Feilding Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1886. The Borough Election

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 28 August 1886, Page 2

Feilding Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1886. The Borough Election

If we may judge by the amount of interest taken in the last election for a seat in the Borough Council, which was unquestionably the keenest contest that has yet taken place in Feilding, the coming elections, where three seats have to be filled, ought to be trebly interesting. No open sign has yet been given by either intending candidates or their supporters, but we are aware that a steady, if quiet, canvass is being made in more than one quarter ; while a calm determination has been arrived at by other sections of the ratepayers, to counteract these silent influences, and make them of no practical use in the direction intended by their promoters. There is always a charm in the mysterious or unknown, and little private meetings, in little private houses, are very delightful ; especially when the persons who attend compose a sort of " mutual admiration society," having boundless faith in each other, and themselves. Our only regret is that the Press is not invited to be present, in order to give their proceedings due publicity, but we presume the instinctive modesty of these wiseacres makes them dread the light of public opinion — as evil spirits are said to shun the light. Not that we mean to imply any evil motives to them for, on the contrary, we believe they intend to do good — to themselves. Where so much secrecy is observed any influence the parties in the cabal may have, is neutralised by the fact that they dare not, for reasons best known to themselves, evercise it iv an open or straightforward manner. Besides, if tliey aid adopt the latter course, they would virtually extinguish themselves, and be robbed of their, imaginary power to do good or evil. When the nominations are made we commend to the ratepayers only those candidates who come forward with an honest intention to do their best to protect aud forward the interests of their fellow ratepayers. Any other who pretends to represent a party or clique whose interests are to be made paramount over the general good, should be rejected. At no time in the short history of the Borough has it been so necessary for cool headed and unprejudiced men to have the direction iof its affairs. The loan money has now been either expended or voted away, while the revenue from rates has not increased in the proportion we thought would be shown after six thousand pounds had been expended in improvements. lii fact, we may say the revenue is now contracting in a somewhat alarming manner, and Councillors will have to exercise the greatest economy and self restraint to make " both ends meet" at the end of their financial year. Therefore, we hope the best men will be brought forward, and that private considerations or private feelings be sunk for the nonce. We know how hard a thing this is for people to do in a small town, but still, greater things than that have been accomplished by the exercise of a little good nature and a few mutual concessions.