The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1927. CHOOSING A MAYOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 19, 13 April 1927, Page 8

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1927. CHOOSING A MAYOR

IT should now be as easy for the ratepayers to elect the right man for the Mayoralty of Auckland as it is for an expert shepherd to select from a strange flock the sheep best fitted to become the bell-wether. The confusion of progressive candidates has been straightened out by their platform speeches. And on that test the process of selection should be quite simply a quick elimination of the inarticulate and inefficient claimants for the most responsible position in local government throughout the Dominion.

_ Those who may take the trouble to read the policy speeches of Mr. George Baildon, the retiring mayor, and Mr. J. A. Warnock, deputy mayor, at Epsom and Eemuera last evening, Will see at once that, on every test of fairness and on all principles of efficiency, the man who has had two years of office and proved himself to be a hopeless administrative failure, should be hastened politely into retirement, and that the other only requires authoritative opportunity to prove his merit and worth as chief administrator of the city. It may be noted that about forty ratepayers attended the opening of Mr. Baildon’s campaign as compared with an attendance of approximately one hundred ratepayers at Mr. Warnock’s first public meeting in the present municipal election contest. That marked difference, in popular response to these rival candidates’ claims is pretty well exactly the difference between their respective merits. It should also mark the difference between them at the poll. Taken separately or together, however, there is no scope for valid argument as to which one should be given decisive preferment. Mr. Warnock has a definite policy, and, as his appreciative audience recognised last evening, also has ability to give his proposals form and substance. Though unemotional and lacking in spirited eloquence, he is an effective speaker, knows the value of cautious language, and understands, as a matter of sound business, that it is foolishness to pitch municipal schemes higher than the limit of financial resources. Moreover, he has the character and moral courage to do his duty without fear or favour and, the most important virtue of all, entirely without any desire or risk of playing for his own hand or for the hands of others in the background of local government. It should not be forgotten that, next to the State, the Auckland City Council is the greatest administrative concern in the country. It has to levy a special rate of one shilling and threepence in the £■ to pay interest on its borrowed money. Its activities cover a wide field of effort and enterprise, and involve serious responsibilities. As the great Chalmers would have said: “A man of wecht” (in the moral meaning of weight) is required in the high position of mayor. Mr. Warnock me£ts that requirement in every way. Everything considered the real contest should be narrowed down to the claims of Mr. Warnock and Mr. T. Bloodworth. There is only one thing that can be said against the Labour candidate, but it is a vital thing. If he were made leader of the orchestra, so to speak, he would not be allowed to call the tune. That is the prerogative of the political organisation he must serve first before serving all the people. And that, of course, is contrary to the principles of true democracy.

DRAINAGE IN HAURAKI PLAINS

GOLDMINING is not the only industry in which it happens that greater riches are sunk in the earth than are ever taken out of it. There are many instances of more money being buried in improving land for agriculture—when the interest value which attaches to all capital is considered—than can ever be recovered. Poor land has ruined many a man by swallowing his all, and it is doubtful whether the drainage of rich swamp lands by private enterprise would pay the holders in many instances. But the Government has sunk immense sums in swamp drainage, notably in the famous Hauraki Plains. It fixed certain prices for the reclaimed land and sold it on certain terms of repayment. In many cases the settlers have been swamped out, and while fresh drains have had to be cut valuations and repayments have had to be reduced. Recently the Government built a stopbank on the southern side of the Waihou River. Small outlet drains then became operative. The Government excavated a mail} drain running parallel’with the river. The settlers found its maintenance and cleaning beyond.their means, and they asked for further financial assistance. This the Ministe' of Lands has promised, to the extent of £6OOO. There has been some very free criticism of the, drainage operations of the Hauraki Plains, and the opinion has been expressed that the hundreds of thousands of pounds spent thereon will in future years prove to have been wasted, as the peat must gradually sink until it is many feet below the level of ■the Hauraki Gulf. In that case, not all the drainage in the world will save the plains from reverting to swamp. According to the Government engineers, it is “quite all right,” but if there is even a suspicion in the minds of private engineers that it may be “all wrong,” it would be as well to call in expert advice from outside and have the whole of the drainage operations in this district comprehensively reviewed.

THE WONDERS OF WIRELESS

WHEN Marconi had succeeded in directing Morse signals across the Atlantic without the aid of cable, it was thought, by all but the brilliant inventor, that the limit of human accomplishment had been reached in this direction. None foresaw the wonders that would be, though may be Marconi himself dreamed the dreams which have come true.

First the dot-dash, then the voice, then print and pictures over the magic air, which man is now exploring in rivalry with the birds, and much more scientifically! Marconi demonstrated to a London audience on Saturday and showed'that the Australian beam system could deal witli 150,000 words a day, or three times the number that can be handled by cable, and that by this latest method of transmission three messages could be sent at once. Television and the transmission of pictures are promised between England and Australia with the same speed and clarity as they can now be transmitted over the space of half a mile. What next? Science is moving at such speed—working on the everextending knowledge that scientists have acquired—that all prophecies are liable to be passed and left standing. One can only marvel at the wonders that are and speculate at the wonders that will be.