The Evening Star SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1941. THE ELECTION CONTEST.

Evening Star, Issue 23881, 10 May 1941, Page 10

The Evening Star SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1941. THE ELECTION CONTEST.

If elections could be contested in the calm spirit of everyday affairs, how much more instructive they would be, and how much less entertaining. It is remarkable how,' when public positions have to be confirmed or changed, half the competitors and their most active supporters, as well as the issues, tend to be transformed as thoroughly, if not in the same manner, as Bottom the Weaver when he was “ translated.” The outstanding feature of the latest City Council while it lasted was that it raised few’ contentions. There never was a time, probably, in which council affairs roused so little interest as in the Last six months. At the late date when nominations were received for a trial of strength the first thought in hundreds of minds must have been that there wore no issues. But all that was changed in a trice, though only last Monday night' two Labour councillors, Messrs Munro and Walls—Dr M'Millan being absent—.according to one report “ expressed appreciation of the faithful service of the mayor,” or in terms of another, “ thanked him for his excellent chairmanship during the term of the council.”

But, hey presto! Cr M'Millan becomes a candidate for the' chief magistracy, and we gather from him that the mayor has done nothing right. It was too harsh to imply that his oifences began before he assumed the robes, because Mr Allen did not say then that the mayoralty should be a - rolling office, much less make that his main plank. They are certainly continuing, however, at the present time, when, in very special circumstances, he requests that he should be returned for a second term of office. Mr Cox aspired to a third’ term, no sound Labour man objecting, but then, Mr Cox bore the banner of Labour. Right and wrong in an election depend to a remarkable extent on who performs them. Thus the present council was WTong, to some minds, in buying above the valuer’s valuation a much-needed property which was still a good bargain, while the last council was right in offering £6,500 for a property at Wakari which later was sold privately for £5,150. The council’s sins, and Mr Allen’s sins, have been a main stock in trade of Dr M'Millan and his supporters, though they have not spared other devices—bogeys, promises the most reckless—for battering the • electors’ minds. Consistency goes for nothing in that siege. It is a virtue of Labour parties to spend money. Excess of expenditure by the council, even when that excess is caused by Labour enactments and budgets are balanced, which was not always the case, becomes a chief crime. Dr M‘Millan, representing municipal Labour, longs to help citizens acquire their own homes, which is the reverse of national Labour’s policy. So much for the “ translating ” influence of elections. Only Mr Allen remains unchanged. He does not, till he is forced to it by long-continued sniping, attack his opponent. Dr M'Millan’s addresses are a medley. Mr Allen’s are an account of his stewardship, of council administration. They are an education in municipal politics. That is a dull subject, but it is—or should be—the whole crux of municipal elections. Any Labour man can widen it by means so far untried. He can explain why rulers of cities, who merely administer, should be chosen by the same dividing lines as men sent to Parliament for the very different purpose of making laws. He can explain what the advantages are—for more than parties—of caucus rule. Meanwhile, through the different methods of Mr Allen and his opponent, and apart from correspondents, who are free-shooters, it is the present mayor, efficient, solid, imperturbable, who gets the most of the advertisement, and perhaps that is well.