The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, April 29TH., 1913. MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES’ QUALIFICATIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1090, 29 April 1913, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, April 29TH., 1913. MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES’ QUALIFICATIONS.

WE have previously advocated an amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act, touching the qualification clauses of candidates for the office of Councillor. The Act should provide that before a candidate’s nomination is accepted he should give some evidence of his fitness or otherwise before a magistrate or other official. The test should deal with such points in municipal law essential to capable administration ; a local knowledge and at least a smattering of the rules governing debate. If this were done many municipalities would be saved from a certain type of individual whose ignorance is a hindrance to municipal administration.

SELECTING MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES.

The electors will be asked tomorrow to select nine Councillors out of thirteen candidates offering to administer the borough’s affairs for the ensuing two years. It is to be hoped that every one possessing the necessary qualifications, and whose names are on the roll, will justify the great privilege conferred upon them by recording their votes- In making a selection of any number, up to nine, each elector should be careful to make choice of the very, best material offering. You are selecting trustees with power to raise and spend money on your behalf. Base your choice on the men you would entrust with the administration of your own private affairs, and if you do this you will not go far wrong. THE MAYORALTY. It should not be a difficult task

to come to a right decision in respect to the Mayoralty. In Mr Stiles we have a citizen who has taken a keen interest in the civic life of the town for a long period, and one who has given ungrudgingly of his time and substance to every movement and institution which has had for its objective the advancement of the town and the welfare of its people. As Mayor, no one could have discharged the duties devolving upon the office more conscientiously or with a better grasp of detail, and his 1 courteous, fair, and dignified rulings at the Council table won for him the highest encomiums of his colleagues. He is a successful and practical business man, with a firm faith in the future of the town and a knowledge of its requirements second to none. We have every confidence in recommending the claims of Mr Stiles to the electors and feel sure they will show their appreciation of his worth by returning him with a substantial majority.

HARBOUR BOARD CA.NDI-

DATES

For two seats on the Foxton Harbour Board three candidates are offering and there is no necessity to recapitulate our remarks in this connection. The electors will also record their votes for two candidates to represent the Manawatu district on the Wellington Harbour Board. The candidates nominated are Messrs Cobbe aud Cohen (sitting members) and Mr Eliott, chairman of the Palmerston N. Chamber of Commerce, and a well-known business man. We again urge electors to poll early so as to prevent confusion later in the afternoon. The polling booth is at the Council Chambers, and the polling hours are between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.