PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. Saturday, September 3, 1881.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 975, 3 September 1881, Page 2

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. Saturday, September 3, 1881.

The proceedings of the Borough Council were not (barring the small pox scare) of a very lively description on Tuesday evening last. On that particular question, the Council appointed His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Brown and Piesse to carry out the requirements of the Public Health Act, 1876, which enforces compulsory re-vaccination, so it would be well for our readers to look into the matter. The, Harbor Board Bill — Mr. McDonald’s bantling—was discussed, but nothing came of it. His Worship said that he had interviewed the Premier in Wellington, with regard to the endowment clause, without which it would be useless to attempt to proceed with the work ; but he could not get even a hope of assurance that the House would, in its present frame, give, the endowment. A discussion took place on the right of the press to be present at committee meetings of the Council. We offer no opinion, but, putting the question of right on one side, it is exceeding bad taste for any one, acting in a public capacity, to seek to burk what he does, let it be in committee or in Council.

For ourselves, we should be thankful to find that the Press was excluded from committee meetings, for goodness knows, the proceedings of the Council itself —although relieved by the fumigation of half a dozen pipes — are prosaic enough to send any ordinary reporter to the land of Nod. What is done in committee, we presume, is of equal public import, to what is done in the Council, therefore it surprised us to learn that certain Councillors stated, in effect, if not in words, that, as they recognised no Press reporter present, freedom of expression was given scope to, which would not have' been under other circumstances ; or, otherwise stated, they did and said, under cover of non-iden-tification, what they would not have done under recognition. This much we may say —that committee meetings are not supposed to be hole-and-corner assemblages to say and do what is not fit for the public ear and eye ; while the desire to exclude the Press is tantamount to a kind of moral cowardice in a desire to say things secretly which dare not be said openly. We protest against this. The tenders for printing and advertising were commented on pretty severely. It appears that the proprietors of the local journals have wisely determined not to reduce business to foolery. The absurd prices at which the Herald and Standard have tendered, hitherto, cannot be continued ; therefore, Mr. Craig and Mr. Webb, wrote to the Council announcing that if advertisements were sent to both papers the charge would be reduced sixpence an inch. This conclusion was not arrived at in the support of anything but a purely business-like action. In the first place, we naturally enquire why we should be called on by public bodies to do work for them at a cheaper rate than we do for our ordinary and better customers ? Speaking generally, it is an undoubted fact that the expenditure of both the County and Borough Councils put together, does not equal, or even approach—either in quantity or amount—-that of some of our private customers. So thaton that score, it is thought not advisable to tender, > except in the present shape, The

Council passed the following resolution, which, we dare say, will be followed out fairly enough ; but we must protest against any unfairness. For instance, we do not think we can be blamed for protesting that the tenders for shingling (to be sent in yesterday) should have appeared in the Standard on Wednesday, in view of the short notice given. The resolution is thus :— That the tender for advertising be not accepted, and that the advertising of the Borough be given to either paper, to suit circumstances, at the ordinary rates, space to be limited.

There was another reason —which we may explain, now that the matter is public—why the local papers would not tender for the advertising, and that is that, hitherto, the calling for tenders was a mere sham, by which to deliberately deceive the tenderers. The idea was to obtain tenders, at a cutting competition, and then to give the advertisements to both papers, in consideration of the price being so low. Now, everybody knows that the object in contracting to do a certain work, is to obtain the exclusive right to, and monopoly of it; but if a tenderer suspects that the tenders are only bogus catch-traps, the object is laid bare, and, as in the present case, the birds are not caught. With regard to the erection of a bridge at the foot of Gladstone Road, we commend His Worship’s notice of motion to the general acceptation of our readers. It is as follows : — The Government, having expressed their inability to place a sum upon the Estimates in aid of the erection of a bridge at the foot of Gladstone Road, that this Council having in view the rapid progress of the district, and the extention of roads, deem it advisable that a bridge be erected, the cost to be defrayed from locally-issued debentures, the interest to be met from tolls leviable. That, instead of a sinking fund, such debentures shall from time to time be taken up by the Borough Fund account, to which account the interest shall be payable.

We trust His Worship will not push this matter to be determined by the Council alone, without obtaining an expression of public opinion on it. The building of the bridge in question, is of the first importance, and one which must be undertaken ; but, as it is of county and colonial interest, we do not see why the work should be undertaken by private means.

It will be seen from the Returning Officer’s announcement that there are seven candidates for Municipal honors, in the room of the three who have had to retire in accordance with the requirements of law. The addresses of most of the candidates will be found in our advertising columns, and they speak for themselves. We propose, on this, as on all other occasions of a similar nature, to let each man stand on his own merits. Of course there are differences in all men’s minds ; and there are many considerations which determine an election, quite outside the mere fitness or eligibility of individual candidature. This should not be so, but it is so ; and there is no use in winking at it. We have “ spotted ” three, and believe they will be returned ; but, as the selection is varied, there is no excuse for not electing the three best, still we refrain from the slightest invidious remark that would operate against the free and independent choice of the burgesses. It is on their judgment that the fiat rests, and, therefore, on them we cast the responsibility. What is essentially required is that those, pre-possessing a knowledge of their duty will be selected. And in saying this it is our duty and privilege to draw public attention to the fact that nearly all the charges sheeted home to the Borough Council contain an element of over-engineer-ing. We do not want so many engineers in either of our Councils ; and we are bound to state our belief that the spasmodic repairs and formation of our streets, and the frightful mutilation and sodden condition of one of the finest thoroughfares in the Colony, are due to the over-zealous intermedling of lay members with the professional officers of the staff. On this exceptional item we are strongly of opinion that no candidate should be elected who will not devote himself to the removal of that hideous canal thwarting the Gladstone road ; and to a more systematic expenditure of the balance of the loan.