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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 232, 10 September 1884, Page 2

To-morrow the burgesses will have the opportunity, which only occurs once in three years, of remedying anything they think they have seen amiss in the public conduct of some of their representatives. We have no desire to in any wayinfluence the election, deeming it quite competent on the part of individual ratepayers to think and act for themselves. We have certainly published a few harmless skits, but we trust there is no voter or candidate sufficiently thinskinned to take offence at them, but that all will look upon them merely for what they were intended to do, viz., keep the matter of the election in view. The number of gentlemen offering themselves for election is proof of general faith in the future prosperity of the place. Many of the candidates have already seen service in the field, others have not. It is now for the electors to consider which three of the seven will be best able to serve the interests of the ratepayers. Probably some of those who now occupy seats may be defeated, but if so it will only be the ordinary fortune of war. They will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have done well in the past, and a period of rest from public service will not only be beneficial to them, but will enable them to see what others can do, and then they will have all the better case to lay before their clients at a future election. We think public matters taken altogether are very successfully carried on, and the members work quite as harmoniously together as is desirable. It is possible to be too harmonious, and therefore we like to see an occasional squabble. It shows the ratepayers that their affairs are well shaken up before being put into the hat, and that thereby they have conclusive proof that all is fair and above board, Let the ratepayers remember, then, that their votes to-morrow will decide who shall occupy the three vacant seats for the next three years, barring accidents, and vote for those they think best fitted for the seats. Then when the majority have decided who the successful one.s shall be, it is desirable that every support should be given to those who devote their time to the conduct of public business. Majorites in all cases have the right to rule, and the only right of minorities’ is to become majorities. We have little sympathy with the concoctors of imaginary grievances on matters which have been fully discussed and settled by a majority of those interested.. At the same time we offer the use of our columns for the discussion of any question of a public nature, and trust that it will be fully availed of by one and all. We trust, however, that those who value the privilege of liberty of thought and action will not deny to others the right they claim for themselves—the liberty of holding an opinion and the right to express it.