MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16233, 31 March 1917, Page 5

MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

To tlie Editor of the "Timaru Herald." Sir, —Some time last year, when everybody was cursing tlie roads, a. writer to your paper urged that a municipal electoral campaign should be commenced. In an editorial you remarked that as the elections were a year off it was too early to think of it. "Well, sir, the elections . are now less than a month oii, and, true to ltt, reputation for apathy, Timaru has done nothing. And unless it is bustled into wakefulness a,nd persuaded that the responsibility • for good municipal ernment lies on it as a town, the population will-continue to do nothing until after the elections. Then it will resume its letters to the editor and: its club-room vituperation, its street- corner cursings and 'reyiliags and talk of "graft." Thei citizens of Timaru have done little else but talic for several years now, and it is nearly time they did a little >voting. If they do not tak9 an intelligent- interest in their municipal affairs, then bad. roads, waste, extravagance, and muddle are all that the people are entitled jto. It requires straight talk to wake up, and in the matter of a Borough Council election any hot air about our "fine town and splendid bay and progressive citizens," etc., ;is 'just hot air. Timaru can be made a fine town, but its progressive citizens need to progress a little faster. With regard to the "splendid" hay. Well, every seaside town has something to which its citizens point with pride. And' apropos of that, may I relate a "little incident, that happened at Gape .Town many years ago. A distinguished visitor was bombarded 'with' requests for his opinion of Table Mountain. He replied, "Very"fine! Very fine indeed but as you did not make it, you can't claim any credit for it. !Now you. are responsible for your drains, and. if you want;my candid opinion about them—" but the subject was promptly changed. I won't comment on it, but those who are prone to enlarge on the wonderful properties of the Bay as a safe spot fo; ba,thing can do a little profitable thinking Several of our Councillors ha.ve decided not to offer their services again. Others, in the opinion of the public, should- not be permitted to do so.'But how are we off for candidates? Ui> to now, we have one, Mr, Donnelly, a manwho has had noexDeTienceof pul.lic life so . fill*, but whose record hs ;i .Friendly, Sobiety officer is a „bniiliantone. _ -We want eleven more.' PeopV gsf Timaru, what are you going to-do 4bout it? v It's your move. Remember, at the last election, " for twelve vacancies there were thirteen candidates. Timaru, with its population and its boasted pride, should furnish at least double that mumber. Bring put some_ more Donnellys and then (and this is most important) vote for them! —I am, etc., . ROPSE' YE SLEEPERS. March 29-, 1917. V