The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, MARCH 31st, 1941. THE LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 289, 31 March 1941, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, MARCH 31st, 1941. THE LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

ALTHOUGH still a little distant interest appears to be quickening in the forthcoming; Local Body Elections which cccur in May. Already an early announcement that at least one seat in the County Council will be contested has been made,, while we have had indications that the Borough Councillors will also be called upon to defend their positions. This is Democracy as we know it, and it is indeed something to be proud of, that our public men after their term of office are prepared to go to the electors for a decision by the majority as to whether they will be acceptable for a further term or not. It is the education of 'taking- it' that has brought broadmindedness and toleration into our system of local government and for this alone we have something worth fighting for. The man who comes forward and offers his services is to be admired. There are always more brickbats than bouquets, and though the position is purely an honorary one, which often makes heavy demands upon the individual's time,, it is considered an honour nevertheless, and therein lies the secret of the success of our system of government, and the broad, air of contentment usually encountered in all British communities. In Whakatane we will welcome the election in the same manner as in all other progressive centres. Opposition and keenness for office is an unmistakeable sign of progress and the greater the number of candidates the keener the interest in the election, and automatically in the expansion and development of the liown. The mention of 'tickets' by the Mayor at a recent Borough meeting, brings us to another, though less desirable feature of our elections. The manly method is surely to go before the electors armed, with nothing more than one's own individual merits as arguments for service in the pubilc weal. However 'tickets' are a recognised form of candidature and though they constitute the first step towards partyism, they are nevertheless accepted and used, to good purpose by those who desire to dominate the activities of a council by formulating a certain policy or outlook. In local body politics at least, surely the paralysing effects of 'partyism' can be left out. It is interesting to speculate however upon the election, which will no doubt be influenced to a grea.t extent by the absence of so many voters of the finest calibre who are serving with the forces overseas. The course of various controversial subjects during the past three years will also have an effect upon the nature of the voting, but we are certain that the average voter goes to the poll, desiring only to put in the best man, rather than to vent a little personal spleen because of previous actions or decisions made by the candidate in the course of honest debate around the council table. Critics have their own cure, if they will but stand for the positions previously ocvcupied by the persons they have so often criticised. We have said before, public office is no sinecure and as there 'has been no little criticism in the past we hope to see a goodly number offering themselves for office in a genuine endeavour to effect the improvements they have so long been clamouring for. The opportunity is close at hand for those .who desire to do so to prove the substance of their words, and we have no doubt that they will. The only stipulation that the public makes is that they in their turn will be broadminded enough to stand the weight of criticism in the same manner that those whom they previously attacked have stood it. Service on local bodies as dictated under the regime which we have ourselves created, without thought of reward or remuneration, is perhaps the greatest self-diciplinary process and certainly the highest civic goal, we know. It is our privilege therefore to give that service and those who shoulder the responsibility should be recognised for their public spiriteclness and their initiative.