APATHETIC RATEPAYERS

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1929, Page 4

APATHETIC RATEPAYERS

The lack of interest people take in affairs concerning which they are copartners was again illustrated yesterday, when only a handful of votes were cast at tho election and poll held in Whangaroi. Of 3821 electors on the municipal roll, only nil expressed their choice between two candidates for the vacancy on the Borough Council, or their opinion on an important loan proposal. Mr P. Gardner was elected a councillor by a majority’ of ">7 votes and the loan proposal was apparently lost by 3 votes. A recount is being mado7 but this is not likely to alter the position. Such a meagre .poll is very unsatisfactory, especially so far as the loan proposal is concerned. It may be

that 'du l polling is a reflex of the opinion of the 1 ratepayers generally, but, as the* matter stands at present, there is no real warranty for saying that the ratepayers are divided upon tlie subject to the extent of 50—50. If it be true that one-half of the ratepayers are opposed to -the expenditure of £17,400 on extension of the water supply reticulation, what would have been the feelings of those dissenters today if the loan had been carried by three votes? The small polling, however, will not have been in vain if it bring home to people a- realisation of the value of the individual vote. When an issue has been carried by a| large majority the non-voter is able to take to himself the comforting reflection that his vote would not have altered the result. It is quite another matter when, as was the case yesterday, single votes carried so much weight. The average elector would very naturally resent disfranchisement. But of what value is a right to an unused vote?