The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 7.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 188, 7 May 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 7.

At the risk of being considered wearisome, we feel it our duty to call attention to the state into which municipal affairs are drifting in Akaroa. We must say that the amount of apathy which is displayed by the public at large as to those matters is not very creditable to the burgesses. That indifference should be displayed as to political matters on a larger scale, though reprehensible, is not so surprising. It is quite common .to hear the remark—"l'm no politician," and many who make it seem to take a pride in the assertion, forgetful of the fact that, in a democratic community, neutrality in political matters is an impossibility. But until people have been educated (politically we mean) this truth does not become apparent. In municipal matters, however, every one can see, or ought to be able to see, at a glance, " where the shoe pinches." There are many whe are of opinion that small municipalities are a mistake, but there is one argument in favour of them which seems to us overpowering, and that is, that if a town is merged in a road district it is liable to suffer injustice in the expenditure of funds as its representatives can always be out-voted. However, as far as Akaroa is concerned, the advisableness of its establishment as a municipalitywas decided by- tbe ratepayers at the time. . In that no counter petition was lodged against its incorporation, we may say that that decision was unanimous. It therefore behoves all concerned to endeavor to make things work satisfactorily. The first thing that stands in the way of the satisfactory management of local affairs is the unaccountable disinclination to take a prominent part in them shown by those who are enimently qualified for so doing. Every locality, however small, possesses its fair share of men of ability, business tact, and honesty of purpose, such as would ensure the confidence of the burgesses, but diey hold aloof, and will have nothing to do with municipal affairs, and the result is that others, perhaps far less suitable have to be chosen for the positions which the former persistently decline to fill. This evil acts and re-acts. A Council being filled by men of inferior abilities, those of superior qualifications become more and more reverse to taking seats beside them, and as a consequence, the City or Borough Council becomes a spectacle for men and angels—a scorn and a reproach to the place for which it legislates.

We are far from wishing to imply that things have reached such a pass in Akaroa, but, as Bunsby remarks, " The bearings of these observations lies in the application of 'em." It is time that the ratepayers shook off their apathy in

these matters, took every opportunity of letting their representatives know their opinions on their conduct, and marking any deviation from promises or principles by their votes, on the first occasion when it becomes possible to do so.

' As'our readers are aware, a vacancy in 'the Akaroa Borough Council exists at present, and must be filled up in a few days. It 6eems singular that, in the present somewhat disturbed state of municipal politics, the only candidate for the vacant seat should not have thought it necessary to give even an outline of his opinions, nor, so far as we can learn, has he been asked to do so. Now, we hold that the ratepayers ought to take the opportunity afforded by this election to express some opinion on certain matters which have of late agitated the Council. There is the question of the proposed loan, for example. We are aware that the decision on this point is now out of the hands of the Council, and must be made by the ratepayers ; still, if the latter decide on raising the loan (as we hope and expect they will), it would be very bad policy to put men into the Council, who, not being convinced of the advisableness of doing so, can not be expected to concert the best measures for laying it out. Again, the Council has lately been guilty of what strikes most people outside that body as an act approaching repudiation. On this question then, it would be well if the ratepayers could give a verdict at the polling booth. A vote of consure against the Mayor, referred to by a correspondent in another column, is also pending. Surely it would be well that an expression of opinion, as to this being deserved or not, should be elicited from those who placed that gentleman in the civic chair. On these grounds, therefore, we consider that, unless municipal rule is to degenerate into a farce, some expression of opinion should be elicited from Mr Bridge, the only candidate at present in the field, so that the election may have some significance, and convey to the Councillors au idea of the state of public opinion outside.

We understand that Mr W. Sims has sold the cutlei Alert to Mr J. Thomas, of Wainui, who intends using her in the firewood trade.