The Borough Elections.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5250, 23 April 1908, Page 2

The Borough Elections.

[to the editor.]

Sir, — While it is somewhat gratifying to find soma interest being manifested in tha borough elootions, don’t you think it would bo more to the point if the aspirants for publio honours took the publio into their oonfidenoe, and expressed their views on questions likely to affeot the welfare of the borough P We want something more definite than the gossip retailed at street corners, aoross shop counters and hotel bars. Surely those who wish to represent us in borough matters can give reasons for the faith that is within them, and do not imagine the ratepayers accept them at their own estimate of their abilities. Will any of the candidates give their views upon the establishment of a gas works, either by the borough or by private enterprise? Will any of them state whether, if elected, they will have an estimate prepared of the cost of lying eleotrio wires ? The power for generating electricity is already to hand in the pumping plant. I should also like to know how many ope in favor of a proper sewerage Boheme, which is absolutely neoessary and ia made feasible by our water supply. It isn’t a question of what the rates were four years ago, or what they were forty years ago ; it’s a queßtion'-of wheti er we are to advance or to stagnate. I remember, years ago in Napier, we had no Marine Parade, few footpaths, no street lighting and no rates. When he had a “night out’’ we found our way home somehow, generally by the aid of a candle stqck in a bottle. Bpt would anyone attempt to argue that because rates have been levied in Napier for modern conveniences, that the old order should be reverted to for the sake of reduoing rates ? Waipawa has been retarded in the past by the olass who could well afford to pay higher rates and who have made every attempt to block tho progress of the town. It’s not so very long ago since the Bame party made strenuous attempts to block tho Borough Bill. I hope the ratepayers will remember these facts on polling day and return men who are pledged to progress. Remember this, that the franchise for the election has passed out of tho hands of the wealthy, who have persistently endeavoured to retain it, to the detriment of the working olasses, and don’t bo hoodwinked by specious promises and assurances. The comparison of the rates four yeitra ago with what they are to-day is not the question at issue it is lively a red herring drawn across tue went to induce the small man to throw in his lot with the big one. Even a higher rate means little to the small man compared with the advantages he receives and the additional value added to his property, but

it meaus a good deal to the big man, henoe his anxiety, not to aid the smaller fry, as he would have the ratepayers suppose, but to save his own pocket. He realises the faot that the greeter part of his rates will be expended to further the good of the whole borough, not to enhanoe the value of his own property, nnd it is right here that the shoe piuohee. The borough franchise puts it in the hands ot the workers to see that the wealthy contribute their just share of rates, just as effectively as universal suffrage enabled the people to burst up large estates. I appeal to the people to use the privilege, nay, the right, that has been granted by a Democratic Government, to ineist on the large owners paying their just dues for tbe advancement of the place and relieviug their less fortunate fellow citizens. Do not be misled by those who pretend to be your friends but who are only masquerading in false olothea. Let these candidates state their views in unequivocal terras and ignore all their private explanations. Apologising for the length of this letter and thanking you for iti insertion.—l am, eto., Ratepayer.