MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1682, 6 March 1917, Page 3

MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

[Levin Chronicle.]

A general apathy seems to prevail in regard to municipal politics throughout New Zealand. This is but small cause for wonderment, having regard to the distraction arising from the war; hut, none the less, it is advisable that intelligent interest should be muintaiued in all local matters. Failure to do” this would in effect ho equivalent to a reduction in the potential help that the community might render to the cause 'of empire. Small matters have thou; influence uu great; and it really should go as a truism that tiie town or district that is too enervated and lethargical to appraise at full value the privilege of municipal citizenship will fail in eqital degree through inability to recognise the full measure of its duty to the empire. Those folk who take the view that in times of trouble the local matters should he left to chance, while the weightier affairs of the earth receive consideration, arc failing in the true sense of citizenship. The citizen of the world is he whose world runs from his own villiage as well as to the distant lands. There are in the world today too many men of the type sung of by an anonymous and long-dead American philosopher-humorist:—

“And so every day he gave the Almighty Advice that he deemed of great worth; And his wife took in sewing—to keep things a-going! While he superintended the earth."

Those in authority municipally no doubt; fool that they have done their fid! measure of public- service in running the municipalities, without being looked to for endeavour to quicken public interest in civil; matters. None the less, it is desirable that the spirit of stagnation now prevailing in most New Zealand communities should be stirred: and in what belter way could this be done than by the holding of public meetings municipally convened, at which the mayor and councillors would give accounts of their stewardships, and maybe outline for discussion by tlie burgesses such plans and purchases as the council may have in perspective tor the next two vears.