QUESTION ?

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 April 1915, Page 3

QUESTION ?

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, —I wish to ask the pertinent questio: "Are we Progressive?" I mean the people of Helensville in particular, and the district generally. Some time ago you had an article in your paper regarding a Borough for Helensville in place of the present Town Board. I question very much which is or would be the, best. If you can show the ratepayers how best to make the place progressive, I, for one, would back you up, for evidently the Town Board as at present constituted is not going to set the world on fire nor paint the town red. At last election for Town Board the membership was increased from five to seven, but for what reason, goodness only knows ; I never could find out, but it has been said the increase was made to give a certain old member of the Board a better chance of securing re-election, but he was not. However, from a Board of seven, the town should certainly expect greater activity and progressiveness than we received from five! But I cannot see that we are getting as much. If so, where does it come in ? There is nothing on the proposition board, that I know of, which is tended to create a stir or improvement in the place. There are two surfacemen and a foreman to tar the footpaths and clean out the gutters, but does it require seven of a Town Board to administer such a paltry annual job? Where are our lively men with brains and' now ideas? Are we always going to be stack in mud, as it were, with two commercial Banks and a Savings Bank to look aftei our money? There are plenty of schemes that want propagating, and which would help bring further settlement and population along. Then let us at once have " scheme number one >! from at least ■' one " of the seven liv'y members. —I am, etc., Looker-os.