MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Evening Star, Issue 22882, 14 February 1938, Page 3

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

TO THB EDITOR. Sir, —In reply to Mr MacManus and his panegyric of the present Labour mayor (Mr C0x),.1 wish to state with all due respect to our mayor and his ability as a Labour advocate that Mr MacManus must not forget the fact that Labour’s principles are still the same, and whoever is selected to carry the Labour mayoral banner must abide by those principles. It is quite _ true that the Rev. Mr Cox, by his brilliance and thoroughness, adds lustre and gloss to the Labour Party, the gloss that so august a party desires, but in his praise for on© who had the trail blazed for him Mr MacManus must not forget those who worked from early morn to make the groat Labour movement just as we see it to-day. It was those great minds, those fearless people who have suffered and as a result of their activities in the days of the early Labour movement can now offer safe municipal and parliamentary positions to the man of letters. But I venture to say that the man from the concrete board, from the waterfront, and from the mines is just as highly educated and as refined and thorough in administration as the man and his degrees and university training, and some from these industries are" administering our laws to-day. It is not the gloss and showmanship that matter; it is the mind and the heart. With regard to the different candidates who are in the election ballot to decide who shall be Labour’s mayor we have the ecclesiastical dignitary, the sincere and clever physician, and the common man, the man of the people. Knowing the different candidates, 1 can assure those who -■ will vote in the selection ballot on the 16th inst., that one and all will fulfil the mayoral office with distinction, and as a keen worker on behalf of Mr MacManus whenever he stood for Jjabour’s cause and as an ardent admirer I write this letter lest he should forget those who worked to make our great Labour movement as we see it to-day.—l am, etc., Alice Herbert. February 12. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Somewhere about October or November last the Dunedin Citizens League or Association was reconstructed. Its object was to do quite a number of things—i.e., to promote public interest in matters relating to the well-being ot the city; to nominate and support the best citizens available to represent the various local bodies; to educate voters

as to their responsibilities and privileges and secure as voters all eligible persons. The association was to endeavour to ensure nomination and election of men free from party bias for the forthcoming municipal elections, and so on As one who at that time was asked to become enrolled upon payment of a nominal sum and also enrol members, I would ask at this juncture what is being done. I notice Mr W. J. jßardsloy has. opened the ball by nominating, a commercial gentleman in the city as mayor, and this has brought up his old “ battlers ” in Messrs Moss and MacManus. It appears to the writer that there is something missing in this organisation; whether it be there is too much of the Chamber of Commerce touch in it or not enough one hesitates to say; but to compare this with that of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association is past all belief. It is just Dunedin all over again—“ The deil tak’ the hindmost,” and let the other man do the work. I am sure the “ other crowd ” is not standing still, and business men in the city are asking what is the Citizens’ Association doing. —I am, etc.. Wait a While. February 12.