“ONE MAN, ONE JOB”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12543, 3 May 1935, Page 5

“ONE MAN, ONE JOB”

CAN IT BE DONE PROPERLY P

LABOR DEFENCE Op MR COLEMAN.

General comment as to the wisdom of electing as Mayor a member of Parliament whose duties must of necessity entail his absence from the town on occasions, was replied to at a meeting of Labor candidates for the local body elections held in the Oitl Hall last evening. The subject was first touched on by the chairman, Mr J. H. Hall, in the course of his opening remarks in introducing the Labor candidate for the. Mayoralty (Mr. D. W. Coleman). “I note that some objection lias beep taken to Mr. Coleman on thp one-man two-jobs lines,’’ said Mr. Hall. “People say it can’t he done, but it can be done and it has been done. During the time that Mr. Coleman was Mayor and M.P. councillors admitted that things ran smoothly and well. Any ordinary person might not be able to do the dual work, hut Mr; Coleman was so full of vitality and his sincerity is so deep that his will power allows him to carry on both duties. Next week will prove that one person can take on a dual position and do the work well.

Later in the evening Mr. Coleman dealt with the same subject. “The editor of the Gisborne Times, by no means a political friend of mine,” said the candidate, “admitted that ‘Mr. Coleman had all tho qualifications for a successful Mayor but’— and then came criticism like that in a number of letters that have appeared locally about the one man one job principle. I ask you if you know any Mayor that did not have two jobs. Somo Mayors have private business hut that criticism is levelled simply because it, > s me. AVe don’t hear criticism against the Mayor of Christchurch, who is an ALP., the Mayor of Riccarton who is an M.P., the Mayor of Te Kuiti and other places. AVliy? Most of these Mayors belong to the same school of thought ns my friend the editor of the Gisborne Times. These arguments are nf no avail to-day because a Labor Mayor has proved a success. Then they attack me on the question of personalities. I have had the two jobs before—M.P. and Mayor, and the fact that every member of the Council on the occasion of the last election desired me to he Mayor showed that I did the job and did it well. Next week if the people elect me Mayor this will find T will he able to do all the work concerned.” (Applause) .