LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Otaki Mail, 19 March 1923, Page 2

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

In the course of a few weeks the electors of the several municipal bodies will be called upon to elect their representatives on the several Councils. Harbour Boards and Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, with a surfeit of candi--1 dates in some cases and possibly but few in others. The cost of local government nowadays is becoming such a serious matter that it behoves the. ratepayers and the burgesses generally to look well lo the character and fitness of the candidates coming forward for election. Otaki has hitherto been fairly fortunate in both respects, its councillors and oilier local body representatives having been, generally speaking, a particularly lino type of citizen—men who gave their lime ami .abilities ■ freely and ungrudgingly in the service of the town and district, without expecting either fee or reward. other than the approval of their own consciences. The present councillors have managed the affairs of the borough with considerable credit to themselves, and although ihe ratepayers have not always endorsed their decisions, or approved of all their loan schemes, it will, we think, be admitted that they have enjoyed the confidence of the burgesses to a very considerable extent. It rests with the burgesses themselves to see that none but good business men are elected to the now council, should any of the present councillors decide not to again offer their services, It will be recognised that those of our citizens who serve the burgesses in an honorary capacity in this way devote much valuable time and attention to the affairs of Ihe municipality and thai therefore they are deserving of Ihe best thanks of ihe burgesses for their ser-