COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume VII, Issue 266, 14 May 1889, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCILLORS.

The ratepayers in the Awahou Biding will have to nominate two of their number to act as Councillors, in the room of Messrs Larkworfchy and Gower, who have resigned. We hope that they will take care to make the nomination, as they have lately been objecting to the little attention that has been bestowed on this district ; but they will be muoh to blame for further neglect,. unless they send representatives to the Council. That portion of the district has yet to/ learn that they must do their share in public matters, as for a very long period they have been content to let others do the work for them. The Council b,as not a very bright future, owing to the way in which all business of an unpleasant nature is constantly deferred, instead of being considered arid decided upon. The Council has a claim of Mr Fraser's to tackle, the difference with the Horowhenua County to pay, and the Tramway to keeppjien, so that there will be plenty oiybom for the exercise of all the energy new Councillors are usually credited with. We have said, and have no hesitatation in repeating, that the most of the Council's difficulties lie in- the mem* bers not properly- understanding the finanoial position of that body, that they are always satisfied if they learn that there is so muoh money to the credit of the account at the commencement of the meeting, utterly ignoring that the pay sheet that they pass' at the end totals to a much I larger sum than their credit balance. But even if the members were sufficiently interested to note the differi ence, they oannot be aware of the | amounts outstanding, and unless each member chose to attend to the office very olosely, the actual position is only disclosed after the production of the balance sheets, two or three months aftei the date they refer to. It is one of the most unsatisfactory features in connection with being a simple member of one of these bodies; he is always meaning well, and hoping all is right ; but as to the fact he is always in. the most blissful ignorance. These remarks are not made with a view to frighten candidates, but to point out that a member has otljer duties than merely to see the roads in his district pushed ahead without regard to the position of the whole body. The sooner public men understand that it is their duty to know the whole ins and outs of the Board to which they belong, and for which they are personally answerable, the better it will be for the district represented by such men. We hope those nominated for Aw&hou fofll 4ata^ up this position.