THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 30 January 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

A Reproach To Otaki. Otaki's record in connection with I "* (■. «ar ra; one of which may ail 1 be jus.u,- This district stood J second to none iu its contribution of | men. in sacrifice, and in patriot i<- effort : in various direction* flut -vviien if ! comes to “after the war, ” and when, i in years to conic, residents of The di.— ! tried look back m the efforts to establish a worthy peace memorial, they t will, we fear, do so with feedings of j shame and regret that the people of ■ to-day did not rise to the occasion, and ■ erect a worthy and suitable memorial. ' As would be seen by our report ,<,l recent meeting of the Peace ■ Memorial .-Committee, the proposed peace memorial ,-eheraC' tor Otaki. I which was launched .auspiciously. has come to naught, and this st.-y Juts t bee u brought about i.-y '-the failure of I the wealthier classes of the community to give a lead it; such a matter. The . scheme was given * good start by ' three liberal donations of £2.'d each by members of one family, and had but half a dozen others of the many who t-ouid easily have afforded donatior:.of a like amount followed suit, we be- • lieve the scheme would have i'-'- n car Tied out, but those who have been ont plowed with a fair share of this world's goods —and these people owe their ail J to the lads who fought and gave their lives for tia is- the great struggle—absolutely turned the scheme clown. In the face of such opposition, fit*:- com mb pee bad no option but to abandon th-fe jirhs-me. We confess to keen app-risrpien*. at this result. • which is most diss-tmragi’tg to those who took up , the proposal enthusiastUc? Iy. and were prepared to work hard and mans .some sacrifice td sec It put into effect. It stems to us that .the cgfUs es offered ' for noa-sspport were, to: ih» most part, mere txeascs. The sdhfinc was adopted unanimously by public n'feting. after the matter had been most fully ventilated. and if seems a very great pity that the many who now oppose the scheme did not-at that time attend the meetings and voice their objection*. Then possibly some other and more popular srhemc might have been adopted. After their •.•>;p*?r;*-r:* <- of the last effort the members of the last committee will not 2c«l - disposed to tackle another proposition. ‘ but it would be.a thousand-pdfies to have bo pence memorial—no thankoffering for the glorious victory achieved, and 'iso monument in. vfaarir? of the brave lads iwiw made the supreme tycriflce—-and : we’ .ttH bote *pjsx the- public -.->»! r_ike a supreme effort and «e-sr sojjjtTwoithy ««i«9fel in Otak i.

Tow*n Board Censured.

Oil the evidence adduced at the public meeting held at Otaki on Wednesday nigh!, the vote of censure passed on tlie Town Hoard was merited, it would appear from the papers produced that the Board members sought advice from a leading legal authority (Hr K. C. Kirk) as to the advisability of entering into a contract with Mr Reardon with respect to electric tight installation. The advice given wns clear, logical, and gave weighty reasons why such an agreement should not be signed. Vet. in face of such advice, the Board deliberately signed the agreement. The result has been that the Board has been unable to borrow the money necessary to carry out the scheme, and is now liable for a sum ot about £250 for preliminary work done by Mr Reardon. Possibly the town commissioners had good reasons for acting ns they did at the time, but if

so. it is a pity they did not voice them at Wednesday’s meeting, and in the

absence of any excuses the stern rebuke administered by the ratepayers was richly deserved. It would appear that the Board is now in rather a

peculiar position regarding this matter. There is a sum of about £250 owing to Mr Reardon. According to 3lr Ivtrk s opinion the Board cannot: legally pay this money our of general account, and as no loan money is available, where is it to come from: This is a little proidem that will probably occupy tho attention of Board members at next meeting. liven supposing the Board made a mistake by entering into the

agreement, the ratepayers are undoubtedly liable for the expense incurred, for the members are the representatives of the electors. The expenditure incurred must not be looked upon as a loss, however. M e under-

stand this £250 is the cost of engineering work- that will be required when over the electric lighting installation is proceeded with, and whether the Board has its own private scheme or secures its power froiy the Mangaliao current —we take it for granted the town must have one or other of the schemes in tho near future—tine work done bv Mr Reardon will then be availed of. Fair and Unfair Criticism. We firmly believe in fair criticism of public men in their ollicinl capacity. Those who take public positions must expect criticism, and. if this is fair and reasonable, none should take offence, and good should result. Xu one is in fallible, and all public- men are apt to make mistakes, which those directly interested are perfectly .-justified in pointing out. with a view to preventing a recurrence ot same, and generally m the interest of good government. The “Otaki Mail" has frequently severely criticised the Otaki Town Board for its • actions and its want of activity, and we heartily agree with much that was -aid at the public meeting at Otaki on Wednesday night with respect to the. work of the local Board. At tho sana time, we cannot: but make a protest against the manner in which veiled were made against eertain members by some of the speakers. The , remarks made- led those present to be

j lievo fiu s t sorts of nefarious prat:- ] lie... wore being resorted “to by Board * members. In a vague .-.ori of way ji I was darkly hinted that eertain shady * 1 1 ansact ions hud been etifried out it) the Board in the past, that mem be r.hnd been guilty of “greasing one another's palms/’ that practically all the commissioners—with ihc single ex <• option of Com. Meads —wore betrayer.. the trust imposed in them by rub-pavers, that member- allowed rjther- to vent their .-pile against personal enemies, am! that even the i'rc“ i had been silenced or bought over. Jn deed, .some of the statements made were, in our opinion, of a libollounature. Such a ( -tiort is much to no dv precated. While we have much fault 1., find with the actions of our town commissioners in the past, we firstly believe that each has attest honourably ami conscientiously, though doubtless ths.-v have made mistakes, ami were not as jealous in the discharge of theii duties as they might have been, and ii -» ; : . a great :w tin:? tlic-c vagut iat re;’at ion- -houtd ha*.’- been mad' at the public- meeting referred to, It .-jeh corrupt practices exist as was in ferrmi. why not lay charges in a proper wavßut it / not right that our pub lie -ervani- should hai? /heir characters asper-ed such a casual way p* done at the public meeting referred to. Our public men have jnueb o contend v“h. Their- is a 'hankie--,b at bc-t. -out if ,'asy are to be vili- .,} ;,nd libelled without it-t ;.-r bin- - -attce. jui decent man will offer his Tvice- in the pai.dig interest- Doubf- -- -omc of the comment- siade on . 'edne.-Jay right were passed thoughtbut vr* hope 'bat citizens will - ,t indulge ic such unfair criticism in • future.