The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1891. Borough Affairs

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 68, 5 December 1891, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1891. Borough Affairs

It will be seen by our report of the proceedings at the la9t meeting of the Borough Council, that a determined effort is to be made to have a town delivery of letters. It may be remembered that a similar attempt was made some years ago, but failed, because the Department alleged that by making this concession additional expense would be Incurred, while there would be a loss of revenue from the supposed fact that the number would be diminished of the private boxes let. Since then, however, the population of the whole district his largely increased, and in consequence the business of the Feilding Post Office has augmented in proportion, so that the additional cost of working the office, made by the employment of a lad to deliver letters &<;., would hardly be felt. The private boxes would still be kept on by the mnjority of the preseut holders, because a number of them reside beyond the limits of the intended radius, while others^such as the banks and business houses, would of necessity retain theirs. It will therefore be seen that the arguments formerly successfully advanced by the Department against the proposal will not hold good now. It has been the experience in other parts of the world that increased facilities for the carriage and delivery of letters encourages their production, and we feel certain that Feilding would prove no exception to this rule. Already the principal tradesmen post their monthly nccountp, instead of sending them round by their servants, owing to the introduction of tho halfpenny postage on commercial papers. If the Departmeut gave still greater facilities by the employment of a nies senger to do this work, tho additional revenue thus derived would go far towards paying the necessary salary.

the picture would assist to adorn. We, as ratepayers and sincere wellwishers of the prosperity of the Borough, trust that this hope will be fully realised. The absence- of any proper Municipal . Building, can on longer be excused, and the rising importance of the town demands that a suitable place for the meetings of the 'Council, and for the Free Public Library and Reading Room, should be erected. The proprietors of the building now occupied by the Council may desire to enter into possession at no very distant period of time, and the Council should be prepared to meet this not impossible contingency. There is every indication that there will be a battle royal for the Wellington seat vacant in the House of Eepreseutatives. The Ministry have chosen their man in the person of Mr W. McLean, a local financier, while the Opposition haye selected Mr Bell, the mayor-elect, to enter the lists on their behalf. Mr Jellicoe, the wellknown lawyer, will fight for his own hand. What are the special qualifications of the Government man we do not know, but probably there is some foundation of truth in the accusation made by the " wicked Tories"-that the Whig Ballance is " weak in finance" and wants to make himself strong by the addition to his patty in the House of one who has had snch a large and varied financial experience as Mr McLean. No doubt Mr McLean will find it as easy to make pledges as to take them, and find them as difficult to redeem as did his former clients " the poor working man." But we seriously doubt whether he will be elected after all, and we as seriously hope he will be rejected. Mr Jellicoe, although he might prove an interesting member, would be far from useful in the House, where his peculiarities which, although allowable "in the interests of his clients" in the courts, would be a nuisance in the legislature. Mr Bell appears to us to be the best man for the position. He is much respected in the Empire City by the better classes, whether Whigs or Tories (by the way, we use the term ■" Whigs" when referring to the alleged Liberals, although they have no more claim to the title than the Opposition have to be called Tories). However, where common sense and common honesty are found working towards the same end as is the case with Mr Bell, victory for their side is almost assured. From the violent manner in which the Ministry have thrown themselves into the conflict, it is quite evident that they are alarmed for their political "safety, and intend to make any effort or sacrifice to add one more to their number. We doubt whether the Tories will fight so hard, because they have not so much at stake and, besides, they do not appear to have any leaders capable of forming a strong organisation resident in Wellington. Our hope lies not so much in what the supporters of Mr Bell can do, but in what his opponents cannot do, and that is to prove to a majority of the electors that the policy of the present Ministry is the best for either town or country. ■ ■■!■ ■lIIMWI I^—