THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1920. TOWN BOARD ELECTION.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 13 September 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1920. TOWN BOARD ELECTION.

i The biennial general election, of .'even commissioners to constitute the Otaki Town Board takes place on Wednesday nest. In view of the proposed formation of- a borough, u was 1 suggested that, to save the cost oi an i election the present commissioners be 1 re-elected in a body, the members giving an undertaking timt. when the borough movement was decided, they ' would then resign. However, a certain section or the public expressed dissatisfaction with ihi- arrangement, and it was freely reported that several outsiders would become candidates at the election- Conseouently :t was decided to have a -traight-our contest. No less than sixteen candidates have been nominated tint dh H H. Oiliver, ha; -ince wither'-'-'m mi; name • from the list. Of these it '■ understood that seven have been nominated as a progressive * f ticket**’ -by the Otaki Btitenavera ; As -■ oeis r ;on. viz., ilcssrs Brandon, Broadway, J. B:.. , Bax, CockreiJ, Kilsby and XteoUon. ■Of the other candidates, erne if a lady (Mrs a. Si. DSith), Messrs Meads, , Bikifeana and VT. SSobie are member, of the present Board, Mr 0. X lOAth if a gentleman with past 'experience

on the Board, and Messrs Tereturn, Hakaraia and P. Taliiwi are repro-, sentatives of the Natives. We do not intend to make reference to the individual candidates —all are well--1 known to our readers—but we do wish to emphasise the importance of this poll, and to urge the townspeople to vote for men who have the interests of the town at heart, and will dp their utniost for reasonable progress. Local citizens have it in tlieir power to help make Otaki a beautiful, clean, healthy and prosperous town, which will attract visitors and residents from far and near, or they can be responsible for the town stagnating, or at. least retarding its progress. For years past the people have been frighteud by the spectre of increased ta xatiou a bogey that should be worn out by now, seeing that other towns have, proved beyond question that it pays every time to launch out with progressive town improvements, on reason- i able and businesslike lines. There is no reason why Otaki shoti Id not enjoy all the modern conveniences —such as electric light, high pressure water supply, and drainage—that are considered essential in all properly conducted towns, without imposing any heavy burden on the ratepayers, and the sooner we set about securing such advantages the better for all. We would like to make it clear that Wednesday's poll has nothing whatever to do with the formation of a borough. As our readers are aware, the preliminary steps have already been taker, to form a borough, and a poll on this question will be taken at aa early date. Thus this matter is entirely in tlie town residents’ own hands, and is quite apart from the election of town commissioners on Wednesday. At the same time, it- should be borne 'in mind that there is a possibility of the borough proposal being defeated —we sincerely hope that this will not lie the case—and therefore we should elect men on Wednesday who are ou' to improve the town. We leave t]‘ ‘ issue to the electors, with confidence that they will elect men who "'ill do their utmost to help make Otaki what ii should be —one of the most attractive small towns of tile Dominion. THE HALF-HOLIDAY TOLL. On Wednesday next, in conjunction with the Town Board election, a pudwill be taken to determine the day of the week on which the half-lioliday j -will be observed in Otaki in the • future. For a great many years We i nesday has been the recognised halfholiday, indeed no other day has ever 5 been observed here so far as we are aware. However, there has been j 'growing feeling, among a certain sec fl ion of the public at any rate, in lav our of a change, and the poll on Wednesday’ is the result of a petition to the Town Board, signed by a goodly number of townspeople. Those who ask for a change did so with the avowed object of altering the halfholiday to Saturday, and there will be a determined attempt to, carry this change on Wednesday. The great majority of employees are in favour of Saturday, for many reasons. One of these is that, with the half-holiday .".t übe end of the week, employees can taka advantage of week-end holiday trips ,or outings; another that the majority of our .-porting fixtures are arranged for Saturday afternoon, and at present shop assistants arc unable to attend these. Another disadvantage of the present * rrangemeut i* the fact that while shop assistants have their holiday in the middle of the week, those engaged in factories and offices have the half-day oft on Saturday. Thus members of on; family are frequently prevented from , spending the half-day together, they being employed in establishments I which observe different days. There can be no doubt whatever that Saturday i- the ideal day for the half- | holiday. Ou the other hand, there are some slight disadvantages. Through long use, Saturday afternoon and • veiling have become the recognised . shopping time for a great rmtny people. ' This does not seem a serious objection for the experience of other towns has i proved that the people soon become accustomed to the new order of things. ; arid Friday i- the generally-accepted - hopping day in- such towns. The i greatest objection to making any • change in Otaki in our op/inion. is the fact that other townships in the dis trier observe the holiday on Wedncs- \ Fay, and the different days will lead to . some little inconvenience. For in- : stance, if the holiday is observed on 1 Saturday in Otaki, and Wednesday ir ! l evin, this would prevent the arrange- | i cat of game*, etc., between residents 1 ; o' the two towns, which would be : st undesirable. However, Saturday a vocates consider this little disadx .ntage would bo more than eounteri lanced by the benefits that would a ,-rue from having the holiday at the • d of ihe week, and it is generally i iieved that ere long Saturday will 1-. as the proper day for .the holiday, not only in this -district, but throughout the Dominion. Un doubted!" it would be very much better for all if a universal Lairholiday were adopted, and that day would in all probability be Saturday. Feeling in this direction is steadily gaining ground, and will probably lead to legislation on the subject being introduced at no very distant date. The matter oz the holiday ;* of eons.’de.'at.de importance to ail eine-es of the community—the gene rat public a* well as emjJ -yen ac<i employee*—-and we hope to see a definite decision arrived at -n Otaki on Wednesday nest. Judging by the arguments that have j been adduced, and the experience af other town* that have tried Saturday. * there certainly gce.vs every ptwij- J briny of 'a change oetr.g mam; from J Wednesday .to Saturday, f ADVANCE rOXTCK' We have pleasure in congratulating tie xonton people nn having carried by a ss.be tariff a i -majority a propose! to borrow £36,003 for water and diain-

,'nge purposes. Foxton is one of the oldest boroughs in the province. For years past, though a solid little town, its progress has been somewhat re-tarded-by the need of up-to-date municipal „ conveniences, but, with the i advent of water supply and drainage, i it will in all probability, as the Mayor stated last week, enter into a new era of progress and prosperity. Otaki is in very much the some position as Foxton. Despite many natural advantages, which should make the town a model oue. we have been content to jog along in the old rut, and consequently have been left behind in the march of progress. In these go-ahead times, people will not live in towns where they cannot enjoy the advantages that every well-conducted town 1 should have, such as a good water supply, proper and economical lighting system, drainage, and good streets ant footpaths, and so long as Otaki fails to supply these conveniences she will lag behind. Local residents should profit by the example of other towns iu all parts of the Dominion, and by Foxton’s latest venture. They should bear this in mind in connection with Wednesday’s poll, and vote for candidates whom, they arc assured, will stand for progress. In a short time the question of the formation of Otaki into a boro igh will be before the townspeople, which will give them another opportunity of saying whether Otaki will forge ahead and become the progressive. prosperous town, that il should be, or whether it will be alio" - ed to stagnate.