THE BOROUGH BYE-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 174, 22 January 1914, Page 4

THE BOROUGH BYE-ELECTION.

The burge-.-ses have, wo think, acted wisely in electing Mr. Sykes to the vacant position on the Council. They have, Ijy their votes, shown that (lie services of business men with substantial interests in the place are wanted and valued in the government of the town. Not so long ago, tin; attitude of biirgcsSes was such that successful commercial men could not he prevailed upon to come forward for fear of the rebuff they knew awaited them, and the town, it must be said, has suffered to some extent in consequence. We want our best men, commercial or otherwise, to help in llie administration of our municipal affairs, and were never in greater need of their services than at present, when we are embarking 011 enterprises the success of which will depend very largely upon the manner in which they are initiated and carried out. ft is" an excellent thing that we have in our midst citizens with all their interests in the place who have the public spirit to offer to undertake their share of civic government, and we have no doubt that, after the verdict, of yesterday, others will follow Mr. .Sykes' unselfish example and offer to do sometiling for the town in which they live and prosper. New Plymouth's future is pregnant with possibilities, which, if seized in time—which is the presentwill place the town' in the forefront, of thd towns outside the big centres. The Council has to take hold of the different public services in a more thorough manner than lias been the ease in the past, and see that good value is obtained for every penny spent. This particularly applies to the spending of tl/e loan money, which needs careful watching and administering, or the results may be disastrous. The next two years is an important period in our municipal development, and one when perhaps more than ever the services of the ablest men in the community will be lefjnired. f { hat this fact is becoming generally recognised is evident from yesterdays poll, which, by the way, aroused more interest, than any previous bje-election in itself an indication of a new and invigorated civic spirit. We heartily congratulate Air. Sykes upon Ins :;olenilid win, ami the burgesses upon the good sense and judgment I hey displayed.