The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1887. Borough Matters

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 102, 5 March 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1887. Borough Matters

The interest .taken by the ratepayers of the Borough in the management of its affairs does not. appear to be very absorbing. Notwithstanding the fact of there being two extraordinary vacancies in the Council, the Keturning Officer received no nominations on the days appointed for the receipt of such. We perfectly understand that one controlling influence in. this connection is to . be found in the great number of burgesses who have deprived themselves of the franchise by failure to liquidate their indebtedness to the Borough in. the form of overdue rates. Another influence is the unpopularity of the Council with a section of the ratepayers who, rightly or wrongly, believe that the actions of the Council have not always been marked by strict impartiality or wisdom. It has been said that councillors have not always sought municipal honors without the sure and certaiu hope of deriving some f uture benefit directly or indirectly for themselves or their friends, from the position. That instances can be pointed to which favor this belief we do not pretend to deny, but on the other hand it cannot be ignored that not one shilling of the £6000 loan has been expended contrary to the provisions of the loan schedule. The only exceptions have been in the cases of bridge work where new structures were made adsolutely compulsory by the damage resulting from floods. Taking the whole conduct of the Council since its inception we do not think the members have wilfully been guilty of a single action which could be fairly called unjust. Their meetings have been open and above board. No tenderer or contractor has ever had to complain of favoritism or injustice. The work done for the Borough has always been full value for the money paid for it. No open complaints have ever been made, or public expression of dissatisfaction given. No councillor has eaer been openly challenged with having broken his trust or failed to complete his obligations as a representative of the burgesses. One excouncillor claimed that he went into the Council as the representative of the dissatisfied. After a few meetings he discovered that he had mistaken the position, so he quietly resigned after attempting little and doing nothing. We say at once that if a change is desired in the constitution of the Council those who desire such change must work openly, and in the face ©f day. All secrecy and mystery in matters where the interests of the whole body of the ratepayers are conconcerned, savors strongly of conspiracy and shrinking cowardice, where private revenge is hoped to be gratified under the false name of public duty. We hope the present state of affairs will be brought to a speedy conclusion by the common sense and good feeling of those most interested.