MUNICIPAL MISMANAGEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17943, 30 April 1928, Page 3

MUNICIPAL MISMANAGEMENT.

To the Editor of the “Timaru Herald.” Sir.—lt is not always a pleasant thing to deal with the faults of other peoplß, but sometimes it bOcomes a public duty which must be done, regardless of the feelings it might provoke against the individual who undertakes the task. In dealing with the question of Alunicipal Alismanage *'-'nt, 1 set out with the idea of not only exposing the very apparent mismanagement that was taking place, but also with the hope of some immediate luture improvement. I expected my statements would at least be challenged, and if possible, proved to be incorrect, but to my astonishment I find the mismanagement is even worse than I stated. In the Mayoral star--ment at the last Council meeting, the Mayor made some very sorry admissions. First, he said some of the criticisms hurled at the Council were unjust, and the citizens were apathetic. Evidently Mr Wallace has misjudged the people, for I find there is more disgust than apathy existing against the Council. Now let us see if the criticism of the Council is unjust or undeserved, and we will judge the Mayor by his own statements. Here s statement No. 1, in which the Council are charged by the Mayor with sitting for six months “talking and doing nothing.” What a fine tribute to the ability of a businessmen’s Council! We must believe it because the Mayor says so, and the, streets of our town cry out “hear, hear.” Mr Mayor, we can vouch for the truth of that statement. But worse than this, was the fact that not oiia Councillor attempted to deny the, statement. So we must take it "that silence gave consent. Now, Sir, would it be so very unjust to criticise this first act in the Municipal drama? “All_talk, no work.” Surely not. This admission serves to strengthen my previous assertions. Then we come "to statement No. 2, in which the Mayor frankly hdmitted that the Council had “no policy.” "What an admission. Twelve months in office by twelve business men, and yet no policy. The Mayor, as well as the Council, must accept equal responsibility for this weakness, as this is part of a leader’s duty to formulate a policy. But we must believe there is none, for the Mayor said so, and no one denied it, and tho state of muddledom that exists on every hand is evidence of the truth of the statement. So we come to the second act in,the Municipal drama, “Muddledom by Muddlers.” Again I ask, where is the injustice of criticising svicn folly and; neglect. The verdict of all must be that in _ the face of such an admission the criticism was warranted, justified, and timely. All this is bad enough, but even worse is yet to come, for. after working twelve months in the dark, with little or no knowledge of the needs of the Borough, there is now to be a sort of Municipal parade when our twelve stalwart City Fathers, led by our vigorous Mayor, will march through every street in the town in solomn ,pomp, with pencil and note book displayed, to enquire into every complaint, notice every fault ; in fact, every thing that the naked eye can see will be observed and noted and kept steadily in view towards formulating a policy for, some distant date. Just what Timaru will be after this parade' takes places I cannot venture to guess. I would respectfully suggest that a banner be carried on the august occasion with this inscription thereon: “Actions speak louder than words.” It would be attractive to the eye, even if the mind revolted against it. What a splendid idea if every street iri need of improvement would appoint a deputation to meet the council as they passed by that way, to make them acquainted with their requirements. If this were done, the third act in the Municipal drama might take place while the Council go marching along:. However,, if this parade means the discovery and the remedy of some ot the pressing, needs of the town, some good purpose wilj be served, and will do away with the criticism which in some quarters is thought to be unjust, but which, in the face of the Mayor’s lorced admissions, as stated above is lully warranted, and so long as the L°T C }r ‘? dhei ; e t( ? the same foolish, neglectful, and unbusinesslike methods servlT "'ll the T reap a harvest of-de-ceived, although very much disliked, criticism.—l am, etc., ’

Timani, April mf/ * CHILES '