RANDOM REMARKS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 429, 10 January 1912, Page 6

RANDOM REMARKS.

. ■*. By "Onlooker."

I often wonder what particular micorbeTa responsible for the unusual brain activity demonstrated by people at election time. At Parliamentary elections, of course, burning questions may be seething in the public mind involving matters of keen interest to the public in general. Still it is remarkable how small is the influence exfirted by questions involving a great principle on elections in general. The personal equation frequently dominates the situation, and this, combined with matters of local interest, usually serves to sway the free and independent elector in his choice. Time was when silver tongued oratory was an outstanding feature of a political campaign, but the present dav public appears to be much too practical in its methods to be wooed and won in such a manner.

At the recent Borough Council election a departure was made from the ordinary paths and the spectacle of a candidate addressing the ratepayers on the questions of the hour was witnessed. This is at it should be. andthe interest evoked by he circumstance was evidenced by the large audience that attended to hear the address. Backbone always stands to a" man in public life, particularly when, as was remarked by another councillor, "it keeps coming to the front." What would transpire if the spinal column decided upon a round tour, with occasional flights to a higher atmosphere would be difficult to determine. It is understood a Royal Commission of local medicos is to be appointed to enquire into the weird antics of councillors' backbones with a view to throwing iight on a much discussed subject in all municipalities.

The privilege of being appointed to work for one's fellow man in respect to local matters is not always eagerly sought for. but the fact that contests do take place for such privilege is a striking tribute to the public spirit of our people. Moreover, the contests between asp'rants for the position frequently give rise to unusual situations. The ballot stands as a symbol of liberty.

Sternly fought and hardly won battles were waged ere democracy triumphed, and the flag of freedom waved over the land, and the recollection of all this is probably the sentiment which inspires our people to cheri3h the institutions so dearly bought. May we long have men to aspire to civic fame and do the necessary work—not merely for the sake of others, but for the sake of the body politic—men guided by the highest sense of public duty whose aspirations, both national and parochial, are towards elevating tha world to a higher plane, towards which worthy object each individual effort can be directed.

Election excitement is responsible for unusual situations which go' to support the well worn aphorism that one touch of Nature makes all the world akin. An ardent supporter of one of the candidates at the recent borough election is a man with a large fund of sympathy not unmixed with humour. In the course of beating up tardy voters the canvasser hit upon a house in which a lady voter was in danger of missing the poll because of the children. Tha gentleman in question proudly boasts of the fact that he dressed the children and hurried the party to the poll in time to vote. In another instance a worker for one of the candidates successfully canvassed the Chinese laundryman, and is said to have strolled arm in arm with him to the booth. Circumstance makes strange bedfellows.