CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2563, 5 April 1923, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

♦ (To The Editor.) Sir, —In perusing Mr E. G. Martin’s letter in your issue of Tuesday, I was somewhat in douht as to his consistency in supporting the present Mayor at an election, when it seems that the policies of both men are so much .at variance. Cr. Martin, I consider, is quite right in maintaining that provision should have been made for the public library and reading room when the erection of new Municipal Chambers are proceeded with, but I am not with him in his suggestion that this should be done at the expense of the Mayor’s room and Town Clerk’s office. These things are entirely necessary for the proper conduct of the Council’s business, and in any case; ' why the parsimonious spirit at all? Why not a decent structure that will be a credit to the town? I am sure the ratepayers as a whole would like to have seen a building worthy of our progressive little town erected to replace the commodious structure which was unfortunately destroyed by fire. The small amount of extra rates that would be additional to those at present payed, were a loan canted to supplement the funds in hand for this work, would be very small, and would at least be greatly outweighed by the feelings of pride among citizens if a building worthy of the fine structures at present gracing our business area were erected. One would gather from the Mayor’s remarks at the valedictory social to Mr H. Frankland, that there was some sort of a race on between the Borough Council and the Fire Board as to which body was going to be first in completing their respective new premises. Well, I notice the new fire station has got a flying start —who knows, the Fire Board may have beaten the pistolbut seeing the Mayor is also chairman of tlie other body, he ought to know. In regard to the much-debated question, of the Council’s right to spend the whole of the reconstruction money in hand on the Council Chambers, to tlie exclusion of the public library and reading room, the main argument of those supporting the library exclusion policy seems to be that legal advice allows them to do so. ’Tis but a slender reed upon which to support a Municipal policy, which in these days should be one of vision and progress. Mayor Chrystall has indeed passed through a strenuous time in Municipal affairs during the past term, and it seems possible he may again consent to come forward for re-election this month. In that case we will probably be afforded a little diversion in the way of Municipal campaigning between Mr Chrystall and Mr Hollings. I hope Mr E. G. Martin brings his drum, as he seems to understand that instrument thoroughly, —Yours etc., RATEPAYER.