The Press SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1938. Citizens' Association Platform

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 14

The Press SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1938. Citizens' Association Platform

It is a welcome* rather than a disappointing feature of the Citizens' Association platform in the approaching municipal campaign that it promises no more, financially, than continued effort to keep the rates as low as they can be while prudent development is pursued. A definite promise to reduce the rates is exceedingly hard to make. Such promises have in the past been fulfilled rather by pretences and tricks than by legitimate and necessary economies; and the alternative formufa, which accepts the " aim " of reducing the rates, only appears to promise more than prudent regulation of expense. The association has done well to rely upon its three-year record and the citizens' estimate, from that, of the value of a simple pledge of economy. Further, and more generally, the association has wisely continued the policy it adopted before the last elections and has given an outline of the programme it will follow, if its representatives are given office. A few of the items are designed as safeguards of private enterprise against unfair encroachments of municipal socialism. A few hold out the prospect of cheaper services, such as water and electricity. Others cover the extension of desirable improvements and amenities, such as road surfacing, street lighting, and parks, gardens, and reserves. On two or three other points, it is to be expected that the association's candidates will speak in more detailed terms. Among these traffic control and health may be mentioned. The association's programme promises " a modern and active " policy " of educating and regulating all forms of traffic; and the public will wish to know what new measures are to be considered. Similarly, " all possible means " of combating smoke, dust, and " other menaces to health " are to be pursued. This is a large order; and specific proposals are desirable. Finally, the association declares itself ready "to co-operate" in any sound scheme to house pensioners and poor people. It would be helpful if the association's candidates were to lay down the essentials of such a scheme and to define the extent and the form of co-operation which would be given. It should not at this stage be assumed that "co-operation" excludes the possibility of municipal initiation of a scheme. Co-opera-tion may be offered as well as granted. The merit of the programme is that it sets out plain and attainable objects, such as are proper to good civic government. Thoughtful citizens will appreciate the difference between them and the object put foremost by the Labour candidate for the mayoralty. He called for the election of a Labour council to assist a Labour Government. The people of Christchurch need to think, and should think, of nothing more than the election of a council to manage their purely domestic affairs.