The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1905.

Evening Star, Issue 12399, 12 January 1905, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1905.

Thkkk is to be a straight-cut issue for the

“ district electors ” to vote The Drainage upon next Wednesday, and Board Mention, it is to be hoped that they will speak with no uncertain voice. There are two distinct “ tickets, and it may safely be assumed that between now and polling day the electors will be made fully acquainted with the platforms ” of the two parties. There are some curious anomalies about this contest. For example, a year ago Mr James Arkle was put forward in the interests of the majority of the Board, and though he entered the lists at short notice he occupied a good place on the poll, coming out fourth. This year be is nominated under the aegis of the Ratepayers’ Association, who have selected as his colleagues the Mayor of Dunedin and Mr James Small, who is a well-known builder and a shrewd business man—qualities that are not likely to escape the notice of the ratepayers. On the other hand, the Hon. Hugh Gourley and Mr R. Maris dark present themselves as the embodiment of the Board’s present policy, and it may he presumed that they directly ask its confirmation at the ballot box. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that Mr Gourley has closely identified himself with the day-labor movement—in fact, has been on© of its strongest advocates during his long and active municipal career, and by his consistent support of it at the Board’s table has established a claim on the Labor organisations, who make it a leading article of their faith. In Mr Culling we have a gentleman Well. known to commercial life and with'a capital municipal record on tho Flat, where he possesses substantial interests. On the whole, therefore, the citizens at large cannot cavil at the qnality of the candidates who are seeking their suffrages on this occasion; they I have, however, a right to expect, and will I doubtless receive before polling day, an ex--1 plicit pronouncement as to the line of conduct, in view of the large questions still : awaiting the Board’s decision, that will be pursued by the respective “tickets.” We had never much hope that the Board would take a common-sense view of the roll matter, on which they stolidly abided by the advice of their lawyers, and deliberately adopted a method of procedure that, "so far as we are aware, is absolutely

unique in the history of local elections in this-Colony. On Wednesday there will be no less than eleven polling booths in the city and suburbs, and this sham boll will be much in evidence at each. If it produces nothing more than confusion or mental perturbation on the put of those who will have to work the election we shall be most agreeably'tlisappointed.