The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER, 2, 1920. COUNTY ELECTIONS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 580, 2 November 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER, 2, 1920. COUNTY ELECTIONS.

Commendable interest is being taken in the county elections, particularly so in Franklin, where thereare contests in most riding^ For Franklin, Raglan and >Manukau the coming elections are olj, more than ordinary importance, substantial loans for the machinery and plant have b'eten ctoried in Manukau and Raglangus \wl in all probability the loan |ropose\ to be taken on the date of pie elec* tions in Franklin, so that laembers! of incoming councils will hslye very heavy financial responsibilities thrust upon them. If Franklin does not carry the loan proposal, it '.Vill not matter much what type of candidate gets in, because in that event council will just have to mark time. But assuming that the ratepayer, are going to do the sensible thing and sanction the loan proposals, then il becomes obvious that keen, capabl • men will be required. And the most necessary qualification in a membe is business ability, in order that the loan and other moneys may be spenl to the best advantage. A council of business men, for whom most of the spade work will have been done already, would have a splendid opportunity of providing better roads thai. Franklin ever knew before, as the new body will have—provided the loan proposal is successful —the machinery to do the work with in all ridings. If the ratepayers act with selfrespect and discretion there will be no repetition of the disgraceful example that was reported to have oc curred in one riding at the last elections, wherein a tried and capable councillor was defeated by reprehen sible interests and contemptible practices, with the result that the coun cil has been the poorer during the past three years for the loss of pood man who was honoured everywhere except in his own riding. There is too much at stake now to allow personal likes and dislikes ane side issues to enter in. The rate payers need a council of business men to manage their finances and works for them, and therefore the only way to guard against wasteful expendit • ure and to secure thorough organisation and direction is to elect honest, sraight-going. broadminded yet keen business men 'to what is after ali simply a board of management.