CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 121, 18 November 1940, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

"A CALL THAT IS NOT HEARD"

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your leader under the above heading should occasion serious thought by all who value that national and civic service which our young manhood educated at universities and high schools should be able to render to their nation. Few will doubt that this cross section of the population is willing and able to render service, but the opportunities to do so are much limited by the clinging to office that is so much in evidence throughput the Dominion. Wellington supplies a classic example of this in the coming Mayoral contest, where one candidate has held the position for ten years, and another has been a member of the City Council for over 30 years. Surely these are reasons why these candidates should give way to new blood, and that many of the present City Councillors should retire in favour of younger men. In the opinion of many, positions such as these should be limited to, say, a ten years' term. Another bar to training for civic duty is the fact that so many national and civic politicians occupy more than one position. It is reasonable to suggest, for instance, that, a member of Parliament should not also be a Mayor, or city councillor, or member of Harbour Board, Hospital Board, and Power Board. One man one job should be a slogan for the electors, for only by such a system can the training for civic responsibility be obtained by those whose educational training has fitted them to occupy positions for which they should be eminently suited. —I am, etc.,

EX-COLLEGIAN,