The Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY. AUGUST 29, 1885. THE BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 77, 29 August 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY. ) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY. AUGUST 29, 1885. THE BOROUGH ELECTIONS.

The ratepayers will be called upon on Thursday to nominate candidates for the representation of each Ward m the Borough Council. The nominations must be m the hands of the Returning Officer 'by noon on that day, and other details of information have been set forth m the advertisement. The retiring Councillors are Crs Hawkins, Bkck, Wylds, and Abrahams. We hear that Cr Hawkins has some thoughts of not again coming forward, but if he consults the wishes of the ratepayers m his ward, he will yield to their expressed desire that lie should continue to occupy his present seat. Cr Haw. kixs has acted an independent, | straightforward part throughout, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the ratepayers to the ! fullest degree. As Chairman of the Loan Committee, Cr Hawkins discharged the duties of that position to the entire satisfaction of the public, aud devoted much time, energy, and trouble m bringing matters to a satisfactory conclusion so far as the labors of the Committee extended In every position m connection with municipal- matters which he undertook, he has acted with praisworthy zeal, and displayed a uniform discretion and impartiality that met with general approval. Should Cr HawI kins carry out his determination to retire, which we sincerely trust he will be induced to alter, his decision will cause general regret. We hope he will yet reconsider the matter, and censent to yield to the unani- ■ tnous desire expressed on the part of the ratepayers whom he represents that he should continue to sit for No. 4 Ward. Cr Beck has not long occupied his present position, but the ratepayers are, we learn, dei sirous that he should be afforded a more extended term of office. The public believe m his integrity and honesty of purpose, and that he is actuated by a desire to serve the burgesses faithfully and efficiently. He has given no cause for dissatisfaction m any respect. Though he has not taken a prominent part at the meetings, which as a young | Councillor, it was discreet m him to avoid doing, until he became more conversant with the routine of Borough business, he has, nevertheless, shewn a desire to adopt fair, moderate and beneficial measures calculated to advance the general well-being of the community. We should be glad to see him continue to occupy his seat, as we are convinced he will make a good Councillor, whose sound judgment and undoubted desire to promote the interests of the Borough may yet prove of invaluable service to the ratepayers. A successor will require to be nominated for Cr Wylds, who, we understand, has signified his intention of not again coming forward. We are not surprised at his decision, for he must have felt for some time past that his indiscreet partizanship and associating himself with a clique m the Council whose actions have deservedly made them unpopular with all classes of the community, have to a considerable extent caused him to decline m the estimation of the burgesses. What Cr Wylds lacked was firmness and independence. He is well-meaning, we honestly believe, but he was too easily led, and the clique simply made use of him to assist them to carry out their own schemes. The ratepayers have been somewhat disappointed m Cr Wylds, and have not hesitated to express their dissatisfaction. They believe that his motives are good, and that his intentions are honest, but they do not attempt to disguise their strong disapproval of his palpable and undisguised sympathy with the party whose action as well within as outside the Borough Chamber has done so much to re r tard the progress of the Borough

<nd prevent the successful consum- ! nation of the Loan scheme. But Tor the tactics of the party with which Cr Wvlds has seen tit to associate himself the Borough Loan might now have been an accomplished fact. We merely refer to these matters to indicate the mistakes and errors of judgment which m our opinion Cr YVymis has, perhaps inadvertently committed, and which should be avoided by his successor if he wishes to secure and retain the confidence of the ratepayers, and the esteem and goodwill of the community. But whereas Cr Wylds has erred, as we said just now, possibly inadvertently, the ratepayers express much stronger opinions with regard to Cr Abraham's action. He seems to have entirely lost the confidence even of those who, at one time, implicitly supported him and believed m him. We need not here recapitulate the many very indiscreet — to use no harsher term — actions that have characterised Cr Abrahams' connection with municipal matters. At first, opinions were expressed that he was sincere m his desire to advance the interests of the Borough, but as time went on it became apparent that he was influenced chiefly by strong partizanship. To him and his party is attributed much of the discord and recrimination that of late has so disturbed the tranquility until recently so characteristic of Borough affairs m Palmers ton North He took up the role of reformer, and laid himself out to cleanse the Borough of all imperfections and informalities, and to purge away all corruption which some too credulous people were prone to believe really existed. How he failed to favourably impress the community with an adequate idea of the great services achieved by him, is now a matter of local history. Many people have half reluctantly admitted how their ideal councillor has disappointed them. All that they are thankful for is that his term of office has nearly expired, and that they are afforded an opportunity of electing a successor, m whose disinterested zeal, fidelity, and independence f hey hope to repose greater confidence. So deepseated is the universal dissatisfaction with Cr Abrahams' conduct, that but for the fact that it was known that his term of office was shortly to terminate and that his chances of re-election were hopeless, he would have been asked to resign some months ago. We do not believe, however, that a requisition to that effect would have attained the desired end, as under such conditions the Councillor would probably have stuck to his seat like the proverbial limpet to the rock. But the fact should not be lost upon the ratepayers, who should bear m mind when electing a representative to any position of trust and responsibility, that the time may come when they may sadly but vainly regret their choice made, and therefore should exercise all due prudence before that choice is finally and irrevocably fixed. In conclusion we again express a hope that Cr Hawki.vs will be induced to allow himself to be nominated, m which case he should command the almost unanimous support of the ratepayers m No. 4 Ward. If Cr Beck decides to come forward, we think the ratepayers will give him their conqdence without misgiving or apprehension. For Cr Wylds'' seat, a representative will have to befound, and we trust the ratepayers will exercise a careful and prudent discrimination m their choice of his successor. So also with Cr Abrahams. The burgesses now admit how completely he has failed m tho accomplishment of their wishes, and how he has declined m their estimation through identifying himself with schemes totally opposed to their views and desires. During the term of office of his successor there will probably be important undertakings of one kind and another to deal with, and the ratepayers should fix their choice upon some person of good standing m the community, m whose special qualifications and unquestionable integrity they have entire confidence, We trust to see some of the old and tried men who managed affairs snccessfully under a former regime re-elected, and we feel sure that m making a choice m the direction indicated there would be no reason to regret the course pursued, or to experience any apprehensions with regard to the future.