Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 67, 23 November 1889, Page 2

Correspondence

THE MAYOEAL ELECTION

TO THE KDITOH OF THE STAR. Sis, — To justify the widespread confi donee felt by the ratepayers in the wa the business of the Borough has bee conducted during the past twelve naonth.s, under the guidance of the present Mayor, I beg to submit for the consideration o. the voters on Wednesday next the following brief analysis, taken from the Borough accounts, contrasting the present condition of its finances with how they stood at the same date last year, especially referring to the overdraft: — November 6, 1888. Overdraft ... .'.. ... £288 0 0 November 6, 1889. Overdraft ...' 311 0 0 Cr. By amount spent on new works in excess of previous year ... 35 0 0 By amount in excess of grant to Fire Brigade ... 7 0 0 By amount left due on Stafford street from 1876 20 0 0 By culvert pipes now in stock 60 0 0 By sundry Old accounts from previous years 20 0 0 142 0 0

£169 0 0 Had the Government subsidy of re^ ceived by our Treasurer last year come to hand for 1889, the overdraft mightf be further reduced to the small sum of .£Bl. Perhaps those who controlled the expenditure for last year may be able to show results for the large difference between the two periods mentioned, but with the exception of £20 spent on the Derby Street Bridge it would take an Argus with his hundred eyes to see anything more worth mentioning.

Now, sir, all who have taken an unprejudiced interest in Borough affairs during the past twelve mo'hths will readily allow that our Mayor has been the principal introducing and carrying out all the economical reforms which have realised the above satisfactory results. And is it unreasonable to give him a second term — as all our' previous Mayors have had — to enable him to consolidate the various schemes originated by him for the advantage of the Borough ? There is good reason to believe that s with, another year of his good management, our overdraft will be annihilated altogether. I would ask the ratepayers to remember the mess oar Pound and Ranger business had formerly got into, and which is now working as a paying concern. We all regret that the -enforcing of sanitary regulations, in connection with the flax industry, should cause loss or inconvenience to those engaged in it, but I submit the Council

could not do otherwise than what it is doing in the matter. Health will always be a more important consideration than moneymaking, and rightty so. It is complained that the Council has ignored the timber industry by procuring drain pipes for culverts, &c. Surely if the Council exists for any good purpose it is to act for the advantage of the majority of its constituents.

Hoping that all those who are good on the burgessilist will roll up on "Wednesday, and that the gL-and. old motto, " For the Public Good" will decide who they will vote for. — J[ am, &c,

J. C. Thompson,

P.S.— As Mr Lethbridge was not asked to oppose Dr Monckton till ten o'clock on Saturday evening, and as he did not consent till Monday (nomination day), he has been brought forward simply to oppose the present Mayor. — J. C. T.