The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1903. MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 77, 30 March 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1903. MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

A casual observer, judging by the municipal calm which prtvaila jus now, would puppcse that everybody sros p-jfectly satisfied with affairs munifipjl. 'fh.rea'.e, however, indications 'hit tha calm prevailing is tho proverbial " c ilm btfore a storm." Although we are almost on the eve of the Mayoral and mucicipal election?, we have seldom seen less apparent interest taken in the cjuiing election ; yet it is evident that there is a deep undercurrent of disc intent. Then is reason to believe that this fe-liug, exists boh in atd outsiie the Council. We loam on good authority that more than o: e councillor is dissatisfied with the existing state of things, and does cot; intend seeking re-election. It is ot;ly fir to assume that his Worship the M-iyor and tbe Council have a perfectly reasonable answer to givo to all hostile cri icism. S'ill we should not ba doiDg our duty if we did not warn them that a great deal of discontent does exist. The Henui bridge fiasco, the delay in the erection of abattoirs, the public baths, tbe instal lation of elec'.ric lighting, and th' public works generally, and the recent troubla over the building byelaws, all tend to increase the growing discontent. We have always strongly sup ported the Council and are anxious to 1 continue that support; but peoplonnot help contrasting the condition of New Plymouth iit.reets and tha system of strret improvement acd maintenanc with the streets and systems in vogue elsewhere, and the result is not credit able to New Plymouth. A great deai of the work is of a very patchwork character and in some places the unfinished nature of tbe worfc leads to a condition of things that is not satisfactory. The winter is rapidly approaching, and we fear to contemplate the condition some people will be plac d

in should the winter be a wet one. For their own sakes and for thq sake ; of the ratepayers whose trustees thoy ; are, we hope the councillors will bas'ir | themselves and endeavour to put things lin a more satisfactory condition. We j have not previously commented on th? friction th«t exists regarding th* j building bye-laws, but it does app a ! that a conference between the bye-laws [committee and representatives of th» >; building trade together with a reasonably liberal interpretation of thoir ; meaning would save a good deal of ! friction. While no one will que»'io>. | the necessity of proper provisions and ■ safeguards, the Council must be exitremely careful not to hamper build-rs | and check enterprise. The intelligent ;ai;d cireful administration, of bye-law.-, so that they shall not brcome oppressive, is most important, and it should be the endeavour oF the Council (o frame and so administer the bye-law-so thitthey compel by their reasonable ness rather than to have recourse to the strong arm of the kw.