LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26617, 13 November 1947, Page 4

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Sir, —In the editorial column of your issue of November 5 you say, in reference to Mr E. F. Jones’s candidature for the Dunedin mayoralty, that •“ his lack of administrative experinece in the civic sphere, and, indeed, of a record of public life in the wider sense, is a handicap that neither youthful enthusiasm nor ambition can overcome.” Apparently your outlook is somewhat out of date, and you are unaware that, in the enlightened view of the party at present guiding the destinies of New Zealand lack of experience is no barrier whatever in the matter of qualification for public office—or for appointment to the public service. The chief qualification required for such positions appears to be that one must be a member of the Labour Party. This opin’on is based not only on a study of the records of the majority of Labour candidates in the forthcoming local body elections, but also by considering the qualifications of a number of appointees in Government departments in recent years. Surely any opposition to Mr Jones’s election to the mayoralty is hardly valid on the grounds of lack of administrative experience, etc. According to the Labour philosophy, no such experience is required. Any training necessary can presumably be given after attaining the position, as is done with some appointments to the civil service—at the expense of the taxpayer.—l am, etc., J. White.