The Press. TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1913. TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14658, 6 May 1913, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1913. TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS.

An interesting 'statement, which should < ivcoivo the attention of those citizens of Christcbureh who aru opposed to government by a class in the interests of that class aioue, has been communicated to the newspapers "by tho Greater "Wellington Municipal Electors' Association: This body, -which, is an amalgamation of various local associationi, was formed six months ago, with the object of working for clean and prudent and progressive municipal management. The municipal elections afforded the Association its first opportunity to test its usefulness, and its chief work was the selection of candidates for tiio -Mayoralty,- tho City Council, the Harbour board, and the Hospital ..'Board.' That the Association Is in touehV with the true feeling or the majority of the citizens, and is trusted by them, is a conclusion which ono. must draw from th*» tact that only three out of the twenty-six candidates on the Association's ."tickets;" failed to secure election. The Executive Committee claims that it has been tho means of saving tho city from class domination ami caucus rnlo; and although this claim is rather a wido one, yet it is certain that without tho Association's help, tho rebuff administered to tho LabourSocialists -would havo been less effective than actually was the case.

What deserves special notice, however, is tho decision of the Executive Committee • to make use of tho Association betw«>n elections. Instead of £oing peacefully to sleep while tho Socialists are re-organising, the Associ-

ation intends to maintain an active interest in local affairs, and it will begin this month to carry out a programme of regular monthly meetings at which any member will be freo to introduce, discuss, and vote upon, any subject bearing on the government ot tho city. Already there has been a large increase in the membership, and a long list of subjects, somo .of local and some of genoral interest, have been set down for discussion. Tho committee is not overestimating the usefulness of its programme when it says that the debates

j " arc expected to bo of great educative " value, not only to the meml>e.rs pre- " sent, but also to tho general public, " through the medium of the Press, and * ; by the expression of opinions thus " arrived at by mature and woll-con- " sidered thought, to give a lead to tho " governing bodies of the city." In Christchurch there is not less scopo than in Wellington for tho systematic oducation of the public in tho principles of good government, and the action of the Wellington body should stimulate a liko activity in our own city. Even if the Labour-Socialist faction were not well-organised and ceaselessly active in spreading their ruinous gospel of classhatrod and wild experiment, it would still be very desirable that tho citizen 3 should be led into taking some real and continuous interest in local affairs. Wo commend to tho Citizens' Association the praiseworthy endeavour of the moderate majority in Wellington as one which should be emulated here.