THE PUTARURU PRESS. THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1934. APATHY OF ELECTORS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 23, 20 March 1924, Page 2

THE PUTARURU PRESS.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1934. APATHY OF ELECTORS.

gP*® * Main Street 28 - - P.O. Box 44 j||HH?rwis, Portrj and Dallimore's 1 Buildings.)

■;IT is almost impossible to calmly i K~eriticise the result of the Thames IpYalley Electric Power Board’s poll, , I to raise a loan of £150,000 i'or further I reticulation work. Reformers, LiberI als Socialists, town and coin try, I rich and poor, alike, showed the utp most indifference; consider,,b’y under 10 per cent of the ratepa;., ■ ever. | taking- the trouble to exercise their votes on a matter which involves the I spending of such a large amount of I: money. Is it any wonder that there I 3s a disinclination on the part of men l of ability, with high ideals, to take f part in public affairs under such coni', .ditions? How must such men view f the grotesque published returns of ■jjrikis poll, and how is it to be explain■H? If we say it is due to ignorance of the ratepayers would be higli- ■ indignant. If we sav selfishness, HRfty would probably reply “ No,” for obvious reason that on them falls burden of paying the cost, and HEthat they could have voted against the proposal. And perhaps, after all, when it is boiled down, it may be y simply carelessness. Less it cannot be. Even if it is only carelessness || that is a very serious defect in the 4 civic mind. That, it is, which opens the way for the grossest of Tammany L methods enabling the alert maniput lator to rig contracts and buy concessions for which the people must r pay in added cost. And even without such gross abuses a careless people are pretty sure to get what they are " justly entitled to, viz., careless admin- | istration, which is often almost as costly as direct peculation, carelessness being under such circumstances | a constant, unvarying- drain on public resources, while peculation is usually What, then, is the cure? HR Surely the people generally thvoughH out this district must have learned Pw the value of money, through the lack fet of it since the slump, and therefore it ■ would seem to us harsh judgment to ■ suggest further adversity as 2 remedy. Optimistically it is hoped it IF® the stress and strain of the World War, and that people will now torn V- to the things of Peace, and rouse within themselves and others that' spirit of true progress which Will ■ render impossible another exhibition fit like this of public apathy or carelessBBness. Tire fact that the proposal was BHorfm&flr Vv&a a. »jere matter of cliance, so far as the ratepayers were con- • cerned,” and has no bearing on our remark's.