The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1921. IMPORTANT POLLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1921. IMPORTANT POLLS.

If the number of matters on which the citizens of New Plymouth are called upon to vote at to-morrow’s polls are any criterion for measuring the amount of public interest in the important issues to be decided, there should be a record attendance at the polling booths. Fortunately the voters will have little, if any, difficulty in arriving at a decision as to how they shall fill in their ballot papers if they desire the town to progress on sane and safe lines. It may be assumed confidently that the proposal to increase the interest on the hydroelectric loans will be endorsed practically with unanimity. No other course is thinkable. The works in connection with these loans are absolutely essential, and as the money cannot be obtained at the rate originally sanctioned, there is no option, if great loss is to be avoided, but to obtain the capital at current i ttes, and this can be done without imposing any burden on the ratepayers, though it naturally will curtail the profits of the enterprise. The ratepayers’ duty in this matter is so obvious that it needs no stressing. The voting on the half-holiday question is a matter that has engendered a controversy, but it would seem the time has to make a change, and that Saturday will.be more conducive to the real object of the holiday being obtained, rathei" than Thursday. It is to be hoped that Yhe voting will go in favor of Saturday, not only in New Plymouth, but Taranaki. At all events the townspeople \of New Plymouth will, by voting for Saturday, follow the good examples of bigger towns which have chosen that day. With regard to the election of borough councillors, it is at this juncture of the highest importance to select men of proved ability and administrative pc Such are to be found among th___Esdidates, and if the right results are p be obtained and the town to be made what it ought to be, the burgesses should select the right men for the purpose. It is quite possible that the candidates put forward by the Labor Party may of themselves be worthy of election, but the principles for which they stand are inimical to the best interests of the country, and it would be only courting trouble to introduce such a dangerous element into civic affairs. As to the candidates for the Harbor and Hospital Boards, the choice of the electors should l be easily made. Messrs. Bellringer and Connett have in the past done good service on the Harbor Board, and should sti'd retain the confidence of the electors. With regard to the Hospital Board.: there should be a unanimous vote f /T Mr. M. Fraser, whose administrative ability has become wellknown thr -ughout the Dominion. For the other two vacancies the electors cannot go wrong whichever they select, it being probable that the voting will be varied, 'the outstanding point for the voters to bear in mind is the need for

securing the very best men available, so that the policy of our public bodies will be progressive and sound.