STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 292, 2 May 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

THE BOROUGH ELECTIONS

The fact that only 592 electors took the trouble to record their votes at Wednesday's election proves that the people did not care very much which nine out of the eleven candidates represented them on the Council. ; Even with a selected and published "ticket," and another one whose composition was not allowed to get into the publie prints, failed to bring a fair proportion of the fifteen hundred electors to the poll. jThat tlie Xews had fairly correctly gauged public opinion was amply evidenced. The statement made that Crs. Dingle and Lawson were in danger of losing their seats, despite the expected solid support of the south, was justified for Mr. Dingle only just got into the successful nine, and Mr. Lawson was given a spell. "Better luck next time." was his comment; so probably he will be heard of again later. Congratulations j to Mr. King upon his return at the head of the poll. He has been Mayor for more tlian one term, a borough councillor for a very long period now, and has always been an active one, occupying a position on the works and other important committees, and .latterly chairman of the Works Committee. The electors have shown their appreciation of his ser-, vices in the only manner open to them. Mr. J. H. Thompson, probably the youngest man on the Council, must be congratulated upoii his. position as runnerup. fip has had rather less than a year's j experience as a councillor, and that the i burgesses believe in him was shown by the polling. A strenuous fighter for the "neglected south," and a useful member of the community, he a very general support, and he used his motorear to some advantage. Mr. Masters is a veteran worker in Stratford's municipal affairs, with a fine record as Mayor and councillor. A practical man in road and earth works, Mr. Masters has a special knowledge which, coupled with : his business ability and sound commonsense, made his return practically a certainty. Mr. Boon, who came fourth on the list, and Cr. Morison also have clean records of useful service. The other councillor re-elected was Cr. Dingle, who suffered on account of his hostility to the borough overseer, but whose nc-

quaintance with publie life in Taranaki, and previous experience of borough management make him a useful member. Mk'Yoiliig's defeat is partly attributable to his attitude in regard to the overseer, whom he hotly crjticised at one time. It is often the case that a fearless critic makes enemies with long memories, and this plays an important part in elections of this kind. The Mayor will have the pleasure of welcoming three councillors who are new to municipal government. Of these Mr. J. B. Richards occupied third place on the list of successes, a result which is a credit to himself and undoubtedly a 'recognition of his useful and self-denying work in Chamber of Commerce circles, more especially with regard to railway matters. His conspicuous success at the poll is all the more creditable, as he made no personal canvass to secure his return. The same applies to Mr. James Fredric, of whom the people will expect some forceful criticism at times. In this case a considerable monetary sacrifice has had to be made, for Mr. Fredric's firm will now be practically debarred from taking work from the Council. Owing to certain happenings, Mr. Fredric was really an unwilling candidate during the early part of Wednesday. Mr. Arden made every post a winning post. Having announced his candidature, lie made it his business to see that his friends went to the poll, and made the surprising discovery early in the morning that many had even forgotten that it was polling day.

There are a few lessons to be learned from the voting. The outstanding one is the old one that "you never know' till the numbers go up." The second is that organisation, to be successful, must be thorough; the third, that the candidate who works stands a big chance of success; the fourth, that our Town Hall is delightfully inconvenient as far as locality is concerned; and the fifth that a very large section of the people is indifferent in matters municipal, even prominent business men failing to take advantage of their privilege of saying what maimer of men should have charge of the local government. The return of Messrs. McAllister and Sole to the Hospital Board was not unexpected. Mr. McAllister has done excellent work on the Board, and Mr. Sole has also interested himself in hospital matters, having organised the big and successful Hospital Saturday and Sunday collections a few years ago.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS The paragraph recording Mr. J. W. B. Jones' election as secretary to the Foresters' Lodge was in -error. It is the Druids' Lodge which has secured his services. Mr. George Burgess still retains the secretaryship of the local unit of the Foresters' Order.

Kain came in earnest yesterday. The headmaster of the District High School remarked yesterday afternoon that we are probably in for some bad weather, the glass having fallen steadily and very considerably during the past few days until it touched "28.5, the lowest he could remember.

Mr. F. Barnard, salesman in "Herbert's Up-to-Date" at Stratford, has taken over the management of the Eltham branch.

Mr. J. B. Campbell, stationmaster, 1 il>i?ratod a number of homing pigeons yesterday, the property of a Wanganui Hying flub. Tt is not generally known that urates of pigeons from these clubs are carried free on the railways, and that in time of war the Government can call on the services of these useful birds. Tarriu;; and sanding of stretches of the footpath in Broadway was commenced the other day. It is raining now. \ start has been made with the earthwork on the site of the new Public Works offices in Juliet street. Willi the return of wet weather comes <lgain the. necessity for better heating of the new school As previously explained, the stoves in use are practically useless. Thev are. lined with heavy firebrick, and have evidently been designed for the purpose of keeping in heat, and not for giving it out, the idea of the luaker being to radiate the heat by means of pipes. In the Stratford school the pipe from the stove to the wall is only a few inches long. Was this idea adopted with the idea of avoiding smoky chimneys'; But why in the name of all that is sensible should it be necessary at this late stage to send to Wellington to obtain a report on heating of schools? Is there no one in Taranaki who can undertake to warm a few class-rooms by some modern method? And why has the matter been held up till now! -The,

FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER. Office -and Job Printing Works: Next N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co., Broadway. Telephone No. 113.

authorities knew <juitc well last winter tluit the stoves were useless, or nearly so. The school committee itself doesn't seem to have worried very much during the warmer months, with the result that the winter lias come and no new heating arrangements, Hockey enthusiasts and intending players are asked to attend a meeting at Messrs. C. ,an<l E. Jackson's office tonight.

The A. & P. executive meets to-night. The annual social of the Stratford branch of the Taranaki .Provincial Scottish Society will be held on June 26, not the 19th as previously determined, owing to the 19th falling in "Battleship Week." There was a big meeting on Wednesday to further the arrangements. Pip, pop, everywhere yesterday. Stratford sportsmen opened the season, but with what luck I have not heard. Tickets for the benefit entertainment to be given by Mmc. Bernard for the fund now being raised to improve the road access to the Stratford Mountain House are being pushed. There, seems little likelihood of this benefit falling flat, for Messrs. 3. Jackson and J. B. Richards are pushing it -along. The Mayor lias a scheme for moving the Town Hall on to one of the borough reserves in Broadway North, at present leased to Messrs. W. and E. Brocklebank. The hall at present is right out of the way. If the present generation were building it, the 11911 would probably form part of the block of municipal buildings in Broadway. The!'section which at present fills the Mayor's eye is leased for a further three years or so. • Supposing it cost £JOOO to move and reercct the hall, says Mr. Kirkwood, the Council ought to make money out of the hall on its, new site, whereas now the hall is a sort of white elephant. \