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BARMOUTH URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. THE Barmouth Ratepayers' Union has scored a unique victory. Nine candidates were nominated for the nine seats on the new Urban District Council, and eight of the nine have been returned, the ninth member, who was returned fourth on the poll, being the RECTOR, the late Chairman of the superseded Local Board. The inhabitants of Barmouth are to be congratulated on having worked together in a way that is alrogether admirable, and that speaks well for the future prosperity of the town. We have never said, ana have never believed, < that there is anything hopeless in the condition of Barmouth, situated as it is in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales, but we think there has been unwise expenditure; there has been a damning policy of secrecy; there has been a lax I way of keeping accounts there has been, in short, a happy-go-lucky system of govern- ment in which tco much was left to the CHAIRMAN and to the CLERK. We do not impute blame, much less culpability. In towns like Barmouth there can be much l unwise expenditure, and great laxity, without actual culpability. The Government audit of the accounts has been postponed again, we believe for the third time Some public works are suspended. There are serious difficulties, financial and otherwise, to be grappled with, and we believe that the ratepayers will have to prepare themselves to make considerable sacrifices before the town can be put into thac sound and prosperous position which it ought Ull- doubtedly to occupy. The RECTOR may have said a good deal that is wise, but he has also said a good deal that is other- wise. His attempts to minimise the serious- ness of the local situation have been as inept as his attempts to discredit criticism have been futile. The first duty of the new Councillors, both for the benefit of the ratepayers, and for the safety of the Councillors themselves, will be to call in a chartered accountant to prepare a full and accurate statement of the financial condition of every department of the finances of the town, namely: The loans; the town estate; the liabilities on current account; the arrears of rates and ail the sources of revenue. If this is not done the newly- elected representatives of the ratepayers will be told before a year is over, as the ratepayers have been told already, that there is nothing that needs the skill and independence of a chartered accountant. What we urge is that the accounts should be prepared by a disinterested accountant, so that they may be presented before the Government AUDITOR, and may be a starting place for the new representatives of the people. We think the new body will have to make large calls upon the patience of the ratepayers, for, unless we are greatly mistaken, a good deal has to be done before the new Council will be justified in entering into the completion of the sus- pended 0 works. An entirely new start should be made. The RECTOR may have it in his power to render considerable assist- ance, but from what he has said and written during the past year, we much doubt whether he knows as much as from his position on the late Board he ought to have known. We shall see. The clean sweep made of the old members places serious responsibility upon the new members. Tlwv will reouire to act with much caution under good advice, and we think they could not do better than appeal at once to the Local Government Board for assist- ance. More money will probably be required than the town is authorised to borrow, and it is most desirable that the new Councillors should be careful to see what they take over. If everything is as satisfactory as the RECTOR has represented it to be then he will score, but if the condition of things is as unsatisfactory as we fear, he may be more to blame than any other of the old members. Nobody expects parsons to be very good business men, but everybody expects them to resent criticism and to protest against doubt being cast upon their ZD wisdom. The ratepayers of Barmouth have done the right thing in not electing the 0 old members. The new members have a perfectly free hand, with just an admixture of the old leaders which will help to bring -n out the salient facts of the case. It is to be hoped that whatever is done the new members will pull well together, and I will be thorough. The victory of the rate- payers is unique, but it must not be forgotten that all the work is still to do, and that it is difficult work, and work that cannot be done either hurriedly or at once. We believe that whatever has to be done will be done, but there is danger that in the desire to justify the great confidence of the electors the Councillors miy do hastily what wouid be better done after great deliberation, and with great care. We need scarcely say that "I we have no desire to dictate, either to the ratepayers or to their representatives. The t RECTOR has not been wise, and he must now realise that while he personally has been returned, the policy he has championed l has been condemned. It is to be hoped that in future the Council meetings wil be held more regularly, and that the public will in future be trusted with full knowledge of their own affairs. Secrecy in public bodies is fatal to progress, and if there ever was a place that might court publicity with advantage, that place is Barmouth. The great thing is to avoid division. The task before the Council is an arduous one, but Barmouth has a successful future before it and, great as the indebtedness is, the burden may be borne without disaster, and every future growth will share the burdens among a greater number. The popular victory at the recent election should be wisely used. Recriminations are worse than useless. The great thing is to attack 9 6 the confusion which now exists, and to bring to bear upon public affairs that business keenness and that intelligence which ensure success in private affairs. By watch- fulness, carefulness, and wisdom the mistakes of the past itieky not only be avoided in future, but the consequences of those mistakes may be modified. The first step is to get to the root of the matter, and to put the public business of the town on a sound footing, The RECTOR may depend upon it that in these days it is impossible to persuade the people anything that is con- trary to comnion sense. The bad old order of things has been most emphatically con- demned, and the new Councillors may rest assured that they will receive the hearty support of the inhabitants of the town in any measure that they may think fit to adopt for enabling Darmouth to take the high position which its great natural advantages entitle it to take. The first 'b work is to evolve order out of chaos. The second is to abolish official rule. The third is to establish a system of book- keeping. The fourth is to decide on a policy of public works. And the fifth is to establish a balance between receipts and fxcenditure. If the new Councillors do not get to know the exact present condition of things they will be blamed for all the past. What Barmouth wants is a fresh start.

WHY PROGRESS IS SLOW.

! LOCAL AND GENERAL NOTES.…

! XOGlI anli District. ------------------------..--..-----

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