MUNICIPAL METHODS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 4

MUNICIPAL METHODS.

CHItISTCIIUECH CRITICISM,. (By Tdeerapli—Vresa Association.! Christchurcli, January 2. The "Pros?" this morning publishes special articles from correspondents in' tho sister cities of Wellington, Dunedin, and Auckland, giving a sketch of the municipal activities [luring . the past year, the present position of trade, and the outlook, municipal and commercial, for the coming year. "The story they tell, on the whole, is ono of progress and hope," says the "Press," in an editorial. "Wellington, it is true, is a little sad. just now, suffering the reaction from the land boom, which was carried to such mad extremes a few years, ago'. The City Council and other local )»dies had caught tho extravagant spirit of the day, and went in for borrowing on a scale which subsequent retlection has shown to bo far too lavish, and very properly there is now a tendency to put'.the brake on. The Wellington City Council lias never been very famous for prudence or economy in its administration, but it was a matter of surprise to most people to find the Harbour Board, hitherto excellently managed,' losing its head oyer tho dock, and making a mistake, from tlie consequences of which the Board is \vcry luelcy to cscape with a loss of only some .£20,000 or so. "Auckland has undoubtedly made wonderful progress during the last few years, and has a great future before it. We venture to think, however, that thero ( is rather too great a tendency to discount the future, and that thero is danser of repeating Wellington's experience with regard to a boom. A recent visit, moreover, rather suggested the idea that in keeping their attention on tho very large schemos they have in' view, the Aueklandcrs neglect tho more prosaic work of keeping the streets clean, and looking after tho 'everyday requirements of the people. Thero is also too little done in tlio way of beautifying tho city, which is the more regrettable, considering how much has been done in the past to 'spoil by man's handiwork one of the most beautiful natural sites in tho dominion."