THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1900.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 89, 27 December 1900, Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1900.

"HE successful result of the mtion to have the election of the uve Councillors to seats on the, Wai mate Borough Council declared void, was received by many ratepayers with much satisfaction, Bui ing the time Avhich preceded the election, and when most- people were scarcely as well informed on the subject as they are now, there was a considerable 1 amount of feeling io. favour cf assisting the Councillors to retain . their "libeity," and that of the 'ratepayers, but lately the tide of : public opinion has turned. The real facts are no*? familiar, and voters are beginning to see that' ■fiiey were hoaxed, and that therenever was the slightest attempt to; rob them of their birthright. The purely personal grounds on which the election was fought* have been fuily investigated, and many who voted for the return, of the five iast time, will, at the' oncoming election, vote in an exactly opposite manner. Had these gentlenien held 'the opinion that they were taking the course' proper under the circumstances, and had they followed it in a firm, but dignified manner, they v would have secured a fall measure t of permanent public sympathy, but as they, chose to adopt a belligerent attitude, and strenuously opposed every action of the other side, much of their support has . been alienated from them. They cdnuot with any show of reason, claim that their " stonewalling " at Council (and other) meetings has conduced to a more tho» ougb ' ventilation of matters pertaining to the welfare of the Borough. We have not yet attained such a degree of efficiency in municipal matters as to be able to" dispense with our governing body — aud that is what the present deadlock means. Rather must we strainevery nerve to guard the inter- ' ests of our town in order to allow it to attain the importance which, by virtue of its situation, must eventually belong to it. In this' endeavour it is meet and right that the Borough Council should take a leading part, and on this ground, when the day of the next election am veß, voters should determine to allow, m> personal consideration, to carry Weight. They must L:now that the old Councillors have acted in a puerile m inner, Bm3ey^>4heir length of service sb.ouM.4jot prevent them occupying places^ low down on thu list of results.