The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1917. YESTERDAY'S ELECTIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 April 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1917. YESTERDAY'S ELECTIONS.

(With whieh is incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimarino News).

The mandate given by the electors of the Borough of Taihape at the election of councillors yesterday seems to be satisfactory in every way, excepting that there will be some regret that a man trained in business methods, like Mr. J. R. Cunninghame, missed being elected by some fourteen votes. He has done useful work at the council table and in committee that ratepayers cannot well overlook, in fact he proved to be an earnest, painstaking, trustworthy representative, and ratepayers would have done well in giving him a new lease of their confidence. The new council is the old one with Mr. Champion replacing Mr. Cunninghame and the substitution of Messrs Reid and Needham for Mr. Bennett and Mr. Somerville, who did not seek re-election. We should be rightly regarded as insincere were we

to suggest that the new council is the equal of the old one. The seats of two particularly good, well-trained, tried and experienced councillors are filled by two who are at present an unknown Quantity, but by the adoption of the highest ideals in the management of the Municipal estate the new men will, it is hoped, wfSen the field from which good administrators may be selected in future council elections. Ratepayers have the experience yet to com e that will disclose whether their confidence is to be rewarded by results. A municipality is nothing more, or less large part-

nership in which ratepayers are shareholders, and in which residents

are entitled to a voice in the election of the board of directors. In lesser partnerships shareholders usually select the men that are best capable of bringing about material progress, but in these larger partnerships it is not infrequently the case that' the welfare ot the whole is sacrificed to the whims of some small section. A conduct of the municipal partnership business that is tinctured with such tangents from the high road to progress must result in loss to the whole structure, and they will consequently retard the increase in the flow of business that it should be our duty as true citizens and members of the municipal firm to enhance in every way possible. Rather than to encourage waste of our own capital, that is the sum total of money possessed by every man and woman in the town, we should strive to do everything that will attract the attention of those living outside the borough, improve our streets and footpaths, brighten up our places of business, institute healthful sanitation, never overlooking the rights and interests of our fellow-partners in the borough concern. So long as our new

councillors formulate their ideals on some such lines we shall have no fear for the future of the town and of Its business houses. We have to conduct our affairs within our means, and the men who can make those means go the fastest will make the best councillors. Enthusiasm may lead us into serious errors, perhaps more easily than into the accomplishment of good. No loan money will be available for public works until after the Avar, as the Government of the country has rightly and providently laid it down that there shall be a cessation of local body borrowing for public works until the time arrives when the thousands of men returning from the front will have to be re-absorbod in civil occupations. Therefore, whatever is done in th e way of improvement must be out of earnings and not by increase of partners-hip indebtedness. Nevertheless there is ampl e scope for display of administrative enthusiasm, for there are many very desirable works that might be accomplished by clever and careful manipulation of the money that is available. By the return of four out of five of his old councillors, the Mayor will be able to carry out the work and projects the old council had in hand. In fact the mandate to the Mayor is, "Carry on as before, you have the unabated confidence of ratepayers." <~