Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1943. DON’T NEGLECT TO VOTE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1943. DON’T NEGLECT TO VOTE.

yVk the sound and fury of political controversy die down, one point on which all thinking people ought to be able to agree is that it is desirable that there should be the nearest practicable approach tomorrow to a one hundred per cent poll ol the eleetois of New Zealand. A democracy is undermined in the extent to which any large proportion of its citizens become inactive and inert members of its body politic and any failure by eleetois v> ho might have done so to exercise their voting rights is regrettable. It may be more than usually necessary to set emphasis on these obvious truisms for the reason that, on the. whole, considerably less than normal interest has been taken in the election campaign now closing. A great many people are deeply preoccupied with the war, in its larger aspects and as it affects them in their family relationships and individually. The opinion is held widely that no election should have been necessary with the Dominion, in company with all nations that are or hope to be free, involved in the greatest conflict and crisis the world has ever known. In these circumstances not a few people have declined to interest themselves in domestic political issues, holding that these may very well, stand over for attention and treatment at a later date.

While it is possible to sympathise in a measure with this attitude of mind, it is not one that should be allowed to stand in the way of an exercise of the duties of responsible citizenship. The election has been brought about at the instance rather of politicians than of the people of the Dominion, but the outcome of tomorrow’s polling will affect the conduct of the war and a great deal that is to follow. Every citizen able to do so —even those who have been nauseated by much that has figured in the election campaign—should make his or her weight tell in the verdict to be cast-

To all but an inconsiderable minority of the population, the. duty of voting is light and easy, but it is of capital importance that the duty should be performed. Electors who are inclined to be indifferent should reflect that by failing to vote they would be in effect voting for those against whom their votes otherwise would have been cast. Maximum voting figures are essential if there is to be a true expression of the will of the people.