THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1909. OUR MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3159, 10 April 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1909. OUR MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

On Thursday last we published a letier received from Cr J. Hunter, and this morning we publish an answer to it by Cr J. Yarr. These letters disclose that there is anything but peace within the municipal dovecote, but that is a small matter in comparison with the serious allegations that have been made by Cr Hunter. Cr Yarr's reply is not calculated to lessen "the sting" of the contrcversey, and though, as a general rule, we are inclined to think that public men are wise to Vefrain from attacking one another in the corr2spondence columns of the press, yet in the present instance matters have reached such a state that they cannot, or should not, be allowed to rest where they are. We would point out, however, that the name of the Town Clerk and Engineer should not be introduced into the controversy. Mr Mansfield is in the service of the Council, and it is the Council who must accept the responsibiilty of his actions. If Councilors desire either to praise or to find fault with their officials, the proper place to do so is ki the Council Chamber. Cr Hunter's criticism should be directed against ths Council,and the Engineer should be absolutely immune fisom criticism at the hands of Councillors in the pubiic press. We understand that the Mayor is away from town, or, no doubt, he would not have allowed Cr Hunter's letter to pass unchallenged. We have already expressed the opinion that matters should not ta allowed to rest in their present slate, and we sincerely hope that the ratepayers will insint upon the fullest explanation being submitted to them. Cr Hunter in reality charges the Borough Engineer, or the ruling party in it, with being both densely ignorant of municipal affairs, and with the grossest incompetence. Further, he states that certain figures which were handed to the press, bearing the Mayor's hall mark, and relating to the financial position of the Borough, are very largely incorrect, and calculated to mislead the public as to the real state of the municipal finances. We ate of opinion that the Mayor will see his way clear to deal very fully

with the question of municipal finance in a public speech at an early date, and Cr Hunter will, we take it, consider it worth while to place his views more fully before the rate-

payers. If we read Cr Hunter's letter aright, his main contention is that the Borough Council, instead of claiming credit for reducing the general indebtedness of the Borough should admit that they have during the past year, spent a very much larger sum than usual owing to the revenue raised being much in excess of previous years- in fact, instead of displaying thrift the Council have been guilty of wild extravagance. This is an allegation sufficiently startling to claim the earnest attention of ratepayers, and it will no doubt add much to the interest taken with coming elections.