The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1927. AFTER THE ELECTIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 30 April 1927, Page 8

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1927. AFTER THE ELECTIONS.

“I shall he ini crested to see whether the Labour Party is so contemptuous- oi the methods ot rhe hist few City Councils,'' said I lie piosidemt ot the Citizens Association in Christchurch, in a review of the results of the- pollin')- cm ’Wednesday, ‘‘that, it throws them overboard and adopts entirely new methods of running' the city's, business, or whether it finds, after all, that ordinary business., methods, as applied to the work of the City Council, without any frills, are best.'’’ Labour has made so | many claims to ho possessed r i | superiority of capacity to administer the affairs of state or municipality, that the cxpeiimert which the citizens of Christchurch have decided to try, will he watched with interest throughout, New Zealand. The Mayor-elect of Christchurch, however, signalised his remarkable victory b t y indulging in a. dispassionate and reasoned view of the probable' trend of the policy of the new civic administration. “No big undertaking is to be embaikeif upon, ’ ’ :; ai cl Mr Archer, “without consulting the ratepayers.” One rather significant statement will doubtless attract, the- attention of the ratepayers. The Mayor-elect spoke of the question of adopting* the Parliamentary roll for all voting purposes! Is it intended to wrest from the ratepayers, the control of the loanraising' operations of the city? Doubtless, Idle citizens of Christchurch will not fail to appreciate the significance of the statement. Presumably the new Council, if Mr Archer controls its activities, will not be permitted to indulge in an orgy of municipal entorI prise of a more or less' risky ( and expensive character. “If private traders, will serve the public in a. satisfactory manner,'’ said Mr Archer, “that, I think, will satisfy the Council.” In ihe meantime, at least, if the new Mayor can speak for the Labour administration now going into office, Christchurch “is not at all anxious to face the gig-antic task of establishing a municipal milk supply,” nor is the Council showing any eagerness to engage in fish and fruit enterprises. On the other hand, apparently the first plank of Labour’s municipal policy is the consideration of the problem of undertaking a more or less expensive system of permanent roading.” Lor two years , under the guidance of a. Labour Mayor 1 , who was* in office but, not in power, Labour complained I hat the municipal policy of the city was dictated by the representatives of the Citizens’ Association. No such harrier hampers I Ite Labour Party in Christchurch in-day. Civic representatives of idle Party are securely in the saddle, and it remains for them I o. justify the confidence the citizens of Christchurch have reposed in them. As far as

T ini am is concerned, the citizens recorded an emphatic vote of mconfidonee in the retiring- municipal administration. What :'s desired, if wo accurately interpret tlm verdict of the people, is more efficient business methods m municipal government, and less municipal g-ovemment in legitimate private business. In other words, the increasingly heavy burden pf rates has convinced all thoughtful citizens that if there is to he any relief, the municipality must learn to mind, its own business and do that efficiently, and not dissipate its energies by embarking upon municipal enterprises which are not only an infringement of the inalienable rights of ratepaying citizens, but are unremunerative into the bargain ; indeed; the newcivic administration in Timaru might well follow the lead of the Mayor-elect, of Christchurch in one respect, at least, that “if private traders will some the pulilic in u, satisfactory ruanne-v that will satisfy the Council.” It is obvious that real municipal progress can he achieved, it the new Council bases its policy on the slogan of more business m municipal govemment, rather than follow the discredited policy of the defeated administration which seemed bent on wasting the civic substance m unprofitable municipal enterprise. 1