READERS CONSIDER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 21, 17 November 1950, Page 4

READERS CONSIDER

MR WARREN AND THE CITIZENS’ ASSN.

Sir, —Tuesday night’s election meeting was the most enlightening ever held in Whakatane. The audience obviously enjoyed the proceedings and most of the candidates appeared to enjoy them too. In the happy atmosphere created by the chairman and the candidates it is a pity that Councillor Warren had to strike a discordant note. If Mr Warren felt so strongly against the organisation whose guest he was, that he had to criticise them unfairly, he would have shown a far more seemly attitude if he had declined the invitation. Yours etc., F. P. McCALLION. Whakatane, November 15.

Sir, —In Wednesday’s Beacon you give prominence to the statement made by Mr Warren, at the meeting arranged by the Citizens’ Association, that he did not believe in that body. Mr Warren is entitled to his belief, but when he adds that the Borough Council is the body which should rule, the inference plainly is that the Association is endeavouring to usurp the Council’s power. I think, Sir, that in fairness to my Association, you should have published my reply to the' vote of thanks passed by the meeting to the Citizens’ Association, for having taken the progressive and democratic step of convening the meeting. I went to some pains to point out that the Association had tried to be a help to the Council in finding out the wishes of the burgesses of Whakatane. If an effort to awaken public interest in local affairs is interfering, then I am afraid my Association must plead guilty. For that is all it has ever done and I think with a fair amount of success.

However, from the many congratulatory remarks received from prominent citizens who attended the meeting, I think that the Association can well forget any remarks made by Mr Warren. The Association is proud to have aroused so much public interest that, for the first time in over a quarter of a centui’y, the electors will be given a vote for a Mayoral candidate and, as his Worship the Mayor himself pointed out, such a standard of candidate has come forward that a sound Council is assured.

May I in conclusion, Sir, point out that the Association supports no candidate. Its sole concern has been to afford the electors a selection of candidates to afford them an opportunity of meeting those candidates. With those two endeavours successfully accomplished the Citizens’ Association leaves the matter entirely to the electors. All that we ask is for the electors to face up to their duties.and responsibilities and all to cast their votes. And to the successful candidates we would say “Good luck; put your shoulders to the wheel and the Citizens’ Association is ever ready to assist and co-operate.” Yours etc., LEO C. RICHARDS, President, Whakatane Citizens’ Association. November 15, 1950.