QUALIFICATIONS FOR CITY COUNCILLORS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 492, 27 April 1909, Page 4

QUALIFICATIONS FOR CITY COUNCILLORS.

• ''Sir;-—ln'mpst i eivilised 'countries --under! re--presentativo '.ihstitutipiis' when' eleetions.'.aro . announced;to take /place,': it! is;-usual to give the - qualifications and place of residence of the* 'csrididates'-at,!'the,: same time as their names. are" advertised"! by ithe .i-eturnihg .offi--cer,:', such as.: Freehold, .llatepayer,. Leasehold,;. Residential, or whatever:-th'e : quaiifica.tioii may ' be;; alsofttlieir- place of - residence. The returning officer/for''-the-!''city- has published a uiaked list of 33 .names of - candidates for the 15 seats, and we arc :\ll'asked to select the men wo think the best "able, to' fight'for our, interests on tho council. Now, I and many more have - not '.the slightest, idea' who. many. of these men are, • or . in' what'-part,:6f ,-this; extensive.-citj'' or . out of it'.they' may, residoV or.'what'-'are,:their qualiSoro o of : 'them!' have . 'published a :fcw opinions that ithoy. think' will go down, .with itho. olectors, but it'-would bo of more ;.use -if.-wo knew, the'.qualifications mentioned above. -1 liaye evfjry reason to believe that many' of them havp'only a lodger's qualinca'tion,. andi afeVnotf 'men, of ' substance,: having ~a^permanent[stake-'in' tho -city,';.;hut: are'-, imerely "birds'of. passage,"/ here to-day; and nohody knows • where to-jnorrow. _ I also understand that - a /big efforfc>is being' made by . 'securing'.a 'nirijority of seats to tuni the. City Council into a sort of glorified Trades and Labour Council-with: the ratepayers' money, 'and: tlip. city 1 itself with all its patronage .entirely, at.'their/mercy.''.:lt';is.*' not,.yet;too late for-,'the,! returning officer -or, someone- else to' give' the' information';.asked'' for above.—, • I am, etc., \ .''"-!/■ ;; ; :.'H" CIVIS. April 24. ■ • :