THE ELECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 30 April 1927, Page 10

THE ELECTIONS

CIVIC LEAGUE'S VIEWS

PLEASED WITH RESULTS

CHOICE LARGELY ENDORSED

The Civic League is well satisfied with the results of the municipal election. '' Since the returns have been issued I have talked the matter over with the members of the executive of my league, and, needless io say, they are all well pleased with the results of the poll," said Mr. D. M'Laren, secretary of the league, to-day. '' Of the thirty-four j candidates which the league .recommended for the City Council, the Harbour Board, and the Hospital Board, no fewer than twenty have been elected. From the commencement of the election campaign, which opened at an early date, the league has aimed at certain results, all of which, we are glad to find, have been secured. We realised to commence with that the league's endeavours would be subject to a great deal of misunderstanding and adverse criticism, and in that we were r/t disappointed. It was pointed out Uy us at the beginning that the league's policy was against any dictation to, or pledging of, candidates, and .that it merely made a suggestion to the electors. It took up the position of a selection committee, but recognised fully that its selection had to go before the judges—in other words, the electors. It is pleasing to findtthat those judges have so very largely endorsed the league's sele-tions in face of all and written during the campaign. At the adverse criticism that was voiced the beginning we were confident that if the league had not warned the electors in tho matter of the selection of a Mayoral candidate there would probably have been three or four citizen candidates in the field for the office instead of only one. That was our reason for acting as promptly as we did. We think that the outcome of the election must have .shown citizens that the league was right in the course it took. CONTINUITY OF COUNCIL POLICY. "Our policy in respect of the City Council was to endeavour to give a load in the direction of securing such return of sitting members as would retain continuity of policy, and at the same timo give to the city fresh blood and fresh ideas which would be helpful to its progress. This, as indicated by the. voting, has also been the mind of the. electors generally. It is to be regretted that there is not a still' stronger infusion of new men; one or two whose qualifications, we think, I merit their return to the office have been left out. However, these men will have a further opportunity later on. It is most difficult, even with candidates of merit, to bring them fully before the public so as tohave their qualifications recognised. The electors seem to vote largely on the ground of selecting nnmes which they know best. "Another aim the league had in view was to assist in making anything in the way of clique control within the council impossible, and to get such ' effective team work as would give every one of those elected full freedom in exercising all the ability ho possesses. The new council, we think, is constituted in a way that will give effect to this plan of free judgment and control. There were several matters in which the league had to bear misunderstanding, and in these it preferred to carry any such burden rather, than follow the injudicious course of making bad friends while the election was taking place. It refrained from making any reply to persons whom it ■ had not been in a position to choose when these made an attack on the league, because the wisest strategy of a campaign is to make friends and not enemies. One thing the league regrets is that out of some 42,000 electors on tho Toll only 22,000 recorded their votes. It is in a measure a mystery why, with all tho talk about people being left off tho roll, wo still find nearly one-half of those who were entitled to voto showing such antipathy and indifference as to neglect exercising the right they possess. ■ ! LEAGUE'S CANDIDATES INDEPENDENT. "There has been much loose talk about the question of tickets, and tho word 'independence' has frequently' been use;!. The 'league nfUrins that Hie I'iindidates it supports aro as fully independent as any others. Were there ] no civic organisation taking an aetivo part in these elections we fear to think what would be the position with reference to tho numbers who would not take the trouble to voto at all. There', is one thing about which tho Labour Party and ourselves agree: that organisation is quite necessary in order constantly to stimulate public interest in civic affairs. 'Tor ourselves, wo desire to return thanks to tho general body of citizenß who have given the Civic League their support. On the who!*, we consider that the council elected is a good' body, and whilst tho league will, as hitherto, reserve every right of criticism, it will endeavour to make such criticism constructive and helpful. It will at all times be roady to co-operato with the council in all good work for tho advancement of our. city. "With reforence to tho Hospital Board, a good team has also been returned. With the serious financial problems that the board has to meet, the citizens in general should give more consideration to its affairs. Wo hope that wo shall bo able to assist the new board in any movement towards strengthening its position as an organ of humane service to the community."'