CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2149, 26 March 1908, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Correspondence oil public matters is wolcomod at all times, but it must bo distinctly understood that this journal is in no way associated with ‘.lio opinions of . its corrospoudouto.j

THE MAYORALTY, [To inn Ennoit.] Sir.—The ratepayers of Gisborno must fool highly honored to think that Messrs Townjey.; do Lautour, Bright, and Trafford have so far interested themselves in the deciding of who shall be the next mayor as to get up a petition to Dr. "Williams and that Mr.*do Lautour assures him if lie consents to stand his election is certain. Mr de Lautour, although a good citizen, must not let himself and his friends run away with the idea that 130 signatures will mean success to the man who receives them. I think it- is an insiilfcto the intelligence of the ..people', of Gisborne to think that in a large important and prosperous township like Gisborne. someone who has the business capacity for the position does not come forward and help the town out of its present unsatisfactory state of muddle. Dr Williams was elected.as councillor with other new councillors at the last election, and thev. have given a samnle of their capacity as administrators by doing nothing. In fact, to all intents and purposes they have sat- at the council table and given their vote without bringing one new scheme forward, but have rather assisted in making the unsatisfactory muddle worse than it was before. While admiring Dr Williams for bis many social’qualities we must emphatically protest against Gisborne being kept back for another twelve months for the gratification of 'Messrs de Lautour, Bright, Lottie, Clayton, and company, with several of whom I am afraid' it is the dog-in-the-man-ger policy with them. In other words, they’ want it themselves but see -no chance of getting it, so think they will put in a man of their own to keep some one else out. We d ( > tot want some one who may bo ornamental in the council chair, but wo want an up-to-date, long-headed, experienced business man who will bring the borough out of its present unsatisfactory state, and 1 appeal to the ratepayers who aro paying heavy rates and with much heavier in view, to bring' some man forward who lias tlie courage of his own opinions and who will, bv his business enpamtr, bring the borough out of its present chaos. Wc ave drifting from bad to worse. Will any one look round mul see our back streets? They are a standing disgrace to the town. And whoso fault is it? Resolutions are passed mooting after meeting, but o one sees if they aro carried out. Everything is left to the- officials, .vho simply do what suits themselves. Not one’piece of work is finished; streets are partly formed; footpaths partly formed, and waiting to ho finished, become quagmires, and worse than they were in their natural state. Wo have, or ought to have, a works committee whose duties are 'to see that every resolution in respect to improvements aro carried out. 11l tho ta-ee of all this muddle we notico that at tho last meeting a resolution was pas L sed making the salary of the incoming mayor £l5O per year. I appeal t-o the householders of to wake up and protect their interests by putting some man ill the mayoral chair who will at least make an honest attempt to put tho borough on a. business footing. IVbat wo want in tho council is hard business men who will carry out the business of the borough on the same lines as they would their own businesses, namely, by supervision on business lines. Dr. Williams is purely a new man in municipal matters. Why, may I ask, have all those who have served the council for years no claim to the honor before Dr Williams? I know of no town in tho Dominion where the ratepayers cannot find one good business man to represent them but have to go outside of all usages in municipal matters and ask one of the medical profession to take the head of affairs. Does Gisborne want to make itself the'laughing stock of every town in New Zealand? If the independent and intelligent property holders of Gisborne do not wake up such will bo the case. We have a largo income, but how it- is misspent I Tho back streets of Gisborne are living evidence of waste, incapacity, and official muddle, Gladstone-road being the onlv monument of where part of our £BOOO annual income-goes to. And yet rates are going up every year, special and new ones are added and still larger ones looming in the distance so that before very long we shall have the enviable reputation of having nothing to show for the many thousands of pounds wo are wasting but the worst roads, the worst footpaths, the worst lighted and the worst kept, with the highest rates of any town in the Dominion. —I am, etc., “A WORKING MAN.”

(To tlio Editor.) Sir, —Permit me a little space in your valued paper to express my opinion of tlio importance of the election of Mayor, as the welfare of the district is at stake at such an important time. As I am a resident of some 25 years’ standing, and have carefully watched Gisborne’s growth, and, at the same time, realising how far Gisborne is behind the times, I have often l'elt determined to enter public life and lend a helping hand. Now, Sir, with reference t 0 the petition to Dr. Williams to stand for Mayor, I think every care should be used before making such a decision. The doctor has had but little chance of knowing the requirements of this much neglected place, and cannot, with a successful practice, be expected to devote sufficient time and energy 'when, if elected, so much will be expected of him. Mr. Townley has in the past served us faithfully and well, and I trust Gisborne people will in some practical way show their appreciation of tiny good work he has done in the past. 'llicre is another man in our midst '"'ho has also served us well, and worked faithfully for the welfare of this district, ami has never spared time or money to bring important matters to a successful issue. That is .Mr. W. 1). Lysnar. He Ims taken the heavy end of the stick in public matters, and proved himself a man with both, ability and backbone, which is so much wanted in this district of our,s. Me aro go in {4 to ask the Government tor more assistance in the next, five yearn than wo have had in the past 2o—mud do we not deserve it. But ne must have- a man* and. determination to push it. and we can find none better than lie. What he must have saved. Gisborne alone in beiim instrumental in preventing the carrying of tlio Wailiirere. water scheme, I will not venture to say, and

what a- time tho Councillors gave him I (J.t was Wailiirero or nothing, says Ito myself, says I.) lie may havo differed a little irom some ol the public men, hut what good man who is pushing for the welfare ol the district would not? Ho has striven lor tlie advancement of our district, pushing tlie many industries as no other mini inis, and by so doing not making popularity his aim. Thereiore, 1 cannot help admiring him as a progressive man, and ono capable ol Hiring the nosition of Mayor.—l am, etc. “Civic. Gisborne, 'March 25.