COUNCIL BUSINESS AND LABOUR MAYOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8362, 24 February 1913, Page 11

COUNCIL BUSINESS AND LABOUR MAYOR

To the Editor "N.Z. Times.” Sir,—lt is very rare that a meeting of the City Council passes, without a motion to rescind some resolution which has been previously passed) I s moved by some councillor. What is tho reason of this? Is it that our councillors arc incompetent to grasp an important matter, or is it that these important resolutions are left until members fall asleep, and then hurried through - at the last moment. It is very nearly time that tho city fathers awoke to the fact that they should endeavour to carry on the 'city affairs m a busi-ness-like manner, instead of making themselves the laughing stock of the whole Dominion. Look at last meeting. It is very easy to see that our Mayor has not go tho confidence of a majority of the council. A good deal of petty jealousy seems to exist. I myself admire the firm stand the Mayor took, and it reflects no credit on the councillors when they terminate the business of the city in such an abrupt manner, especially when other important matters were - awaiting their attention. Since the present Mayor took- office, he bas spared neither time nor pains to raako himself acquainted with the city’s requirements. Take the "tramways, for instance, what state were they in? A good deal of criticism was taking place, and a report was ordered to he brought down by our so-called experts (as one city councillor very curtly put it). Now, if the Wellington tram management are not expert in tho various mat ters in connection with tho service, they have at any rate shown themselves very mnch so in snpplying us from time to time (until a very recent date) “With a mystifying lot of figures_ showing that the tramways were paying splendidly. But from out of the accumulation of dust, in some remote corner of tho tramway department, our Labour Mayor unearthed a big boaae, which after being analysed was likely in tne near future to play a conspicuous part in onr everyday lives. This big bogie after being pulled to pieces announced the fact that our tramways were befog rnn at a loss, through whose fault we have only to conjecture. This, of course, came as a great shock to those apathetic ratepayers who had allowed themselves to bo gulled into the belief that our. tramways were paying, handsomely, and who in consequence had been led away with the idea that at some future time the surplus accruing from the profits, wonld so augment the city coffers that rates wonld become a thing of the past; alas, for misplaced confidence. It is rather significant that ft should fall to the lot of a Mayor to fossick out tho dust- bins, and unearth such a monster. What about onr past so-called business Mayors ? We have had a sample of merchants, lawyers, and doctors, since the initiation of the electric car service, all men of keen intellect, who were supposed to be fully alive to the best interests of the, city, and yet who . had actually allowed tho tram system to become the laughing stock of tho whole Dominion. Through the persistent efforts, then, of onr present Labour Mayor, who, by . the by, is not supposed to have any particular, business acumen, we found that unless the fares were raised, and expenditure cut down, we should find an unexpected call upon tho rates of the city. Fellow workers, then, let us remember this at the next election, and strive to send some more Labour' members to the council, who will assist to run tho; city on sound business lines, and also hunt out such muddling management as seems to bo apparent.—l am, etc., A' WORKER. Wellington, February 21qt.