TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3275, 31 December 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1881.

The public, and their mouthpiece, the Press, are not slow to find fault with and, to severely criticise the actions of local governing bodies, and to the credit of popular opinion be it said the censure thus dealt out is usually most richly deserved. But as there are two sides to every question, so, it generally happens, the erring public body is not solely to blame for its misdeeds. These local bodies that have been sown broadcast over the land did not call themselves into existence, nor did the members belonging to them select and elect themselves to the positions they hold. If they do wrong; if they'mess and muddle everything they touch, those who gave them the power to maladministrate public are equally to blame for not having exercised a better choice. It was held out as one of the advantages to be derived from the existing form of local government that it would induce the people to take a greater interest in public affairs than they cared to show under provincialism. But the experience of this part of the colony has been that as much apathy ia exhibited now as always used to be, and that no more trouble is taken in the selection of the right men for the right places than in the days of provincialism. A temporary irritation may provoke an equally effervescent outcry, and nothing more ; till at length our public bodies have acquired the habit of taking little or no notice of public opinion, feeling assured that time will bring forgetfulness and forgiveness. And this is so true that at every one of our recurring local elections no attempt is made by the people to introduce an element into the governing bodies in accordance with the views they had previously expressed. The consequence is that on the occurrence of vacancies instead of the opportunity being seized of infusing an element of reform the occasion is lost; and, although new members may be elected, they are generally the nominees of the representatives of tbe meddle and muddle party. In nearly all our local governing bodies a minority of the members retire annually by rotation, so that it is impossible to reverse the policy of any body at one election. It is necessary then to be patient and persevering in order to bring about reform; to keep one object steadily in view, and to persevere in a sustained effort covering two or more years to secure the desired end. Had such a course been pursued, had such a course, indeed, been possible in an apathetic community, we feel sure that the ratepayers in this borough would now have had reason to be thankful that they had exerted themselves in a right direstion. Unfortunately, however, the people here are more remarkable for their long-suffering patience than for energy in matters of public importance, and very few can be found to step out of their way for the general good. If those who do give their time to public affairs are misguided in their efforts, are in want of experience, and merely grope their way through a jungle of blunders, it is after all the fault of the people. This much is certain, that if the best men in the place for public positions decline to come forward local affairs must necessarily fall into the hands of mediocrities. Our remarks are prompted by the desire to see some interest taken ia tfee forthcoming elections of four members of the Hospital Committee. These elections take place on the 9th day of January, and all subscribers of one guinea per annum to the Hospital will be entitled to vote. It is to be hoped that the secretary will prepare prtntel lists and place them in the bauds of the subscribers to allow sufficient time for a wise selection, and that gentlemen interested in the welfare of the institution will take an early opportunity of announcing their caudidature. The form of election ia very simple. From a list of subscribers a voter selects four names, and writing them on a slip of paper signed by his hand forwards the same to the Town Clerk. There is no trouble and very little time entailed by this process, and such being the.case it is to be hoped that every subscriber will exercise his franchise.