TOMORROW'S ELECTIONS

Northern Advocate, 2 May 1933, Page 4

TOMORROW'S ELECTIONS

It is gratifying to know that considerable' interest is being taken in the municipal elections to be held in Whangarei tomorrow. The burgesses will bo called upon to elect a Mayor, a Borough Council consisting of nine members. three members of the Hospital Board and two members of the Harbour Board. In every instance, nominations exceed the number of seats to be filled, so that voters will be called upon to make a selection from among the names on the ballot-papers. This fact renders it necessary that electors should go to the poll with their minds made up as to the selection they wish to make. Such a statement may appear to be superfluous, but it is really not so, because many people enter an election booth with a very hazy idea of what they intend to do. The result is that they not infrequently put into the ballot-boxes voting papers which do not represent their intentions. There need be no excuse for anything of that kind tomorrow. The names of tire candidates for the

various offices have received ample publicity, and there need be no doubt as to the views of each one, these having been expressed from the public platform and through the medium of the “Northern Advocate.” There has been a good deal of quiet campaigning, and, taken altogether, the burgesses should be able to east a useful vote tomorrow. They should sum up the qualifications of the candidates, all of whom are well known in the community, and should select those whose training and mental equipment make them best qualified to cany out the responsible duties attached to the offices concerned. A fair lest which they should apply in forming their decision may be suggested to voters. To whom among the candidates soliciting their votes would they be prepared to entrust the control of their personal concerns, as well as of tlie municipal undertakings which are the property of tin* citizens as a whole? The right to vote should be regarded as a treasured possession: we are afraid that it often suffers the indignity associated with familiarity. A vote should be cast for the sole purpose of furthering the public welfare. If each elector acts upon that principle tomorrow the best selection from among the candidates who are offering their services should be made.