanent officials who, because of that fact are very likely swathed in red tape and bureaucratic tradition. Mr Jessop is not overpaid, but it would seem there arc many peonlc administering the fund who could be paid less. Mr. McMillan therefore deserves the thanks of the whole community for demanding that full information be made available as to the expenditure on administration out of the fund. We are all in ihn dark and if the severe jolt given by Mr. McMillan has the effect of bringing to light more information, he will have done something that no one else in the country has been able to do. If one or two Ministers of the Crown were to come to Stratford and hear a few home truths they would nrobablv not be quite so self satisfied as they are at present. The trouble is that too many of our men in local politics in New Zealand have degenerated into what the Americans cal)“Yes men” when it come? to dealing with Departmental heads and politicians. Mr.

McMillan is most emphatically anything but a “Yes Man,” for which Stratford is entitled to congratulate itself.