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Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1921, Page 2

Ttte mlitter of good citizenship will lie occupying the attention of tlio people for the rest of the month, the* occasion being the Municipal elections which include thp mayoralty, a non

Borough Council, and representatives for the Hospital Board and Harbour Board. The polls take place on the 27th., hut the more important date at the moment is that of the closing of nominations on the 20th. inst., when it is the duty of the ratepayers to interest themselves and induce the most eligible candidates to come forward. It "is a. case of the people minding their own business by seeing that a good strong team is brought out for the choice of the people. There is occasion for it. The other day Lord Jelliooe awarded Hokitika “the cake’ ! The town has a reputation to live up to if it is to be worthy of such a distinctive assignment. Besides we have our own pride in our town. Hokitika has an unrivalled situation, and a people who can rise to the occasion and do their town proud. But there are intervals in between when there are many lost opportunities to advance the place. Those living here must be conscious of our own shortcomings and realise that many a time and oft, the town falls short of their ideals. Time and again circumstances arise which call for a citizen effort to establish the town in better order and condition. We have the enterprise and willingness to back up the leaders of public action, it those in authority could hut lead. We need an active civic Council bent on doing things moderately well. Let us look hack, and sec what is there to the credit of the retirng Council that counts for prosperity and advancement. It has been a singularly inactive Council. It might he commended perhaps for its safety in inaction, hut that is negative praise. That there are works to do calling- for attention, is often demonstrated by the debates round the Council table. But these matters never get beyond words. There is the feeling among the members that something should he done, but there is the lack of leadership in putting the nebulous thoughts into direct action. Individually the memliers of the Council are capable of achieving valuable definite results, but they fail to rise to the occasion. A spirited contest now might result in the shaping of a definite municipal policy. If sufficient ratepayers could ho induced to go to the poll to create a contest, we are satisfied that meeting the ratepayers as the candidates would a livelier interest in municipal

l wants would result, tf things are not done, the Council is not to blame, b'“ those responsible for putting the members there. The members are the choice, and their actions have to be abided l>v. In this way the municipality is just what the people care to make it themselves by electing a good, had or indifferent Council. The retiring Council might perhaps he described as of the indifferent order, neither good nor bad. The happy medium has its value at times, hut seeing that it is not any more trouble to select a Council of good quality tho ratepayers in the next fev days should set about the task of selection.