The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1901. RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 38, 22 February 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1901. RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

The movement to form a Ratepayers' Association is one deserving of the attention of every ratepayer. A Ratepayers' Association or kague is capable of doing an immense amount of good if worked on Bound lines, or an incalculable amount of harm if not, If the object of suoh an Association is to > educate the ratepayers so as to enable them to exercise an intelligent vote, then its existence is a great blessing to the town and district in which it exists, but if, as we regret to say is often the case, it is to enable a small but artful manority to manipulate the votes of the majority, it is a positive curse. Broadly speaking, we are in favour of any organisation which gnes in the direction of causing the people to take a greater interest in local administration of public affairs and educate thorn so that they can vote in an intelligent manner, but there must be no interference with the personal right and liberty of aoy man and woman to vote as he or she may please, In our opinion, every town and centre of population should have some kind of organisation—Ratepayers' Association, Tradesmen's League, or Farmers' Olub —where matters of vital interest can be discussed and a healthy public opinion formed. We are in sympathy, therefore, with tho movement started in Now Plymouth on Tuesday evening to form an Association here, and hope the meeting on Monday evening next, to adopt rule?, elect officers, etc., will be well attended, The promoters have submitted the rules of the Wellington Association as a ground-work to start upon, and these state the objects of the Association to be 1. The inrestigation of tho finance of the Borough. 2. Examination and criticism of the expenditure on, and undertaking of public works in the Borough. 3. The advocacy of public enterprises likely to be for the public benefit. 4. Aiding the local authorities in the eeonomical administration of pub-

lie affairs. 5, The discussion of the above and

other cognate subjects. 6. The creating and fostering of a healthy public opinion upon all matters affecting the welfare of the Borough. Provision isalsa made for the election of officers an executive couneil and drawing up by-la;*s for tho government of the Association, and an annual subscription for neceesary expenses. With the exception of clause 2, there is room for very little objection to the objects set forth above, and any organisation formed for the furtherance of these object* desorvea well of the people of New Plymouth.