BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1950 NOT LONG NOW

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 10, 20 October 1950, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1950 NOT LONG NOW

Nominations for the membership of local bodies in this area will close in a week’s time. Those persons who have been asked but have hesitated to contest office must soon make up their minds.

At the risk of threshing a subject which is becoming wellworn, we draw attention again to the need for lively interest, in both town and country, by those who have worth-while contributions to make to local affairs. In the town, interest has been aroused to a fair pitch through the efforts of too small a number of people. In the country, there has, as yet, been very little interest of any sort shown.

There seems little doubt now that there will be at least two candidates for Whakatane’s Mayoralty and that the town will will be treated to its first election for that office in 25 years. That an election will be necessary to choose councillors also seems certain. The candidates so far offering are an interesting cross-section of both business and non-business citizens.

So far borough residents have shown even less concern than those of the Countv about the Hospital Board and Harbour Board elections. Best brains are seldom elected to public office, probably because best brains seldom want to be. It is however, our democratic right to contest elections and vote for whom we Wish. From what is offering, the public makes its choice, sometimes wise, often not. Let Whakatane borough and county, therefore, offer their best so that the public may make a real .choice. Then, if the wrong persons are elected, the public has itself to blame.

There is something refreshing about a hard-fought election, whatever its results. Let us have this refreshment.