BOROUGH COUNCIL AFFAIRS.

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14363, 14 May 1920, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL AFFAIRS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln reading your paper tonight I was much amused, and I suppose H should-say highly enlightened on borough affairs, by the statement ot policy put forward by those councillors who retired and arc? seeking reeleelion. In reason No. 2 they say Hie ratepayers we it 100 ignorant to understand such a technical lliing as the difference ijetween new ami secondhand plant or old iron. I really pity Hamilton with such a dense lot of ratepayers voting on such an important subject. Then ill reason No. I, why they arc offering themselves for reelection they still harp on the good old tune that the recent poll did not. give a real expression of the feeling of the town. In your issue of the fill) insl. 1 asked one of the cx-Coimcillors In enlighten Hie ratepayers as to how, or in what way to show a majority, and so far no one lias tried to answer Hie question: is it because they can’t? 1 believe Hie voting was one of Hie highest ever recorded on any borrowing queslion, and 1 was always of Hie opinion that 508 was always higher than Via. but others say that Um lower vote beats Hie. higher. Being a dunce myself, I cannot, sec it, but I may after next Wednesday’s poll. In No. 2 reason as lo why (hey arc seeking reelection they infer that they arc Hie only ones who have Hie interest of Hamilton at heart. The town is certainly to lie pitied if it possesses only six ratepayers capable of carrying on Hie business. In outlining their policy they tell us we are too heavily rated, which is due to the weakness of management. Well, I presume all Hie late Gmmeillors were new members, and that it was tiiose bad Councillors of former years that were to blame. I suppose Messrs J. McKinnon. H. E. Tristram and T. F. Jolly were never on any of 1 hose Councils that got. Hie borough into the condition iliey now deplore. Innocence is a nice thing when you can bluff and carry it out properly, and Hie good old song says, "Hiere is nothing like -plenty of check." I will leave all Hie good deeds (liny are going lo do for another time: but there is one matter too good to be missed even this time, and Unit is policy No. 10 (Hie housing scheme), which slates: "We have produced a bousing scheme which, with slight adjustments, will solve the position.” Well, I saw a magnificent .scheme submitted by Hie late Mayor, I believe. Crider such scheme the ratepayers were lo provide land for the borough lo creel buildings on. Hie ratepayers lo receive Hie fabulous sum of £5 noli—or it may have been £2O, [ am not, sure which—and I believe Hie borough office was rushed for about a week with land-owners wishing lo dispose of sections. At least I saw a report by the Town Clerk some weeks afler, and there were really three applications from would-be buyers willing to take up bouses under Hie scheme; but there was not one land-owner’s offer mentioned, and being a bit thick in Hie bead, I -put it down lo (here being none of them green enough to offer their land, or perhaps they were philanthropists and did not want lo lake such a large sum as £2O on a section worth perhaps ten times that amount. However. Hiere are always two sides lo a question, or, to be exacl, to every quesIion: so I will leave Hie balance of lliis lilt someone else gives Hie oilier side.I am, etc., RATEPAYER. Hamilton May 12. 1920.