The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, '11 POLITICS AND THE PLAY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 February 1911, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, '11 POLITICS AND THE PLAY.

Lhvin ratepayers aro invited by the Mayor of the borough to attend: tonight the statutory meeting summoned; for consideration of the proposal to borrow ail additional sum of £'1200, with which to complete the local water supply scheme. It will he interesting to note how many ratepayers will place duty before pleasure this evening, and let "Jmlius Rattle's Honeymoon Troubles" go urn witnessed (by them) at the Town Hall while the ratepayers discuss local finances in the Century. We venture to prophesy that <-r each one who attends to-night's statutory meeting there will be two score or more at the performance by the Levin Amateur Dramatic Sodoty. Which is well for the society. None the less, this apathy towards municipal matters is a regrettable feature in civie politics t !i:\) New Zealand. Levin is little better and little worse, in this respect, than many of our larger centres of population. Wellington City, to Quote nn apposite instance, once tuned out, exactly seventeen ratepayers to discuss a municipal proposal to bornow close upon £250,000 for roHn-i----plated works. The Mayor of tihe day told the seventeen ratepayers and the two reporters who confronted his gaze that tihe paucity of attendance and the lack of criticism combined to make the most convincing testimony that tho citizens of Wellington could give of their approval of the erne administration of the day. An auditor thereupon said "hear, hear"; the reporters made a note of it; the Mayor, in the fullness of ibis heart, remarked, generally, "All vou fellows had better look in at my room!"—and after they had all done so, and pledged "success to the loan," the meeting dissolved into the dark. Next week the quarter of a million loan was authorised by a twelve to one majority. Since that day, the City of Wellington has had undoubted benefits from tho bulk" of the works and purchases then authorised. And Tho Chronicle feels confident that similar good results will ensue mpon the carrying out of l-vin's hic'h pressure water supply scheme to a complete point. Further, we have complete confidence in the ratepayers' intention to vote aye at the approaching poll. But of their intention to be roll up strongly at tonight's meeting, we have grave doubts. "Romeo and Juliet," followed by "Julius Rattle," form too strong a counter attraction.