DANGERS OF APATHY

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 18, 21 January 1921, Page 6

DANGERS OF APATHY

COMING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

SOCIALISTS' NEW PLATFORM.

(Contributed by the New Zealand Wel-

fare League.)

In April of thk year the ratepayers and other electors will be called upon to elect their mayor, councillors, members of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, and als"o Harbour Boards.'There is a great danger that from general ' apathy the citizens may allow these important offices to be filled by irresponsible extremists whose main idea of local government is tlmt the local bodies should give, give, give,' and let financial stability come if it may'by chance. Those who want sound government of our local affairs must know that finance is the key , stone of the whole structure, and to ' secure steady progress all electors should interest themselves in seeing that men and women of the soundest practical common sense and best business ability are chosen as candidates and elected to office*. . ' -.- ' ACTIVITY OF THE 'SOCIALISTS. For sometime past the " Socialist papers in New Zealand have been urging'their adherents to, "get on the roll." We appeal to all citizens who'desire the welfare of their town or city to "make sure you are on the roll." Do not leave this to anybody else, but see to it yourself. It is your business. On Ist December last the Auckland Labour News published the following : THE LABOUR. PARTY'S NEW .MUNICIPAL PLATFORM. . . (1) Unification of minor local bodies into a single municipal t government. Such, body ,to .be elected, under a system of proportional representation. | The voting in all elections or. i-eferen- . duiris concerning loans or any other matte" to be on tho Parliametary franchise... ... . . ........ (2) The extension of municipal trading and municipal markets, the niaikets to be the municipal wholesale distributing .centres, ..and centres for open retail trade. Immediate attention to -be given to coal, by the acquirement of a coal mine, and the establishment of a coal depot. Municipal milk ' supply, municipal • ferries, and the encouragement of hydro-electric power. '' ' . • " (3) Trffhsport.—Trams arid ferries as soon as possible to be free, and the immediate introduction of a universal 2d tram fare (week dava and Sundays). , (4) Initiative and referendum. . •(5)- The system of contracting in carrying out municipal works to be permanently abandoned, and all such works carried on under a Municipal Works Department, and by the direct employment, of labour, ( under trade union conditions. . i 6) Town planning, dealing out of slum areas, registration, and inspection of all dwellings, modern sanitary conveniences. : ' ~ (7) The immediate erection of workers' homjs, no permits to be granted for othar buildings until sufficient workers' dwellings are built. ■ -(8), Municipal creches,; and women's T«st-rooms. '■ • - -."'-■' ■■■■'■■ (9) Assessment of all rates on tmim- ( proved land values only. i (10) The giving of equal care to the "publicl interests: of the suburban .dis-' : tricts as to other portions of the city.. (11) All municipal committee meetings to be open to the public. ' (12) Municipal enterprises furnishing goods or services to be conducted' at-the lowest possible rate of profit... '. , Where .national law makes any of these proposals impossible, \he support of the municipality shall be used to the utmost to secure legislation necessary to tlw adoption of these measures. The party referred to is presumably "The N^Z. Labour Party," which is a general politigpl party. It has to be noted, . then, that an attempt will be made next April to capture the muni : cipa.l offices "in the interest of a general political party which if successful will mean local government by caucus rule. „. '• . .SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. In connection with the foregoing there is raised the following questions :— '■ . (1) Is it desirable that any general political party, cither Reform, Liber-il, or Labour, should dominate our. municipal rffairs? ■ ■ ' v _■• ' ; (2) In view of recent difficulties in raising money for' local government works should a party be.', trusted which gives no place in its programme to the obligations of finance ? (3) Can we have any confidence in a party that talks loosely about supplying . free trams and free ferry service without consideration of how the, costs are'to be met?' " ' ■_ '~* It is well to remember, that local government is not a matter of abstract rules, general formulas based on sentiment and theories of political revolution. The good government of our communities depend upon the application of sound business ideas in policy and administration, which will require that each service must be considered in relation to the general need, the financial means and its practical operation. To have'councillors elected who are tied to a set programme, the subjects of an outside caucus, and not fully free to exercise honest judgment upon affairs as they arise, is to sacrifice the electors: to tho party executive. It is time responsible citizens woke up to these dangers and made it their most' urgent business to ensuro safe and sound results from . the local government elections in April next.