Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1935. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 163, 23 April 1935, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1935. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Nominations for the office of Mayor and for membership of the Borough Council close at noon on Friday and present indications are that there is a likelihood of the positions being filled without contest. In one sense this may be accepted as a compliment to those already in office or,’ to those who offer themselves as successors to retiring members. But from the much more important aspect —that of the welfare of the community—the position is regrettable. In the first place the retirement of Mr R. Kerr, who has to his credit most useful service over a long period, will be a distinct loss to the community, which has looked upon him as qualifying for the highest office in its gift. It is not too late for Mr Kerr to reconsider his decision and to extend his praiseworthy record. With the withdrawal of Mr Rundle the Council loses one of the solid men among its personnel, for, shunning the limelight, he has through his long association with municipal affairs proved himself a most capable administrator, his work in committee being of the utmost value. In his case, also, reconsideration of his decision would be welcomed. During his period of office, Mr A. L. Jones .has also shown that he possesses talents that should be of community value when fully developed. Apart altogether from any question of filling vacancies there is an urgent call on citizens possessing the necessary qualifications of character, experience and aptitude for local body affairs, to come forward. On the character and capacity of its elected administrators depend the Borough s financial health, its adequate development and even its orderliness and decency. Membership of the Council thus confers a status of which any citizen may well be proud. But more than personal standing is at stake. For men of the required calibre deliberately to put aside their duties and responsibilities in community life is to fall away from the ideals of citizenship. It is not in the best interests of the people that an election should gT by default, for the burgesses are thereby deprived of their right to deliver judgment on those who have occupied positions of trust. It is weakening the civic structure to allow the development of a feeling that once a man is elected to any post he himself shall decide when he should give place to others. In the ideal community every public man would know that at the. end o is elected term the constituents would either express renewal of confidence or pass condemnation of his words and actions. ‘Thus both as a matter of principle and as a practical act o self-government it is highly desirable that the nominations on Friday should exceed the number of vacancies to e filled The same considerations apply to the other local bodies and it is therefore satisfactory that the constituents of the Hospital, Power and Lyttelton Harbour Boards and of at least one of the ridings of the County will have the opportunity of recording their views as to past administration.