MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

The municipal elections should be engaging the attention of business men and ratepayers more than seems to be the case. Nominations for the various local bodies close on April 19, and, apart from those who at present hold office, there appears no body of citizens, outside the Labour Party, interested. Seats on the Auckland City Council appear to be held almost in perpetuity. No one can argue that this is in the best interests of the community. It would be unwise to displace the whole of the Council by a new set of men, for continuity of policy is desirable, but it is equally unwise not to introduce a proportion of new blood and new ideas every two years. In these difficult times, even more, than when prosperity breeds indifference, we need the best brains there are to direct our civic affairs. It is to-day the duty of business men who hitherto have avoided the responsibility of serving their city to come forward. The introduction of at least half a dozen men of established business ability is very much to be desired. The duty is one common to everyone who has achieved success in any walk of life in this city, and we trust that the call to service will not fall upon deaf ears and that business executives who have hitherto avoided local politics will pause and consider whether they are not shirking their reasonable responsibilities.