THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1908. THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9060, 8 April 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1908. THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

The Mayoral contest lis just commencing, and we anticipate that during the next few weeks a good deal of interest will be taken in municiDal matters. We trust that, despite party tactics, the ratepayers will not allow dust to be thrown in their eyes, but will insist upon a clear and unbiassed statement in all matters importantly effecting the Municipality of Masterton. The 1 Mayor and Councillors are primarily the servants of the ratepayers, and the latter should make it unmistakably clear that tht3 is the view they take of the position. Mr j Coradine, who is seeking re-elec-tion, may be termed the leader of , the "reform party", for want ut a better name. He discovered, in his opinion, some time after his election last year, that a great deal of reforming had to be done, but everyone knows that there are reformers, would-be reformers, and those who wish to reform where no reform is needed. Mr Coradine has had "a good fling," and now he has the opportunity of justifying his actions in the eyes of the ratepayers. We have already expressed our views upon the action of the Mayor and Council in relation to the water and drainage questions, and we do not think the Mayor can successfully contradict a single assertion that we have made. But, of course, there are oMier questions—some, of them important, some of them not—and we hope that Mr Coradine will be able to show a good year's work. But whether the operations of the year have been successful or not, the fullest facts and figures should be placed before the ratepayers. In other years the figures for the financial year have been available to the Press in time for discussion prior to the Mayoral election, and we trust that this year we shall have an "unofficial" balance sheet to

crilicii'o before the Mayoral poll is taken. Wo hop ;, although we fear it i.s hoping that the inevitable will not occur, that party feeling will not manifest itself in ths approaching contest. What ratepayers are entitled to is v-io fullest publicity and explanation, ;ind upon these they can fairly judye whether it is to their interest «r not to return Mr Coradine. Mr Hillings, who is contesting the cha'r with Mr Coradine, will have to make out a good case to secure the support of the majority, and wo await his speech with interest. We trust tiiat neither candidate will leave his speech until "the last moment,"and that both of them, by way of showing a proper confidence in themselves, will court criticism rather than seek to avoid it.