The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1917. BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 March 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1917. BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION.

(With which is incorporated The Taihapo Post and Wahnarino News).

That want of confidence in any administrative bod3 r , the referendum, is only resorted to, as a rule, on the most vital national questions. In Taihape Sunday pictures seems to come under the category of extremely vital questions to a few misguided people, for an effort has been made to have a referendum taken upon that silly, insignificant subject. It is truly depressing to find burgesses invoking extreme efforts of their fellows in such paltriness while they should be engaged in working out th e salvation of the borough in the many difficulties that beset it. No self-respectfng ratepayer, on second thought, can feel proud of placing such a pettifogging question as Sunday pictures above and before the really vital matters this borough, more than many others has to contend with. The only councillor that supported the petition for a Sunday picture referendum, was not happy in his remarks. Of course there was so little that could be said in its favour that it is not surprising that he lapsed into what was specious or foolish. Or. Joblin knows that the Council can allow pictures during its term of office, but that immediately its successor is appointed Sunday pictures can be disallowed, and all the referendums in the world could make no difference to that class of men this borough needs as a Council. To say that the petition did not ask for Sunday pictures is unalloyed humbug. What is the permission sought for but to have? It is absurd to ask for anything of the kind being made permissible, simply because that permissibility is ever present with this or any other Council, and no referendum can add to or take from the fact.. Then what is the referendum for? It looks like the only slap some misguided people can take at present Councillors. It was not asking for right but for license; an abuse of th e referendum. At this time of the Empire’s greatest stress, when thousands of our brave boys are being taken from us. and given graves in foreign lands, leaving sorrowing parents, relatives and friends. Councillor Joblin might

[have found some other question on J which to test the opinion of the electors, instead of inflicting ,on them such a matter so belittling, holding the community up to ridicule in all other parts of the country. In his opinion racing was worse than Sunday pictures, but many people will not think with Cr. Joblin, and although there is quite an absence of analogy between occasional racing on week days and regular pictures on Sundays, it is only another step to racing on Sundays. Why won’t Cr. Joblin mentally see the picture he is endeavouring to open I up? Why Sunday pictures, Cr. Joblin, more than Sunday billiards, Sunday I beer gardens (as they have in Germany), Sunday dancing saloons, and the hundred and one other pleasures - on which there is no business element clashing with the law, a silver coin not of less than a certain value might be made the entrance fee as it is fo* I pictures, then why not races, it J would be a more healthful way of I spending a few hours. The referen--1 dum is never invoked except as a final effort to decide the most vital of national questions. There was some difficulty about granting a referendum on the life and death question of Conscription in Australia, yet a few misguided people here want a referendum to get them Sunday pictures, and they have made the indignity more acute by threatening to elect a Council that will institute Sunday pictures, Cr. Joblin blows hot and cold, first he says the petitioners do not ask for Sunday pictures, and a little later that the result of the poll will be a mandate from the electors. In any case one Council cannot do anything to bind its successor only in such cases as are supported by Statute law, and Sunday pictures is certainly not one of them. The subject of the petition presented to the Council is one that should not influence any propertyowner in this borough in the selection of a Council, for the man who went into the Council to restore th e showing of Sunday pictures would not be likely to so Intelligently conduct the municipal business so as to relieve the ratepaying burden that propertyowners are now carrying. The borough needs men that are above Sunday pictures, or even a road here, or a footpath there. The progress of the community in present conditions needs the selection of the best business brains that are available. Such men should not be disgusted and turned aside by Cr. Joblin’s picture mandate, and we trust the picture petitioners will realise how stupid it, would be to sacrifice everything for men who want Sunday pictures. Neitheir friendship, or, in fact, any other consideration should be allowed to stand in the* way of a vote being cast for the most capable men who offer themselves as administrators of the public affairs.