The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, April 24, 1909. MUNICIPAL ELECTION. HOW TO VOTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 24 April 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, April 24, 1909. MUNICIPAL ELECTION. HOW TO VOTE.

ThK poll for the election of nine councillors takes place on Wednesday next. The polling booth will hq situated in the Municipal Chambers, and the polling hours will be between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. AIL burgesses whose names appear qu the District Electors’ List (copies of which may be obtained from the Town Clerk, on payment of is each), are entitled to record their votes for any one or more candidates up to, but not exceeding, nine. The method of recording votes on the ballot paper for candidates for whom the voter desires to vote, is by putting a cross opposite the. name of such candidate; but voters may legally adopt the more simple method of striking but the names of candidates for whom they desire NOT to vote. THE NOMINATIONS. The air is thick at present with municipal politics. We are glad of this, because interest in our municipal affairs is educational, and enlightenment means progress, and progress makes for the betterment of the health and wealth of our people. The number of citizens who have consented to sacrifice their time, and talents in an endeavour to lift Foxtou into line with other municipalities, gives the lie direct to the oft-repeated statement that our citizens are "dead to their responsibilities. Burgesses can make a selection of nine councillors from 13 candi-

dates, and if we may be permitted to use a vulgarism, there is not a “chump” amongst them. Included among the candidates are: Three experienced ex-couueillors, two medical men, practical builders, the head of the largest commercial enterprise in the district, Labour Union representative, ex-schoolmaster, flaxmiller, and tradesmen. Surely, enough variety to suit all tastes, and collective intelligence sufficient to control the destinies of a borough ten limes the size of Foxton. We have no hesitation in saying that each candidate is fitted to occupy the position aspired to, and electors will have some difficulty in making a final selection, and we prophesy that the defeated candidates, whoever they may be, will be close up at the finish. Each candidate, in preferring his services, is actuated by the desire to be of service to his fellow townsmen. OUR REQUIREMENTS. Foxton is not heavily burdened with taxation. The basis of our taxation is the unimproved value of the laud, and we venture the .opinion that not one propertyowner in the borough would dispose of his laud for anywhere near its valuation for taxation purposes. We are not carrying any heavy special loans. There are some ratepayers however, who will oppose any loan whether for reproductive purposes or otherwise —they represent stagnation, from which Foxton has suffered for too long a period. The majority of the candidates recognise this fact, and we are pleased to notice in this connection that in the. forefront of the progiessive candidates is Cr. Geo. Coley, perhaps one of the largest ratepayers in the borough, who has pledged himself to support a water and ■drainage loan and erection of a municipal Town Hall. The programme which we commend to ratepayers is : Water and Drainage, Construction of Footpaths, Municipal Town Hall, and we urge burgesses to do their utmost to return candidates pledged to this policy.