The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1916. BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1916. BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION.

(With which is incorporated The Tai hape Post and Waimarino News.)

At no other time in the history of Talhape did civic conditions need more careful and capable management than at the present time. From one unfortunate cause an(d another owners of property have to carry very large burdens and responsibilities. The town is still continuing a mush-room-like growth, whicn means that taxpayers in their own vital interests will be compelled to look with greater keenness into the class of man they elect to manage their affairs. If they continue to allow seats in the Borough Council to be filled by the first man that offers himself they will have themselves to blame for any state of drift which they are thereby contributing to. It will be found, sooner or later., that accumulations on properties brought about by indifference to mismanagement will not be transferable to tenants, and it is as well that our thoughts should dwell on that aspect of public affairs. The time is approaching when town pro/pertieswil] not be valued on what they cost and the burdens they bear, but like all other commodities they will be assessed for letting purposes at their real value. “This phase of the ; real property question will not have occurred to mahy,- and although they pooh pooh it now they will still carry the inner consciousness that something of the kind is coming. But that 1 is a matter it was not our intention to discuss now. |We want our taxpayers to keep in mind the fact that they are at present very heavily burdened, and that two Councillors are required to fill places vacated by capable, level-headed men. We don’t want them to tell us, after they have elected two incapable men, that we neglected a public duty in not fully emphasising the importance of the election that is about to take place. The mushroom-like growth of the town has become more rapid, in no way has there been any slackening off. What was good enough in years past will not be tolerable or permissible in the very near future, and it is all a question of money and management. Without care in selecting managers the borough affairs are surely going to become more involved in difficulties. Taihape is now at a stage, and its affairs are so placed, that taxpayers will be courting some sort of disaster in allowing their public business to, by any chance, fall into the hands of men, in any way lacking in business instincts and capacity. The election of the town’s board of management is the last occasion we should take to pay compliments to our friends; it is no time for such stupidity. We want men now more than ever we did with strong initiative and administrative ability, and we trust that electors will do their utmost to induce the right class of man to offer himself for so important a public position. Nominations for the seats vacated by Dr. Barnett and Mr. McLennan close at the Council office 'at noon, on Monday next, 6th March.