POLLING TO-MORROW

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1921, Page 2

POLLING TO-MORROW

"With a holiday yesterday anil a break in tile working day to-day and tho :>tir ami excitement attendant upon the reception of their Kxccllencie:- the Governor-General and Lady Jellico:\ il i* rather di cult to realise that to-morrow the people of Whangarei will have to give their attention to the election of a flavor and Borough Council ami two members; of the Harbour Board, and to decide the day on tvliich the weekly half-holiday is to bit lb-served. But in spite of distractions it will be the duty of the citizens to record their opinions on the four issuer to be submitted to them at the polls •lid not only their duty but also their rivilcgc. The time was, not very lor.-; ■go, when the election of Mayor and Council was the task of a privileged 'oiv—those people who had a "stake'* in the borough and wliosc voting strength was measured iby the value of the properly on which the}' paid rates. However, the demoeratisution of national institutions led the way to a new and more liberal conception of tvie duties and privileges, with the esult that for some years now the elec- . ion of representatives of the people • > control municipal affairs has been eailv in the hands of the people. The .'arliamentnry franchise has been ex"iidod to municipal matters, so that every resident in a borough who com-

'i:;-; with certain wimple conditions is •ntitled to take part in the election >f the Mayor and Council. This is a right and privilege that sometimes is ■iot esteemed at its true value, by those who posses? it. Some of them arc apt •o forget that their authority to vote is the outcome of a long and bittei struggle for emancipation from the Potters of a less enlightened age than that in which -\ve of to-day are fortunate enough to live. Yet those win neglect- (heir civic duty would In- li?< first to raise in outcry if their apathy were rewarded by the abolition of their p'ivilcge-. But there is 110 reason why they should endanger their rights as electors. All that is asked is ihat the two thousand persons whose 'nameare on the electoral roll of the Wlr.tngarei borough should devote a small portion of their time to-morrow to the '.ask of visiting the polling .booth at the Town Hall and marking their voting papers on the four issues -submitted to them. So far as the election of Mayor and Councillors is concerned there is no cause \o complain of lack of choice, since there are two candidates for the Mayoralty and twelve for the six seats in the CounciL By this time, no doubt, most of the electors have scanned the list carefully and weighed the merits of the candidales for themselves, and we have no wish to try to influence them at the eleventh hear. Every elector who takes his or her duty seriously will realise that "VVhmgarei, in common with other municipalities, will require the most competent control that can be obtained during the next two years. Times of considerable difficulty are ahead. Municipally, as well as in business, finance is a problem just now, and it is a particularly acute problem in a borough which has 'been making rapid growth and cannot afford to have its progress retarded by inefficient or unenterprising municipal management.

The ftimes call for the selection of men of judgment and ability, upon whom the citizens feel tliey can rely .same reminds are applicable to the some remarks arc applicable to the election of members of the Harbour Board, which has in hand a project that is of the utmost importance to the district, which makes Whangarei its trading centre. The decision on the half-holiday question is also one that must not be made thoughtlessly. Although the voter has the right to express a preference for any other day in the week, the issue actually lies between Thursday and Saturday. The advocates of a change are, no doubt, honestly convinced that Saturday would prove more beneficial than Thursday, while those who prefer the mid-week holiday arc equally strong in their conviction that a change would be injurious to tho common welfare. The question is essentially one to be decided by tho whole body of electors for themselves, and it is worthy of .their considered judgment. It is desirable also that, thie decision should be made by a full poll, so that there will be no risk of a-minority of tho electors • imposing their will upon an unconsanting majority. In the election of members of local bodies it is their due that they should receive tho encouragement of support from a substantial propor- . tion of the electors. The duty of every citizen _ whose r.amc is on the roll is t{> exorcise his or her vote to- i morrow, aiid on polling day it is always wise to go to the booth as early *\s possible.