THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1907. MASTERTON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8378, 12 March 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1907. MASTERTON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

The general lack of interest in local affairs, so very marked in some,parts of [the colony, is far from being a sign of healthy, vigorous, national life. The people of every municipality ought to takejthe liveliest interest in its government, and co-operate in the useful work of devising and promoting public improvements. Next month Masterton will elect its local rulers, and thus far scarcely any public notice has been taken of the approaching event. There are ; private discussions here and there on the government of the borough, but there are no candidates for the Council, and no public meetings. Doubtless, this is because there is no public question stirring the electors. The proposal to divide the borough into wards is one that merits discussion. The municipality was formerly divided into wards, which were abolished for reasons which appear to us, and many others, to have been insufficient. The main purpose of such a division is, of course, to secure direct representation for every part of the town; in other words, to obtain all the advantages of home rule for every street. It is an extension of the home rule principle, which, in the woi-king, has been found to be a good principle, giving fair play and a larger measure of justice to all, and productive of a greater degree of progress and prosperity. Under this system there is a healthy competition between the wards, and the laggards are stimulated to bestir themselves to aspire to and strive for higher ideals; eyesores are more quickly removed, sanitation advanced, and the important work of beautifying a town as much as possible is accelerated. This has been the experience of all the larger and more progressive municipalities everywhere, and we are convined that what has been so good for other towns will be equally good for Masterton. We believe it would result

in the best available men being elected to transact municipal business, men of broad views, able to look ahead and see what the requirements of Masterton will be ten or twenty years hence, thus, probably, saving the ratepayers much expense. We do not suppose that a division of the town into wards would result in an immediate or even a prospective lowering of the rates, for Masterton is growing, and the public needs are growing; but it is certain that there would be a better and more profitable distribution of the rate money. If the town were thus divided, each ward would, according to population, or to ratable value, contribute its fair quota to the general fund, and it would have its special rate for special requirements. Each ward would also have its separate accounts. The proposal is one which the ratepayers might profitably consider, and we should be glad to see the feeling of the town tested by the putting forward of capable candidates in favour of the change. There are some who would like to see Lansdowne included in the borough as a ward. In our opinion, Lansdowne residents have more to gain than lose by coming into the borough. The benefits would be mutual and considerable.