The Elections.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17747, 26 April 1923, Page 12

The Elections.

It la supremely important/ that, thos« who wish Cliristchurch '">□ prosperous, during the next two years, as dull times will peruut, should plav their part to-day in warding off unnecessary anxieties. The first duty, a very elementary one, is simply to remembai to vote: the enemies of good government will remember, and it will be a, calamity if the friends forget. It is to be emphasised also that good government is threatened in two places. Cr. Sullivan, with natural but very j dangerous pride, hag accepted the in-1 vitation of the Labour Party to make a drive at the Mayoral chair. Tho first task of citizens is to frustrate that. They must keep Mr Sullivan out, first because lie is not in himself, in 6pite of his experience, zeal, and sectional popularity, a suitable person for the moet exalted public position in the r-ity; bnfc tfaoy "masfcifeegp bitn out '

had Mayoral capacity, preside over Ciiristcliurch and at the same time represent Avon. No one can. have any doubt of that after examining the table of attendances at ordinary and committee meetings of the Council which he was so anxious to prevent us from publishing on Tuesday; and now thai; they know, citizens are under an obligation to use their knowledge to-dav for tlie public good. So also with the Council. Labour is entitled to, and will receive, representation on the* Council the poll is bi<; or small; but if citizens assume too readily that Labour will not get more than a minority of seats in a community clearly opposed to Labour rule, they may get a painful surprise. Nothing is more certain than that Christchurch doee not want either , a Labour Mayor or a Labour majority j on the Council. Nothing is clearer to i.lio average sensible citizen tnan thai a city spending such, a large sum of money annually must be guided by 111011 of experience, judgment and restraint. But nothing is more certain either than that it will not be so guided if those whoso responsibility it i& to achiot e that result ffisume it instead of taking •steps to bring it about. „Tho City Councillors of C'wstctiurclt ;ue the directors of the biggest business in the South Island. If the directors are to he business men everyone v;ho is entitled to vote to-day must do so. since Labour does not itself pretend that it •Aoukl run the city on 'business lilies, but admits, and even boasts, that il£ iirst aim would bo vo lie I" the ''work"eiK."