Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1898. Worth Considering,

Manawatu Herald, 21 March 1893, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1898. Worth Considering,

The members of our local bodies are not above asserting their knowledge as to how all kinds of work should be done, whether they have had practical experience or not. We have frequently witnessed how speedily the advice of trained men are set aside and the views of a theorist urged. Mr Charles Francis Adams, in a paper entitled "Lessons from the Experience of Quincy, Massachusetts," asserts that "the Municipality has a right to exact a.terra of municipal service from every citizen. The. puzzle, therefore the charter-reformer has to workout, if he is going to get down to the root of the matter, is some practical system which shall secure the utmost political free play to the individual citizen, and the representation of minorities in municipal affairs ; having done this, — having thus set individuals free and made minorities potent,... it will be for those composing the minorities to put their hands, asx»f old, on the shoulders of the " best men," aud exact of them compulsory municipal service, those civic tours of public duty." It would certainly be a refreshing sight to observe, say, a grumbling councillor, at the end of a longhandled shovel filling in the ruts of a much used road, having obtained such a position owing to his being, by his oratorical powers at- council meeting, undoubtedly the ' best man ' for the position from his knowing so much. Or, again, the pleasure it would be to see a well meaning but critical councillor change places with the Town Clerk, and worried, first for not getting in the rates due and then for having taken steps to secure the desired end. There are other openings for the citizens " best men " in the office of ranger, where early rising and a secure seat on a horse might be the means of the roads being freed from straying stock. The office of Inspector of Nuisances would also be a useful" position to place one of the ' best men ' in, as it might then be poi&ible that many of the efouTf? inffjtog r$ night wall

be traced to the premises from which they arose. There is evidently some* thing worth considering in this proposal and it may perhaps be left to the members of the local bodies to ponder over and, perhaps, to act.