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THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

If the number _ of candidates offering their services is any indication of public interest in civic affairs, there is no reason to complain of apathy in connection with the local municipal elections which arc to be- held this month. For the fifteen, seats on the City Council, forty-one candidates have been nominated, while three candidates have come forward for the Mayoralty. The Labour organisation has put forward a full ticket for the City Council, and also a candidate for the Mayoralty, and is working more, systematically than any other sectional interest to secure the return of its nominees. It is desirable that organised Labour-should he fairly represented in the government of tho municipality, but citizens generally will-no doubt recognise the unwisdom of handing over the complete control to men inexperienced in local government and representing a class interest. At the present time we want men of progressive ideas in our public life, but we also want men of experience and sound judgment. It was expected that there would be four candidates for the City Mayoralty, but at-the last moment Ma. T. S. Weston, president of the Employers' Association, withdrew from the contest. Many people will regret to learn of this decision, but the reasons for Mr. Weston's action do him credit,. and will n6 doubt be remembered in his favour at some .'future time. With three candidates competing against one another for the votes of those outside organised Labour, the candidate put forward in the name of Labour would have had an excellent prospect of winl ning on a minority vote. This, on the present occasion, would be a regrettable thing. During the next two years the city will require as its chief citizen a man of experience, and one fftmiliar with the affairs of the municipality, and it cannot be said that the Labour candidate for the office - possesses the qualifications of either of his opponents in these respects. Mr. Weston's retirement still leaves opportunity for vote-splitting between Mr. _J. P. Luke and Mr. Barber, and it is a matter for regret in the circumstances that Mr. Barber could not see his way to follow the excellent example set by Mr. Weston. So far aa it is possible to judge public opinion, the probability 'is that Mr. Barber's candidature will serve no other purpose than t6 deprive Mr. Luke of a certain number of votes without giving Mr. Barber any substantial hope of success. In saying this we do not wish to belittle Mr. Barber's long services as a member of the City Council, but we believe that citizens generally will prefer to see Mr. Luke hold office for another term.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190422.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 177, 22 April 1919, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
445

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 177, 22 April 1919, Page 4

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 177, 22 April 1919, Page 4

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