“A STUPID DECISION”

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12613, 25 November 1926, Page 3

“A STUPID DECISION”

CIVIC LEAGUE AND MAYORALTY COUNCILLOR BENNETT TAKES GLOVES OFF “LEAGUE WILL BE TOLD” Plain speaking to the Civic League was heard at the Wadestown and Highland Park Progressive Association when Mr H. D. Bennett took the floor. lie regretted much tho circumstances which had led up to the present position, «aid Councillor Bennett. In years past, ever since the Labour Party insisted upon nominating a full ticket of its own representatives for the positions of Mayor and councillors, it seemed desirable that the citizens should combat this attempt with a counter-move. It became imperative that, in order to give to the general body of electors full and untrammelled right to elect their Mayor by a majority vote of the people as a whole, a single candidate should stand against the well-organised Labour camp. "That party/’ he continued, "works under strict discipline, and the party bosses must be obeyed. Their vote in this city is a growing force, and is cn-

titled to respect. Their nominees make certain pledges, thereby bringing about control from outside. This is not peculiar to Wellington or to New Zealand, It is the Labour way of organisation and winning class political battles. The introduction of this pernicious system into our municipal life is to be deplored. It is clear that with the large Labour vote given en bloc to a single candidate, the anti-Labour section of the community could not afford to multiply its candidates. THE IRONY OF FATE "Fired by the experience of one §uch victory in the past, citizens clamoured [ for relief. It ie the irony of fate that in the mouthpiece of the Civic League we see to-d(rp the shadow of that Labour Mayor! From the task of mediating between plural candidates a body had gradually grown to be the octopus we find to-day masquerading under j the name of the Civic League. This body has out-hcroded Herod. It has * beaten the starter. It now functions * like a domineering autocrat. ' Labour i does consult its constituent bodies when ! it comes to selecting candidates, but the j Civic League rushes headlong into its j decisions and t consults the various Rate- | pavers’ Associations afterwards. "This is exactly what has happened I in their selection of a candidate for the I Mayoralty this time. Watch the frantic : efforts they will now make to obtain endorsements of their stupid action, I ! venture to prophesy that some at least * of these bodies will show resentment and repudiate the attempt to jockey tlirni into 1 surveillance. DRAW THEM OUT! "There are many men in Wellington eminently suitable for the position •of Mayor. It is the business of the citizens to draw these men out, certainly not to bar them by beating the big drum; and this is where the Civic League has failed. Can it be said that the league has attempted to 6cek mil a suitable candidate Even if they disliked the in- . dependence of the present Mayor and his . refusal to kowtow to them, did they attempt to seek out another man from the { “ s t of our captains of industry and com--1 nierce? No, they set themselves out deliberately to block offers, and did not hesitate to inflict humility on the present Mavor by 'giving him notice’ six months before his term expired. It is a i sufficient commentary on their action that councillors as a body, breaking nil precedents, publicly expressed what amounts to no confidence, and surely they are the better judges. "In due time we will give the electors an account of the stewardship of the present council. I venture tp suggest that the public will accept our work as at least equal to any other bodv of men despite the harpings ot the "disgruntled. FRIENDS NOT WANTING “The Mayor is not without friends, tie has had offers of help from many quarters. When the time comes we will set up an organisation which will ensure an intensive campaign. Our ranks | will be open to all citizens, and we shall Welcome new men. We intend that electors shall know the truth before they go to the poll. It is not proposed that the election campaign should commence now. but it is necessary to say that it will commence at the right time. The Civie League has proven itself incapable of correctly sensing the duty a tolerant community oxpectcd of them, and I think they are going to be told about it/’ The fight, continued Councillor Ben- | nett, was not a-ainst Councillor G. A. Troup, tho league’s nominee; 'it was a light against tho dictatorship of the Civic League—not against anything that was fair, hut against the unfair tactics which must be intolerable to the people of Wellington ns a whole.