The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, April 29, 1944. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, April 29, 1944. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Many people qualified liy age to vote but hitherto debarred because of lack of property will this year enjoy the right to the franchise in local elections. The resul't is certainly going to be a widespread increase of public interest in local government. For this the people have to thank the Labour Government. Yet the defenders of special privilege dislike the prospect. They say if will mean more interest of a party nature in local elections. It is high time every adult voter awakened to the tactics of those who put property before humani'ty in their estimate of rights. It is to hoodwink the masses that, the would-be privileged classes say national politics are introduced into local government by the working class. The object ol that cry is simply to preserve foi vested interests a monopoly of power in local government. Let no worker make any mistake about, it—the foes of Labour in local politics are the foes of Labour in national politics. For instance, the local organ of the National Party candidly says: “Any marked general victory of Labour candidates will be taken by the Ministry as an encouragement to develop the policy of State control and the lessening of the freedom of the people. ’’ "Who were the opponents of the latest measure 'to extend the franchise? No doubt it was to preserve the freedom of the people that the National Party stonewalled the Bill! Surely freedom implies the same right for the working class, 'those who live almost entirely by their own labours, as for any others in local, as well as national administration I Yet the organ mentioned asserts that those to be elected are ones belonging to “financial and business’’ circles. Thus is one class interest being commended Io working people at the expense of their own, and it is barefacedly done on the plea that the object is to exclude national politics' If the workers of all categories have any sense they will note one thing tliat always has been in evidence when anti-Labour elements succeed in local elections. They make it an occasion for claiming the very contrary of what they say before the elec tions—they claim 'that it is a setback for the Labour Party in Parliament. No doubt their second thoughts are the more forthright. If Labour supporters on this occasion were not to be as solid as they are at a general election. the National Party would shout about it from the housetops from one end of New Zealand to the other. Neither here nor anywhere else is there any warranty in past administration for the assertion tha't either in fairness or capacity non-Labour-ites are the more worthy of election to a local body. The local organ of the National Party makes no bones about saying its dislike of the Labour Government inspires its disparagement of Labour candidates for local bodies. The beneficent legislation oi Labour can be and often is frustrated in operation where hostile local bodies have power to spike it. The welfare of the community depends mostly on those who live by their labour. and they should have their due voice in community administration, forming as they do, the great majority. More than ever will the coming local elections be an occasion and an opportunity to recognise this fact. It is a iacc which opponents will use any number of expedients to obscure, and if they succeed this time, the supporters of Labour will be themselves to blame.