Kate Stewart: When it comes to politics actions speak louder

TALK SHOW: There's plenty of talk at the district council, but should elected members be paid on actual results?

THERE has been much talk of late about the "no show - no dough" proposal for Whanganui council members when it comes to attending meetings.

Sounds fair enough in theory, but I'd prefer to take it a step further and base their remuneration on results achieved. That should cut the wage bill by 50 per cent at least.

People can turn up to meetings but that doesn't always equate to actual results. Many a time decisions are deferred, issues are put on the back-burner - and let's not forget the items on the agenda that seem to need further and usually expensive consultation before they can be ruled upon.

Over the years of writing this column I have been emailed by many readers suggesting that I run for council.

Panic not - though briefly considered, I simply don't have that political mindset needed. I'd be too outspoken, unable to hold my tongue, brutally honest and my common sense approach would more than likely be deemed naive and simplistic.

Basically, I'm everything a true politician is not, but it would make for some very interesting meetings.

Truth be told - and dare I say it in Michael Laws' defence - if I was on council I probably wouldn't turn up to most of the meetings either. The grandstanding, petty politics and childlike infighting would drive me bloody bonkers.

At the conclusion of one of these meetings we need to see concrete evidence of results and real progress being made, not further dates to revisit the same issues time and time again.

We need a council committed to working together for the good of Whanganui - not one that is made up of personality clashes, infantile feuding and oversized egos. They all need to get over themselves.

The length of time needed to make even the simplest of decisions is just absurd.

I read this week another of John Maslin's articles on the long, long, long, long, long, overdue decision regarding the wastewater treatment plant and was again baffled at how chief executive Kym Fell could spend $35,000 of ratepayer dosh in just six weeks to formalise an agreement with key local industries which even if achieved - as the mayor pointed out - they could pull out of at any time. Bizarre.

Since when did having conversations with local businesses have to cost anything? What did the money go on - booze-fuelled lunches; gift baskets; seats at a rugby game? Please enlighten us.

Voters need to be less worried about the crap flowing into the sea and more worried about the crap flowing from the mouths of some councillors. Like most politicians, many have the gift of the gab - that ability to reply without actually answering the question that is asked of them.

Anyway, I've always been a believer that actions speak louder than words - it didn't become a truism by chance.

So folks, in the coming weeks as you drive around town - or risk life and limb navigating many a dangerously neglected footpath - take a good look at the array of gaudy, airbrushed election billboards, some complete with painted promises, and ask not what your council can do for you, but what you can do for your council.

Maybe more than a few of them need to join our current sewage and be flushed out to sea. For many these elections will be sink or swim, and if Whanganui is to stay afloat we need to think hard before we vote ... and vote we must.

-Kate Stewart is a politically incorrect columnist of no repute. Born and bred in Wanganui, she does not suffer fools gladly - and is definitely NOT standing for council. Feedback to: investik8@gmail.com.