STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 284, 23 April 1913, Page 5

STRATFORD NEWS.

FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTED

Telephone Xo. 113,

MUNICIPAL MATTERS IS PUBLIC IXTEREST OX THE EBB? So far, only four nominations of borough councillors have been handed in. The gentlemen nominated are Messrs. K. Dingle, J. 11. Thompson, J. W. Boon (sitting members) and F. 0. Arden, a new aspirant for long hours, numerous kicks and nary a ha'penny profit. Mr. W. I'. Kirkwood, the Mayor, has been nominated for a further term. Residents who take an interest in these affairs profess to express surprise that so few men are offering their services, but they don't come forward themselves. Unhesitatingly, it can be said that this lack of ambition to sit at the Council table, this lack of desire to assist in the administration of local go- ! vernment, and the very evident failure i to take hold with both hands of this civic responsibility, is a bad thing for the town. Can anyone saw how it is that in a town of Stratford's size it should be so dillicult to find nine men prepared to devote a little of their time to the public weal? "Why should 1?" asked one man yesterday, when it was suggested that lie should stand for the Council. "Why should I worry mv head about roads and | rollers? I've got my own business to i attend to, and in the present days of | keen competition and shortage of cash : I find it takes me all my time to keep ; my own together." Excuse sufficient; stand down. "Oh, bother the Council!" said a man with more leisure, and without the worry of business. "I'm not going to give up my evenings just to go and listen to councillors talking about heaven knows what. I've had to put up with it once, and I bar a second dose." No excuse. i

The third man said: "Well, it's this way. I was a borough councillor once, and it cost me money. ]t cost me business. If one of my customers fancied lie would like a street light opposite his j front door, or at the back of his section ! to enable him to. dig the garden or chop wood by night, he reckoned I had to go log-rolling for it. If I refused, then good-bye to his trade. 1 1 found that I was personally held responsible for the condition of nearly every footpath id the town; for the mistakes of the engineer; for everything and anything under the sun. T was expected to make a pilgrimage round the town on dark nights to see that the electric lamps l were burning. I daren't suggest fixing up the big holes in the road near my own house, lest some busybody should raise a cry of self-interest." And so on. "But I enjoyed my municipal life,"' he said. "I look back on it now with a feeling of satisfaction. I reckon that for nearly six years I gave my fellowtownsmen my to the very best of my ability in making the town what it is to-dav; For that, time I was a useful member of society."

"Do you think it did you any good?" '"Yes; I believe that every man should, if he can manage it, put in a few years on a borough council. Tt is an eyeopener. It gives him a. few lessons in making a pound do a pound's worth of work, and shows him what a little bit of stone a pound will buy. But I have earned my rest. Were I younger, I would 'give it a go' again. Stratford," he continued, "is in a position now that should make a councillor's life a rosy one compared with the days of the log-strewn streets and the ten feet of mud which showed the position of Broadway. Maintenance of streets should be rendered less expensive by the use of the steam road" roller and the proposed stone-crusher. The loan proposals are dead for a year or two, and all the Council will have to do will be to spend the rates to the best advantage,' and patch up one or two weak spots in the administration. No; I don't think I'll say what tliose weak spots arc. That's beyond the scope of what we were speaking about. We had a very good Council last year in many respects, but they sadly misled themselves over that loan. I am glad the Mayor is taking office again, and hope he will be as successful this year as he was last year, or even more so." And what is the position now? Are men to be deterred from a pressing public duty by any of tlje arguments adduced there? Is it possible that there will be barely enough, names handed in to the' returning officer? If so, it betokens a waning interest in municipal affairs, a condition of things that should not he allowed to continue unless Stratford is content to remain where it is whilst other towns forge ahead. That's a thing Stratford has not been guilty of yet.

THE EGMONT CLUB The annual meeting of the Egrnont Club (incorporated) was held on Monday evening at the Club. There was a very good attendance of the members. The president. Mr. .1. Masters, presided. The annual report stated, inter alia, that the club membership now stood at 152, an increase 011 the previous years. The financial position was good. Several socials had been held during the year, and the thanks of the committee were tendered to all those ladies and gentlemen who had assisted at these functions. The report also referred to the excellent manner in which the steward, Mr. W. Dwyer, had carried out his duties during the year. The balancesheet showed a satisfactory year's working, and a substantial balance of assets over liabilities. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted, and complimentary references made to the manner in which the Club and its affairs had been conducted during the past year. Officers for the ensuing period were elected as follows: Patron. Mr. ,T. Ti. Hine, M.P.; president, Mr. N. J. King; ■vice-presidents. Messrs. 0. N. Curtis and J. Masters, l'ev. A. Reader; secretary and treasurer. Mr. li- F. Harkness; auditor, Mr. ,T. 11. Thompson; committee, the guarantors and Messrs. J. MaeMahon, J. 11. Thompson. 11. Ashton, R. W. Boon. W. B. l'Yarou. A. 11. O'Leary. ft was decided to recommend to the committee that the debating circle be Te-opened as early as possible; and that the Club members entertain their lady friends at one or two socials during the winter months.

The rules were amended, abolish in" the entrance fee and providing that each member, 011 election, shall take up at least two debentures (payable in ten months), hearing interest at 5 per cent. Votes of thanks were accorded the outgoing officers and committee, with special mention of the retiring president (Mr. J. Masters) and retiring secretary (Mr. W. P.. Fearon). STRATFORD BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY ON THE MOVK ONWARD. At a meeting of the Stratford Beautifying Society on Monday evening there were present: The President (Mr. W.

Office and Job, Printing Works: Next N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co., Broadway.

P. Kirkwood), and Messrs. S. H. James, ( C. W. Wright, Percy Thomson, and A. i D. lilick (secretary). The principal business was to consider and adopt the draft rules submitted by ! the sub-committee (Messrs. Wright and i Thomson). These were adopted. 'The I main rule provides for j THE OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY, i on the lines of the constitution of the ! Feilding Society, in the following terms: "The conservation of the scenery and the natural beauties of Stratford and its neighborhood, and, with the consent of the Borough Council, to lay out and plant with trees, shrubs and flowers such uncultivable spaces as are suited to the purpose, and to undertake the direction or carrying out of any other 'work which may in the opinion of the Society conduce to adorn tlie borough or add to the attractiveness of the town in any way, or to tho encouragement <>f the means of healthy and elevating recreation for its inhabitants.

The rules provide for an executive consisting of the president, two vicepresidents, and nine members. The annual meeting of the Society is fixed for February. Messrs. Kirkwood, James and Thomson were appointed to arrange for the fencing of the Patea river bank just below the Victoria bridge. The question of tree-planting in the streets, and particularly the planting of Juliet street along the eastern frontage of the railway yard, was deferred pending the election of the Borough Council.

Mr. Thomson placed on the table a letter he had received from the curator of the Dunedin Gardens in reply to Mr. Thomson, who had forwarded data concerning Stratford's climate, altitude and soil, and asked for suggestions as to the best kinds of trees to use in tree-plant-ing here. The reply recommended elm or ash trees, and was emphatic that oriental planes would be useless —as already proved in Stratford. The letter stated that street planting was still really in the experimental stage, but | gave some information which should be | very useful to the Society. I The meeting decided to "go slow," and | not to attempt any big undertaking yet [ awhile; but to make a thorough job of any beautifying taken in hand, in order to show tjie public and the subscribers some tangible results from the Society's labors. < STRAY PARAGRAPHS Mme. Bernard has kindly consented to give a benefit picture performance to : assist in providing funds for the improvement of the Upper Pembroke road, leading to the Stratford Mountain House. Mme. Bernard is a very publicspirited citizen, and it is a pity that there are not more like her. We have several citizens who could contribute either their time or their cash to sundry deserving objects, but with them charity evidently begins and stays at home. ,

Captain F. H. Lampen, at present adjutant of the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) and under orders to transfer to Nelson, has accepted an appointment in. connection with the Imperial Territorial scheme, and will leave" shortly for England. Captain Lampen certainly seems to have the bump of organisation well developed, and should make good in his new position.

At the Oddfellows' euchre party on Monday evening Miss Scott and Miss Sole secured the ladies' prize, the latter beating Mrs. Lawson and Mrs. Walsh •in the play-off for second place. Bro. T. Lawson and Mr. F. Miscall tied for first place in the of the men, and the former won the tie. Mrs. Brooking catered in her usual excellent style. The judges in the Stratford A. & P. Association's dairy farm competition made a start yesterday in lovely weather. Messrs. D. Cuddie (Dairy Commissioner), C. J.-Reakes (of the Stock Division of the Agricultural Department), and R. Lambie, sen., are the judges. They will continue the judging to-dav.

P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole, who has been a most energetic and painstaking secretary of the Stratford Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.l T „ for the past ten years, was made the recipient of a surprise presentation by the members on Monday night. The gift took the form of a handsome gold albert, which is now attached to the jewel presented to Mr. Sole by the district meeting a few years ago.