The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1917. MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 4 May 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1917. MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

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

Mr. Arrowsmith's statement at his installation as Mayor for another two years, seems to call for some comment because for the first time the electors were given a full view of all the excellent work the late Council accomplished during its term of office. 'He made no special or personal claim for the results achieved, but said most of the hardest problems had been solved in committee. There is, more especially in a democracy, some objection to committees taking the work of the Council, but in Taihape's particular case we knew there were many good, and we may correctly say, unavoidable reasons why very much of the most important work should be performed as Mr. Arrowsmith stated. A less experienced Council might easily have closed the doors leading to the attainment of their own desires. In such cases, for instance, as the Suggate case, the difficulty with the Railway Department over a sewerage question, and the manipulation of the wherewithal for bringing the water and electric services up to a state of efficiency. Each of these subjects were fully pregnant, with almost insuperable trouble, and we must admit, however much we reisent a committee usurpation of Council business, that were it not for the legal and business knowledge brought to bear in Committee discussions that could not be advanced in open Council the same good results could not

i have been attained . We have abstained from urging on the performance ,of what seems to us really essential works because we knew there was no money for such works. Now the electors have the statement from the Mayor that during his term of office £4 100 of temporary loan money has been paid off; a debt of £ISOO paid on an old electricity and water con tract; a claim of £3OO has been settled with £100; and he very reasonably claims that new public works could not be proceeded with while those claims were unsettled, no matI ter how urgent they might be. To i have attempted to do more with the 1 material would have been to prejudice the best interests of the entire bor- ( ough. Those who had any doubts about what they were receiving for the rates paid are told by Mr. Arrowsmith that they were building up a i sound financial position. Last year rrates were reduced, and it was hoped that this year there would be a fur--1 ther reduction by the Town Hall earnr ing the interest on its own cost. In respect to special rates the Council is above praise for the sound and very proper system of finance adopted. In local body affairs no other course than that adopted should be allowable. Special rates are struck to provide principal and interest on special loans, and to do other than to institute a sinking and interest fund is finance of haphazard and costly character. It must be gratifying to ratepayers to learn that after the Mayor's recital of what had been accomplished the Council's overdraft at the bank was still below the limit to the extent of nearly two thousand pounds. While the borough was being relieved of these financial obligations entirely out of revenue, many necessary public works were being pushed forward. Works of any magnitude were out of the question till loan mon,ey was available, when loans for

pressing purposes are to be raised and a consolidation of the borough in-

debtedness effected if the money market is favourable, or if arrangements can be made for adjustment of interest. When the time arrives, and it becomes a question as to what works are the most urgent, then it is hoped.that the fullest discussion will be encouraged, but if ratepayers refrain from voicing their views till after works are completed, or till after the Council is "irretrievably involved then there can be no sympathy for therm- If this borough is to progress at the most rapid rate possible it will not be by the wails of grumblers, but by what interested workers carry out.

WHEAT GROWING. By advertisement in another column from the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture, it will be learned what help and encouragement the Government is willing and ready to give to farmers to induce them to grow wheat. To enable the Empire to emerge from , the war in every respect victorious wheat is now the most essential commodity. Up to quite recently, wool and. meat were most urgent, and equally so with men, but a turn has come bringing the need for wheat uppermost. Farmers have experienced a time of high profits while supplying what was most required to keep our defence sure against enemy inroads, now they are asked to launch out on another profitable time in furnishing the wheat that is requisite to finish the offensive our soldiers have commenced, to the utter destruction of that Prussian militaristic Moloch that has swallowed so many .hundreds of thousands of our Empire's best lives, and which will again do likewise if anything but complete and absolute victory for our arms has to be accepted. The Empire now calls aloud to farmers to grow wheat; wheat is the Army's and empire's most pressing need, will our farmers answer the call, which means victory, by taking to the plough? Farmers are not asked to enter upon any risky business, an extremely profitable price for wheat has been fixed tor the next few years; the Government will find money for seed, wheat, and fertilisers if wanted, until payment for the resultant crops •is received. There need be no trouble about shortage of horses and labour, as the Government will supply tractors wherever there is any useful

wheat area, "either to one farmer on Practically his own terms, or to two, three or more farmers whose land can be worked by the one tractor. Any number of farmers may combine to Set a tractor from the Government on

whatever terms are convenient to them, completely cutting out all labour and horse shortage contentions. Will our farmers rise to the occasion in our country's and our Empire's needs? We believe t"Tey will, and we p an already mentally see their contented looks and smiling faces as they stand and view their fields of golden ■;rain waving in the breesie and sunshine ready to be garnered, a~nd introspectively ruminating over the gol-

den returns that are obviously coming from their labour, and from their patriotism in coming to the Empire's needs in itc; direst moments. Farmers have only to apply to the Fields Supervisor in Taihape for information and for the guarantee that the Department will do all it promises in the advertisement.