LOCAL ELECTIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 211, 11 September 1940, Page 5

LOCAL ELECTIONS

QUESTION OF POSTPONEMENT NEGATIVED IN WHAKATANE Strong disapproval was shown by the Whakatane Borough Council last* Monday evening when the action of the Municijpal Association in conveying to the Government its agreement that local body elections should 1 this year be postponed, was introduced by Cγ Otley and discussed. The Mayor said the Association had taken on itself the right to advise the Government and that no reference had been made to its members. He had noticed since that many local bodies were strongly opposing the suggestion and he himself was emphatically against it, He looked at. it in the light that it was not for him to say that he would continue in office another year, but for those who had elected him as their representative. He would not say that the people were satisfied as had been said elsewhere. Cr Canning: I agree. There are a lot of people who say that we are a lot. of 'old women'-—well, let them come out into the open and have a go at the job. The elections .give them that opportunity. I think the Municipal authorities exceeded their duties. Gi Sullivan: A general election isr different, but local bodies should not be affected. There should be no reason for postponement. Cr Shapley considered it was not fair to the individual representa-» tives, or to the country to postpone the election. Oα the motion of the Mayor, it was decided to write the Association disapproving of the action and urging that the election take place at the end of the current term.