The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, MARCH 21. 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3174, 21 March 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, MARCH 21. 1911.

Labor and the Municipal Elections.

For some weeks the local branch of the New Zealand Labor party has been unusually active in connection with ths pending local elections. Their aim, it appears, includes an endeavor to secure if possible two representatives on the town council. It is probably due in a- great measure to the efforts of the members of the party that the electors’ roll, for instance, contains so many names. The party now has not only selected its nominees in regard to the election, but has also published a “platform,” to which its candidates will require to subscribe. As to the various planks of this platform much might be written, but on this occasion we desire to refer only briefly to the matter. Before long it is to be 1 hoped the -names and the views of all the other aspirants to positions on these bodies will be known. It will have been observed that the platform in question covers a variety of subjects. There is, first of all, the claim for an eight-hour day and Is 1-Jd per hour minimum wage for all unskilled labor employed by the Council. Under this proposal not a large number of employees are affected, and no doubt the claim could be easily disposed of by means of a conference when the grounds upon which it is based have been set .forward. As to the second plank, few will disagree that efficient water supply, sewerage,, drainage, and sanitation arc necessary. What suggestions the Labor party have, to offer as to the best and cheapest methods of carrying out these undertakings are, however, not yet known. Several important questions are raised by the third plank, which reads : “Minimum building, area, stringent building by-laws, removal of insanitary dwellings, and houses reported as unfit for human habitation.”

Hove, again, ton, ,the claims of the L; hor party are all too indefinite. As t the question of nmjinruin, building are; it may he mentioned that by statut last session power was given to mak by-laws prescribing the minimum from age and area of land on which a dwel ing-house may be greeted, but the pr< vision is not to apply- to any alio tin ei of land shown on a plan of subdivisio deposited at any Lands or Deeds Regi; fetation Office or approved by the loc; authority prior to the passing, of the Ad It will be recalled that it was at fir; proposed to limit the area to one-fift of an acre, hut ultimately the clau; was made general in its terms. As i would appear that any limitation oa be imposed only in regard to props rtic which it is proposed to subdivide, it wi be seen that the Borough Council, eve if it so desired, is great’y restricted in what it could acco>mplisl With reference to the remainder of th clause, it would be interesting to kno 1 if the Labor party consider that th powers already held by the Publi Health Department and the 'corpora tioA are not sufficiently wide? Plan 4 Jirges the necessity for providing at optional open spaces as rccreatio Sirov nds, parks, and gardens. N ffloubt it is v- ery desirable that ever dftown should have as many and as larg j breathing spaces as possible But a | the money that can be spared for or I penditure on reserves for some years t coins can be very profitably used in inproving the grounds which are at lire sent under the control of the corpora tion. In clause 5 ; which deals with th milk supply question, there are pro posals which should engage the seriou attention of the electors. It cannot b gainsaid that a pure, and cheap mill supply is one of the greatest necossitie in connection with every town. Bu the proposal of the Labor part; does not rest at the string-ear inspection of all milk earning in to the borough. It is suggested tlia provision should be made for a human iscd milk supply. The ultimate, ebjee of these proposals is stated to be ; municipal milk supply. As to the ques tion of inspection, it would be useles for any corporation to undertake th work unless it were accompanied lr strict supervision in regard to the herd which supplied the milk and the dairie through which it passed. This is ; matter which might well engage tin attention of the Government. Witl reference to the proposal for the supph cf humanised milk, not much, we feel ‘can be said in favor cf the corporatioi undertaking the experiment. A simi lar scheme was some years ago. tried ii Glasgow, but it was ultimately droppei as it was found that the number of c'ns tomers was gradually becoming fewe and fewer. Then, again, it is impossible to imagine hew a municipal milk supph could be undertaken in Gisborne- excep at a heavy loss. It would, indeed be in teresting to learn what figures the La bur Party have in support of the pro pcsal. For seme years (it may be re called) this question lias been unde: the consideration of the Wellingtoi municipal authorities, and a Bi 1 wa: passed last- session conferring additiona powers on that body in relation to tin inspection and control of the milk sup ply of that city. In biief, it provide; for the adoption of a system of collec live inspection. When it urges tin need for good reads and footpaths, th< Labor party have doubtless struck r popular note. But, hero, too, we art not in possession of the particulars a; to their proposals, especially as regard; the financial aspect. If the. municipality could afford the expenditure—wliiet it really could not at present—it would indeed lesult in a great saving ultimately if the main streets could be permanently laid down after the sewerage and other works have been finished. Other proposals include; Municipal trams, municipal lighting, municipal theatre, and, when the time is opportune, a municipal tepid bath. It is difficult to feel that there is any urgency in regard to any of these matters at the present, time. Take, for instance, municipal trams. What guarantee is there that any system would pay for some years to come? As to a municipal, theatre being a success financially here, it will generally be agreed, we think, that the immediate prospects are anything but bright. When the corporation will have the money to invest hi a tepid bath it would he hard to- say, as so many other much more important utilties have"yet to be provided. The ratepayers will, no doubt, await with interest, the facts and the figures which the Labor party may have to set forth in support of its programme.