Feb. 7.
Due utility of "'letters to the Editor" was, perhaps, never better demonstrated than by the {made with the Municipal Gazette, by which means the Council can make its most direct appeal to the great heart of the people. A smart Lobby correspondent should be appointed to write up Council meetings (people do not wade through full parliamentary reports nowadays, although "Dulce Decorum'' seems to think they; do); and any experienced journal-Hist could do wonders for the \Gazette with a few snappy head-{lines. For instance: Fire Fiend {Active at Yuletide. Eighty Thou-one we print to-day from "Dulce sand Taels Gone up in Smoke. et Decorum." To the complaint Chief Officer Pett Suspects In-that ratepayers do not take'cendiaries." But what is really interest in municipal affairs he'peeded is some illustrations, for replies with some force that no: trouble is taken to interest them.
The records of Council meetings, he thinks, are rather less inspire ing than a time table of high water at London Bridge; while the greater part of ratepayers' meetings is occupied with ''set'' speeches which are largely inaudible and more largely unintelligible, and which might very well be published beforehand and '"'taken as read.' Inasmuch as every chairman, by the time he comes to address @ ratepayers' meeting, has had more than enough opportunities of the delight of hearing his own voice, he, the most interested person, would probably raise no objection. Finally our. correspondent says that, $0 little does he (or anybody else) know personally of Municipal Councillors that on one occasion he blackballed the best man through pure ignorance. This is horrible. As our correspondent very truly observes, "Now and then, an odd vote may have great value."" It is possible to imagine circumstances in which, through the same lack of public instruction, no councillors would be elected at all. Did we hear our correspondent mutter, "And a good job too."
But seriously, 2 great deal might be done to brighten civic life and to stimulate that intelligent interest in public matters which is essential to the welfare of municipal administration. Obviously a beginning might best be which the great scope and variety of departmental business offers endless opportunity. Imagine what might be done with such subjects as "Health Officer Sterilizing the Breakfast Sausage''; 'Inspector Hill Detects a Plague Rat''; ''The Commandant Takes a Class in the Shooting of Recruits'; ''Special Coolies Engaged to Carry over the Treasurer's Debit Balance''; "Trying the Last Straw on the Szechuen Road Bridge'; and so forth. Then there would be a picture of Deputation of Woosung Wharfingers Applying to Electricity Committee for Electrical Foot-warmers,"' with a parallel picture' of the Committee deciding to put another two per cent. on the rates to meet the need, and insets of the Engineer-in-Chief and the head wharfinger. A block depicting e Council Await: Reply from the Consular Body" would also be useful as a fill-up! (or what is technically known in/} printing offices as "'a dummy ad.'') suitable to any occasion on which the Council has to address the Olympians in writing, their normal attitude at such times being that which has been described as "'one of receptive anticipation,"' or, more tersely, "wait and see.'' In addition to these reforms much might be done to bring Councillors into touch with their constituents by arranging that they should give "five minute talks' at places of popular resort such as the Sunday concerts, the numerous thes dansants and the ''movie'' house. Such themes for discussion immediately suggest themselves as The Cinema and Infant Immorality' "Traffic Problems of Shanghai: Everybody Can't Be First''; Should Wheelbarrow Coolies Wear White Hats"; ''How to Measure the Peak Load on the Family Metre.'" Lectures on these and kindred topics would inevitably increase the business of the house besides sharpening the general appetite for social advancement.
It is hardly too much to hope that by a few simple expedients of this kind, the ratepayers would jhe so waken up to a sense of their responsibilities that not nine, but twenty-nine or even ninety candidates would annually present themselves for Council honours. Electioneering would then offer chances not to be let slip. Every hoarding would be aflame with exciting posters: Vote for Pearce and Plenty"'; ''Lambe and Mint-sauce for the Million''; ''Ransom's Remedy for Reckless Rate-i More Goh for the 3 "Fessenden and "A Merriman for Merry Men."' The out-of-the-way Tax Office, which sufficed for a more lethargic age, would be repldted by large polling booths erected on The Bund, while magic lanterns would be employed in different parts of the Settlement to announce to a breathless public the progress of each candidate. The names of the victors being thus made known directly the last vote had been cast, the Municipal Band would be in attendance. to escort them in triumph to the new Council buildings (which, as we cannot expect all these changes to Ihappen very quickly, ought to be ready for them by then); it might leven learn a new march for such jan occasion; while a number of \the prettiest habituees of our leading restaurants would hang garlands round the necks of the new Councillors and strew flowers in their path. After all this, we. do not really see that there would be much left to be done on orthodox lines by an' "'annual parliament,"'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.