THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 25. 1908. MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9073, 25 April 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 25. 1908. MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

The contest for the Masterton Mayoralty should be attracting the atten tion of ratepayers to some extent The various points raised and "made" by the candidates for office should be considered by the burgesses. The address which the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine)delivered on Thursday night last was interesting, and, to a certain extent, instructive, hut, at the same time, a state of municipal affairs by no, means desirable was disclosed, while the j reposal he put forward in connection with the profits from the Gasworks savoured of the ridiculous. However, apart from the merits or demerits of the Mayor's speech, one fact has been made abundantly apparent during the present contest, and that is that eitner the present system of book - keeping should be abolished, and an improved one established in its stead, or that the Council should , caoh year, immediately after 31st March, publish a report—clear, concise, and business-like so that ratepayer?, before electing either Mayor or Councillors, or both, should be able to * form some definite view as to the general position of municipal afiVirr. Instead of what we suggest, we have the figures "explained," or shall we say tw'sted? in a manner that can

only mystify the average ratepayer. For instance, the Mayor says this: — "If the money expected to be received had actually been received, the excess of disbursements over receipts would only be £234." Are ratepayers going to be satisfied with rubbish of this sort? Writing recently on various figures submitted to us, we remarked:—"lt may be possible that the figures are capable of some sort of satisfactory explanation, but after carefully perusing the financial statement that has been issued, we are of opinion that the financial condition of the Borough is certainly not a cause for congratulation.'' Now that we have heard the Mayor' 3 explanation, we are of exactly the same opinion. What are the facts 9 The overdraft increased during the last financial year—on 31st March last the town was paying interest on a bank overdraft of £6,487 8s 6d, while it has to face the question of a very large and very necessary expenditure some £30,000 —in connection with the drainage system. Then there is the water question, and the Mayor seems to be in favour of the expenditure of £IO,OOO to improve the high pressure water supply. Obviously, Masterton's very best business man would not be too good to discharge the responsible duties j that the candidate, who is elected on the 29th inst., must undertake during the present year. What is chiefly required in Masterton, in our opinion, is a highly qualified engineer, and a Borough Council who, instead of constituting themselves engineers, will repose confidence in their engineer. Speaking generally, the town could probably do very well without the services of a town clerk, but a highly qualified engineer is a necessity. Such an olficial, if given sufficient clerical assistance, would, probably, save the town large sums of mensy. We might then expect to enjoy municipal conveniences at a reasonable cost.