The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, August 31, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1090, 31 August 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, August 31, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Borough Council, at Thursday night’s meeting, decided to allow the Horticultural Society the use of the Hall for Wednesday nights on the occasion of its spring and autumn shows, with the use of the supper-room on the night previous. It was pointed out by Crs Speirs and Gieig that when the Council drew up the scale of charges for hall hire, special consideration was given to the Society, and it was understood that their exhibition dates would not be interfered with. Subsequently, however, the evening of the statutory half-holiday was definitely fixed as a picture show night, and an airaugcmcnl entered into lor the supply of films lor that night. The Council, at its last ordinary meeting, informed the horticultural institution that it would have to abandon Wednesday it the Hall was required. This ultimatum fell like a bombshell among members oi the Society -because the success of I be Society in a large measure depends upon the exhibitions being held on Wednesdays—and they appunched the Council to reconsider

the matter with the result above stated. There is one point in connection with the hiring of the ball which the Council should not lose sight of, and it is this : When the ratepayers were asked to sanction a loan for a Town Hall they were not told that all else of a public nature had to give way to picture entertainments. While the Council is to be commended for safeguarding the revenue from the pictures, they should not forget that local public institutions must not be sacrificed to the pictures — even though it may mean a comparative loss of revenue.

As a result of yesterday’s by-elec-tion, the candidate possessing a residential qualification only was chosen by a majority of those who recorded their votes —and these did not represent one half of those entitled to exercise the franchise —in preference to a ratepayer and one who had had previous experience on a local governing body. Mr Hannah’s success was due to organisation on the part ol the local Labour party, while Mr Claris stood alone and left himsell entirely in the hands of the electors. The time has gone by for candidates to rely upon their standing in the community to win them support at the poll. They must work. Yesterday's poll should provide a lesson in this connection. We regret that Mr Claris was defeated, and at the same .time can congratulate Mr Hannah upon the enterprise of the party which gave him his backing. We understand that the same party intend to leave no stone unturned to seek further representation on the Council — and all power to them if they can succeed. They have taught the apathetic and indifferent ratepayers a salutan lesson. We hope the successful Councillor will not only justify the confidence reposed in him by those who voted for him, but that he will work in the interests of all. After all, the householder, although not a ratepayer, indirectly pays his share of increased rates, as increased and necessary commodities mean higher rentals. It is the ratepayer, however, who sanctions the loans.