The Press FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1959. Local Election Policies

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 12

The Press FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1959. Local Election Policies

Christchurch citizens may be more impressed by the similarity of the party policies for the City Council election than by any item in either of them. As no great civic issues are raised, the electors will be free to vote for candidates that seem likely to be the best administrators. Since the policy in each case is, broadly, to maintain the course set by the old council, the Labour manifesto is an unsolicited tribute to the Citizens’ Association majority for its direction of affairs. A second thought is that such a similarity in outlook emphasises again the lack of any reason for the Labour Party’s insistence on trying to introduce national politics into local affairs. Fortunately Labour is not carrying this to the length of introducing national electioneering methods by promising handsome rebates on rates. In fact, locally, Labour sees some virtue in attempting to stabilise rates. This attitude deserves wider attention in the party. On the whole, what differences in detail emerge from a comparison of the policies suggest that the Citizens’ Association is the more forwardlooking. That is not surprising since, apart from personalities, the association’s enterprise has been the principal difference between the parties for some

years. The Citizens’ Association phrases its proposals more definitely. It agrees that more traffic lights are needed, and it proposes a way of providing them. Where Labour proposes the retention of some unmetered spaces in “ certain streets ”, the Citizens’ Association proposes parking buildings, and quotes Auckland experience to show that they could be self-support-ing. The idea of an Estuary bridge appeals to both groups; but the Citizens’ Association properly ties it to the possible Drainage Board project of floodgates at the mouth. These few ’examples show that the impetus of the Citizens’ Association has not been lost and that its candidates will retain the initiative in the brief election campaign. The pity is that the campaign should be so brief and unlikely to attract much public interest. One item missing from both policy statements is the problem of how to encourage public understanding of municipal affairs. To attempt a solution for a few weeks every three years is not enough; and voting figures in past elections show by how much it falls short. A continuing and conscious effort to maintain the people’s interest in the people’s business would be a rewarding task for either group, just as it should be the aim of the council itself, however composed.