The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1936. POLITICS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 24, 23 October 1936, Page 8

The Dominion. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1936. POLITICS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Time was when we had no politics in civic government. But the Labour Party has made both local and general government a class issue. Its organisation aims at the control of all democratic institutions. This fact should be faced, and the objective challenged at every opportunity. Such an opportunity now presents itself in the Wellington City Council by-election for the seat rendered vacant by the death of Councillor W. H. Bennett.

When the Hon. P. Fraser, after appointment to the Ministry, resigned his seat on the council, the citizens in a sporting spirit agreed that Labour’s representation should not be reduced as the result of the change of Government. No opposition was offered to the election of Mr. Parlane (Labour), who was top of the list of defeated candidates at the regular election in May, 1935, and the city was spared the cost of a by-election. By the death of Cr. Bennett, a seat became vacant on the side opposed to Labour policy, but the Labour Representation Committee has declined to reciprocate with a similar act of courtesy. This decision was announced yesterday, and nominations close to-day, leaving very little time for a candidate to be found to represent the general interest. Mr. T. Forsyth, a former councillor, who was fourth on the list of the defeated candidates last May—three Labour candidates being ahead of him—is to be asked to-day to accept nomination, and no doubt will consider it his duty to fellow citizens to agree. It i.s to be hoped that the electors will realise the significance of this contest. In a statement to The Dominion yesterday, the Labour Party’s nominee, Mr. J. Read, said that his organisation felt that the number of Labour councillors should be increased. Labour now has six seats in a council of fifteen. Last election its candidates captured all four city, and the two combined Hutt district, scats on the Wellington Harbour Board, seven of the thirteen seats on the Wellington Hospital Board, and, on a poll of 40,514, missed the mayoralty by 2496 votes only. This representation is more than sufficient for a single section of the electorate. But the Labour Party is not satisfied. Having captured control of the General Government, it only remains for it to gain majorities on the local bodies to be able to set out for what its late leader declared was its real objective—"revolutionary Socialism.” This objective was glossed over in the party’s campaign at the General Election last November, but the Government’s legislation since assuming office places beyond all possible doubt that it remains the guiding star of Labour’s policy.