J.C. President Critical Of Voters' Apathy

Chronicle (Levin), 1 March 1949, Page 4

J.C. President Critical Of Voters' Apathy

There was an opening in New Zealand today. for a s'get out- and Vote" campalgn, said tne natlonal president- of the Junior Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, Mr. S. Jacobs, when deplorihg- the apparent apathy of the voting population during election periods.. A "let the other fellow do it" feeling was very evident today, he considered, and he cautioned fchose present that by failing. to register' their votes they would be leaving 'an opening for the power-seeking f ew to gain office. ■ Emphasiking the civic responsibilities which all Junior Chamber members held, Mr. Jacobs impressed upon them the necessity for preparing 'themselves to play an -efficient and active part.The- function at which Mr. Jacobs was • speaking was the flr'St tea meeting of the local chamber for tnis year, and during the course of his talk he outlined the histdry arid function of the organisation, stressing that it was non-politicai. After tracing its beginhing fro^m the town of St. Louis, U.S.A., in 1915, Mr. Jacobs told of. its gradual evolution, mentioning tnat the first Dominion Junior Chamber was established in Auckland in 1932. He also touched on the formation of the Junior Chamber Internationale, Stressing its importance as a national and international body.