COMMON CAUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1741, 5 May 1913, Page 6

COMMON CAUSE.

THE CITY'S ADVANCEMENT.

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION'S OBJECTS. Tho Greater Wellington Municipal Electors' Association, which pla.vrd ,v.> prominent a part in the recent civic elections, intends to foster llio interest tlmt has been aroused in muaieiii.il affairs. THE ASSOCIATION'S RECORD. With this object in view the following statement has been issued:— "For many years part there has been ill existence a number of local associations and electors for the purpoM 1 of guarding the inlcreslsm!' the particular district concerned. Many instances could bo cited whereby the adoption by tho City Council of recommendations from sucii bodies havo been of great, service to tho city. It was found, however, (hat many questions arose, which by reason of their common import, could not bo successfully advnenled by any single association, and some six months ago a movement was initiated to tederale the I several organisations lo deal collectively with such matters while strictly preserving local autonomy for purelv local affairs. Knrlv in .lanuary last the Greater AVellington Municipal Electors Association was formed, and its charter members were as follow: —The llataitai, _ Island Cay. and Wadestown Municipal Electors' Associations, together with tlio Citizens' League and a common membership ot' any elector of the city on payment of a nominal annual subscription of 2s. (id. The following aro tlio objects:— v. "(a) To secure tho advancement of Greater Wellington, particular to facilitate tho development of a definite scheme of townplanning. "(b) To educate public opinion regarding all matters of interest to tho city. "(cKl'o sceure clean adpiinistration of the city's affairs. "(d) To influence tho action of tho municipal and local bodies in the directions calculated to bo in tho city's best interests. "(e) To secure the return of the candidates for seats on all local bodies who will, in the opinion of the rssocie.tion, give tho best service to tho city. What Has Been Done. "This broad basis was considered a desirable platform on which members could unite in a common cause for the city's advancement, free from locality or class interests. The elections coming early in the period of the association's existence, have, up to the present, almost solely engaged its attentions. Labour lias been gathering together its forces, and finally announced its intention of an attempt to capture the city's governing bodies. This move welded together tho component parts of the association, determined to resist, any such class domination, and, with its decks cleared of all superfluities, it set itself to work in earnest with the following officers:—President, Mr. .T. Cf. W. Aitken; vice-presid'onts, Messrs. H. G. Hill and A. Leigh Hunt; committoe, Messrs. A. E. Odlin, E. Colley, W. A. Tho'mson, R. W. Gilbert, A. Bait, W. 11. Potts, J. S. Barton, E. C. Jack, and E. Wylic; secretary, Mr. J. L. Arcus; organiser, Mr.' G. A. Hurley. It was decided not to nominate candidates, but to select from those hlroady announced such as would, in the opinion of the general'body of members, provo capable representatives. Several general, meetings were hold, and finally it was decided to support the candidature of Mr. J. P. Luke as Mayor, to recommend twolvo candidates for tl/e City Council, three for the Harbour Board, and ten for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, thus leaving room for such oilier candidates for whom some of tho members might also desiro to vote, but who, for various reasons, were not considered acceptable to the general body of the association's members. It may be noted that tho candidates were never asked lo pledge themselves on any question, or, in fact, wero they in any way bound other than that it was expected they would earnestly endeavour to further tiie broad objects of tlio association. One tiling made apparent by the association was that class candidates were to find no place on its ticket. As the election date approached, citizens generally inado a ready response to the association's appeal for assistance and co-operation, and the excellence of its organisation has left its mark upon the results of the poll. Only three out_ of the twenty-six candidates on tho ticket" failed to secure election, and one of those who failed did so by under fifty votes. Tho association, therefore, claims that it has been tlio means of saving the city from class 'domination and caucus rule, which, without its aid. the citizens of Wellington would for the next two years have been subjected to. The Future Programme. "This being generally conceded, it is felt that a great impetus in its membership will result, and enable it to carry out tho balance of its programme. This consists of holding regular monthly meetings, at which any member is free to introduce, discuss, and vote noon any subject bearing on tho objects. Tho , first regular monthly meeting will bo held tiwards the end of May, and already tho_ following subjects'have been given notico of: —Universal tram fare, minimum frontage for building allotments in suburban residential areas, scheme for. economical five prevention in sparsely settled districts, To Aro railway development, shipping facilities and connection for railway passengers with ferry steamers, establishment of legislative machinery for town-planning. These debates art expected to bo of' great educative value, not only to the members present, but also to tho general public, through tho medium of tho press, and by the expression of opinions thus arrived at by mature and well-considered thought to give a lead to tho governing bodies of tho city, in other words, to make a worthy attempt to enable tho groat body of citizens to more fully understand tlio civic ques. tions of the day. with every regard for their relation to tho town-planning aspect of the future. The originators 'of the movement recognise that 111 tho past bodies of mushroom growth have sprung into existence with similar aspirations, only to fade away into obscurity after the election effort had passed. This is. howover, not to be repeated, but, actuated by a desire to inspire a feeling of civic patriotism and education, the executive recognises it has a mission worthy of years of devotion to its high objects. In tho short time since the elections many applications for membership have spontaneously come in. and intending members may apply to any member of tho executive."

The motto of the nidation is: "One aim: the city; one class: the citizens."