The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1901. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXIII, Issue 80, 25 April 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1901. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY ELECTIONS.

The results of the polls taken yesterday in both town knd country show that in •piUofallegatioDstotkecontrary people do take a great and intelligent interest in the question of local government. In the case of the Borough of New Plymouth, in view of the persistent attacks made in eertain quarters on the Mayor and Oounoillsrs, ; yesUrdiy's vote is a direct vote of confidence in the Mayor and his Cout.cil. Had Mr, Cock's friends been wise, after the result pf the election of Councilors, thoy wosld have advised him to retire from the because io the face of the very pointed refusal of the ratepayers to respond to the entreaties to put in a new council they must have seen that to go on was to' covet defeat. Unfortunately, however, Mr Cock was not in the hands of his true friends, having temporarily allied himself with those, politically at anyrate, opposed to him. This doubtless lost him a large measure of support, which his long connection with the town and his past services entitled him to expect. The Council and the Mayor have every reason to feel proud of the very pronounced manner in which the have expressed confidence in them, a«d the knowledge that they have such string public support will help and encourage theifl jn their work. As tending to put an end to Jbe very unsatisfactory state of affairs lately! existing in ihe county the result of the elect'on there must be exceedingly pleasing to all lovers of law and order. Whatever opinions miv be held regarding the jjubject of toll pates, the state of affairs ejiia-tfcg, of toll gates being cut down and property being] ruthlessly dfstroyed, was simony a public scandal. The policy so ably and clearly set out by tho county chairman has beec v-ry emphatically endorsed by the ratepayers, who, by rejecting the whole of the members opposed to his policy, and io'inning the county chairman himself and his supporters in sucb a decided manner, have given tbechairman a elf an slate. We hops the County Council will now feMle down to work and devote their energies to enabling the Chairman to keep his pledge to abolish toll gates within two years.