NEED FOR LEADERS.

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 38, 7 October 1931, Page 5

NEED FOR LEADERS.

THRIFT.

To the Editor. Sir, — One aspect of our present financial troubles which generally impresses the thinking individual as hopeless is the lack of leadership amongst our public men. Too often political considerations are allowed to govern a man's utterances. It is pleasing, therefore, to note the remarks of the Hon. R. Masters when replying to a deputation last Wednesday when he strongly condemned the want of thrift both in public and private expenditure. He said "the amount of local body expenditure is one of the things which is trouhling the Government at present" and proceeded to assert that it would be better to exercise more thrift and live within our means. The recent "storm" in the Rotorua Borough Council has been the means of bringing to light some unpleasant facts regarding system of spending the Council's money, and I think that

ratepayers will generally he disappointed with the Mayor's reply which appeared in Saturday's paper. The public fully appreciates the Mayor's knowledge of procedure, but I think it will be inclined to want a great deal more candour in respect to the expenditure, more particularly that relating to the so-called beautification work at Whaka. On top of this, your issue of Friday last informs us that a loan of £31Q0 for a sewerage scheme at Whaka is mooted and that the Council decided to take the initial steps to proceed with this. Cr. Johnson, Keane and Smith are to be complimented upon expressing disagreement with this proposal and it is a thousand pities that the finance committee were not of .a like mind upon the matter. Truly, sir, we lack leadership of the right kind. The apparent complacency of the Mayor and his supporters in the Council in committing the ratepayers to further interest payments does not accredit their business instincts. It is true that Cr: Coleman pointed out that this proposal would not affect the rates of the town in general, but only the special rating area "if the ratepayers in that area desired it. A policy of Laissez-faire is a poor substitute for leadership. — Yours, etc.,

Rotorua, October 6, 1931.