The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1901. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 38, 20 February 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1901. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Iff the object of the recent references to the members of the Borough Council had been in the nature of fair and impartial criticism with the object of educating the ratepayers and causing them to take a live interest in municipal affairs it would be commendable, but when we see such ill-natured carp-! ing and fault-finding without any allowance for the difficulties which members of the Council have to face, it leads one to suppose that the object is the redress of sojie personal griov.ioce or the indulgence of some personal illwill. One of the easiest things in life is to find fault, but even fault-finding carries little weight unless backed by strong common sense reasons for its indulgence. An old well worn proverb :-ays: " It is an ill-bird which fouls its own nest," and some of the attacks on our City Fathers would lead people to suppose that New Plymouth was thn dirtiest,' most ill-kept, neglected town en the face ef the etrth. Although what has been done is found fault witb, the greatest trouble is what has been left undone. Because our city fathers have not rushed tho town into a period of reekless expenditure I they are deemed unfit to any longer control the affairs of the Borough and are to be called upon to give place to others. Those finding fault are however discreetly silent as to where and how the newly elected Council is to improve matters and no mention is made of the reasons which have caused the present Council to proceed cautiously in the matter of expenditure. When the limited revenue of the town is considered and the faot that there are 34 miles of streets within the Borough, that metal for roads is particularly expensive, that the configuration of the town adds greatly to the cost of road making, it is not surprising that very little can be done out of ordinary revenue. Then there is the loan autborisad sometime back, but according to Mr Bellringer the Council's action with regard to that has been in strict accordance with the advice of tho Borough Council's legal adviser. Furthermore, the price of labour and material has advanced so much in price that the cost ef work would bo considerably in excess of the estimated cost of the work at thetime the lean wss authorised, Tbes» aro matters which those entrusted with tho responsibility must consider, but which .are lightly treated by these irresponsible critics who are so loud in condemnation of the Council, The members of the Council have given a vast amount of time and attention to the affairs of the borough and are en titled to the gratitude of the ratepayers for their gratuitous service unless it can be shown that they have wilfully neglected or viciously injured theinterests of the town.