CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 155, 26 July 1909, Page 4

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

To the Editor.

Sir,—To my mind, as a mere ratepayer with no aspirations to civic honors, it scorns incomprehensible that the moneyed men of iXew Plymouth, with all their interests at stake, can calmly sit down and leave their destiny in the hands of persons with practically no stake in the country beyond, pos- j sibly, their portmanteaux. The man who should aspire to civic honors is the | man who lias his capital at stake. If, I however, the moneyed man is prepared to leave his destiny in the hands of Uiose who, though personally, maybe, perfectly honorable in so far as their individual lights are concerned, may lack business capacity, experience, and travel (and, alfter all, travel is education), what can he expect? If he were to forward a cheque for fifty guineas towards a fund to he raised for the purpose of enabling our present Mayor to enlighten, by travel, our present ''civic fathers"—not necessarily far, say Inglewood or Waitara—he would he doing something to overcome our municipal stagnation. To .the average business man (I might even use the term "mediocre"), in dealing with the two ma'tters now at issue there could be only one reasonable solution to each proposal—namely, a straight street for Gill-street and a concrete arch with earth filling for Courtenay-street. However, the ''powers that be," after arguing over the proposal for weeks, have ordained things otherwise, so that we will now have to he satisfied with a ' hog's hind leg" for a street, a heavy rate for a blister, a narrowly dangerous and unsightly bridge for Courtenaystreet, with probably a three-feet notice board signed by all of the borough councillors (to make it, in their estimation, quite legal), notifying the public that such bridge is only guaranteed to carry one male adult at a time.

However, be that as it may, one thing I do sincerely trust is that you will advocate a subscription-list to defray the cost of engraving the nam-- " f the present Council on both with a"V i relief" if funds will permit. What is required is something to hand dow-a to

posterity. I expect to be leaving for the South in the morning, so will not have time to reply to the inundation of correspondence which this epistle ; s bound to bring down on your head, but my best wishes arc with you. I like your town, and also its'possibilities, but take my advice, Mr. Editor, and assist your worthy Mayor, who lia.s himself travelled and seen the world, in sending your Council for an "enlightening holiday," even if at the expense of the ratepayers. It will pay in the end, if they are to remain in office. —I am, etc., TE KUITI.