The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1927. A REVIVING INTEREST.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1927. A REVIVING INTEREST.

It is very gratifying to find that not only here .but generally all through New Zealand there is a reviving interest in local polities, lor the various municipal positions, mayoral, and otherwise, as well as for local body postions, there is a very numerous array of candidates. This is a healthy interest betokening an awakening spirit very much to be desired. Civic interests are of sufficient value in themselves to warrant a popular interest in local progress. In these days no centre should lie standing still. There is the call for progress and a progressive spirit. The towns are what the people made them, and there is room always for material advancement. Probably in many places, and notably the chief centres, Labor as an organisation is ssiid to lie attempting to capture the control of civic government. In such contests there is usually a

sharp divsion by reason of the introduction of general politics. That is really to he regretted. . Civic affairs should not he mixed up with general politics, which are something apart, and are wide enough in themselves in their right place to occupy enough attention. Certainly a fair amount of direct representation of the wage earner is a good thing—and that subsists generally in the smaller centres where all are wage-earners. That principle is not likely to he upset in any serious respect in the towns, but in the centres there is a sharper line of division, and Labor has helped itself by open proclamation, in carrying that sharper division. Labor in such cases often comes forward (as in general politics) with as extravagant programme, and this has the effect of arousing the commercial men who realise the futility of much that is proposed. In the local contest this sharp division is not likely to protrude. "When the ratepayers enter the polling hooths and scan the ballot papers their duty is to make the best choice possible. Any preference should go to the sitting members who, if they have satisfied the public with their past services, should he worthy of sustained support. The bent to vote on a “ticket” should be avoided in a contest of this nature, where it is essential to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. Bv voting for can-

didates on their individual merits tho happiest result will lie achieved. All the candidates are well known locally, and most of them have seen service I'u the nubic interest ill some sphere or ntlior. In these circumstances there should he the opportunity to make a very fair selection, and return to the new Council next Wednesday a good representative team. There is plenty of work ahead of the Council. Naturally its achievements are limited by finance, but the success n! its work will depend on the manner in which it is able to use its resources to the best advantage. Making the welfare of the town and its progressive advancement a first and last duty, the Council will find plenty to do in a practical wav. The ratepayers are to tie congratulated on having such a wide field of choice, and ii remains only for the electors to exercise a wide judgment in making a selection of those standing from their personal merits to serve the town and district well and faithfully.