LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

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

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Sir, —Apart from a very marked distaste for the ridiculous fostering of classconsciousness in a country which aftei all is overwhelmingly one class, I am not interested in politics, but share with many others the view that until party politics as such as abandoned we can never enjoy wholly representative government, nor will we obtain the services of those best qualified to govern. It is particularly disturbing, therefore, to find oui municipal election campaign opening with such a display of party rancour and abuse. . . , .. The office of Mayor is one which calls for dignity and poise, and if the slangy and vulgar advertisements published in the local press on behalf of Mr Jones and his colleagues are any indication of the way these gentlemen are likely to behave and speak if elected, our city would indeed have little reason to be proud of its representatives. We should elect our Mayor and each councillor on his individual ability to give service to the city, and not allow ourselves to be influenced by the fact that he carries a blue ticket or wears a red tie. The City Corporation does not question our right to vote which way we choose in a general election so why should we question theirs? —I am, etc., Üblque. Sir,—l note that Mr P. G? Connolly, M.P., has been giving the public a warning about the cost of trolley buses. If my memory serves me right, this subject was fully discussed by city councillors of both shades of opinion before the loan was voted upon. Did Cr Connolly lay all these facts before the public at that time, or did he pigeon-hole them in his mind for reference at election time? If so, he might ask in Mr Connolly’s own words, “Is this playing the game? ’’—l am, etc., True Bill.

Sir,—One admires youthful enthusiasm, but when this is also accompanied with youthful ignorance it is not so good. Mr E C. Stanton, the Labour candidate for the City Council, is reported to have said at George street that the council wants to stop the Government building homes. Mr Stanton shows much ignorance in this matter as only a little while ago your columns featured a very extensive scheme of subdivision which the City Council was sponsoring in Kaikorai Valley. If the council in its wisdom is not prepared to put in more water on the high-level areas, it possibly has in mind the fact that the rest of Dunedin City and St. Kilda also has to be supplied with water. In any case, the State Housing Department can at least be credited with knowing as much about housing as Mr Stanton, and, it is assumed, fully investigated the matter of water supply before it built the first house at Corstorphine.—l am. etc., T- IngHs-