LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 6

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS

Sir, —The Labour candidates for the City Council have raised the question of the fairness in their dealings on the City Council, but I am sure that every decent elector in Dunedin will be shocked at the glaring example of unfairness and pettiness shown by them at the last council meeting. Cr McCrae is retiring after many years of public service to this city, given freely, conscientiously, and to the best of his ability. Not one single Labour councillor was fair enough or decent enough to say one single word of appreciation or thanks for his long service. The only speakers were Mr Cameron and Messrs Taverner and Ireland. This is a striking contrast to the action of Mr Cameron’and the councillors representing the Citizens' Association, who, on the death of the late Mr James Munro, generously appointed Mr Hudson to the vacancy instead of Mr Armitage, the next Citizens’ representative on the poll. I am sure the electors of Dunedin will show on polling day their appreciation of the need to have fair-minded councillors representing their interests. —I am, etc.. Elector 111.

Sir, —Labour’s latest catch slogan for those for whom they do their thinking is they have only one name. So have many eggs in their Marketing Division stores, also the milk many of us are compelled to drink or go without. This latest brain wave which pools all grades of milk cuts out private enterprise and competition, the keystone to quality. However, many of those who put the Labour hot-heads' Into power are only now beginning to wake up to the fact. They have the remedy in their hands this month so far as the city is concerned, so may they this time act on it.—l am, etc.. Try Another One,

Sir,—We have recently been treated to a spate of criticism of the “ Blue Ticket Nationalists ” who, by their sins of omission, have failed to provide houses and other amenities for the citizens cf Dunedin, the implication being, of course, that all this will be changed if the *' Red Flag Labourites ” become the dominant power in the City Council. Will some aspiring Labour candidate tell the electors lust what arrangements the proposed Labour Council has made to overcome the shortages of man-power and materials which have largely crippled the Labour Government’s housing programme? , , _ A further point on which, I am sure, many of the electors would appreciate enlightenment is this: Cr P. G. Connolly, M.P., is reported as having stressed the desirability of having members of Parliament as councillors. He is further reported as having severely criticised the cost of the trolley bus proposals. Will he, therefore, state unequivocally what he, or any of the other local Labour M.P.'s (three of whom are also city councillors) Mas done with a view to securing from the Minister of Finance a remission of sales tax in respect of the trolley buses? If, as I stronglv suspect, nothing has been done along' these lines, will he state what, in his opinion, constitutes the distinction between sales tax on a public utility and anv other form of theft?—l am, etc., Elector 11.