CIVIC ELECTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 2 May 1935, Page 2

CIVIC ELECTIONS

(To the Editor) Sir, —On Wednesday next the Municipal Elections are being held. Candidates for the City Council, the Hospital Board, and the Harbour Board are announced. Seventeen candidates for nine seats on the Council, four for three seats on the Hospital Board, and six for four seats on the Harbour Board. What are we going to do about it? What is known of the suitability of the candidates offering, except those who may previously have been in office? Of course the present Council is well known. \\ e know their past ideas for the government of the city, and how to assess their value. Have they any further evidence to place before us why we should again return them to office? Presumably not, because with the exception of one of their number none )’ ::ve cv 'en suggested their best efforts “tor the greatest efficiency with the utmost economy.’’ There are new names before u.s. Who are they? I have been in business in Nelson for a number of years and am averagely observant. but some of the candidates I have never, heard of. Are those candidates going to give us the opportunity of hearing them, or do they think that their names on the ballot paper is all that is required in assisting the voting public to intelligently record their votes If their reticence is due to the fact that no invitation has been extended to do so, on my own behalf, and I am sure on behalf of many others I can invite them to address us on their ideas concerning measures for the welfare of the city. This would show us how to vote. Without this being done, I am afraid that some of them may quite easily experience what it feels like to forfeit their deposit. Personally J feel a distinct resentment against this indifference manifested toward the right of every elector—that of having evidence placed before us why we should, or should not vote for the candidates. Surely there is no reason why the candidates cotdd not hold a meeting or two in the schools or halls in different parts of the city for addressing the electors. I commend this’ suggestion to them. Personally I think folk are unlikely to support candidates who feel themselves unequal to addressing a public meeting. I would like to express my own appreciation of the oasis in the desert of Nelson politics created by Mr George Page a candidate for the Mayoralty. Mr Page i 6 treating us as intelligent people. He credits us with the faculty of thought and reason. He believes he has ideas for the advancement of our city. He wants us to know them, arid has taken proper steps to assist the voting public to make up their minds whether he is, or is not, the proper person to become Mayor of this city. The public will greatly appreciate the opportunity Mr Page has given them of hearing his views and asking him any relevant questions. There are many things of interest to our city that we would like information upon. I shall confine myself to one—that of open spaces in the city. May one be permitted to suggest that every generation owes a duty to the next? We should look beyond our own immediate day, so that those following may benefit by our foresight, as we have done by the thought and foresight of those who have preceded us. I would like to ask Mr Page if he would be kind enough to answer just two questions, first with regard to the old cemetery in Trafalgar street south. . It will he remembered that the City Council doubtless under the inspiration of a Croquet Club, decided to lay down lawns in part of the old cemetery, which is surrounded by so many saeijd memories connected with the early pioneers of Nelson. It will also be remembered that strong opposition amounting to, hostility was shown against it, as the great majority of the letters published in “The Mail” showed. In order to preserve this piece of ground for its proper purpose, and resist the aspirations of both the club, and Council, a petition of protest was circulated, and signed by over three thousand citizens within the hounds of the City Council. This petition was to have been presented to the City Council by a strong representative deputation, when the Croquet Club, the Council or perhaps both took stage fright, and dropped the matter by the “graceful” act of the Croquet Club withdrawing its application. The matter of the Old Cemetery cropped up in the Council a few weeks ago, and was shelved I am told for six months. Why? Would Mr Page tell us whether he is in favour of the 'Old Cemetery being used for any other purpose than the purpose intended when taken over by the City Council? _ The other question is whether Mr Page is in favour of selling the frontages of the Cattle Market Reserve, Waimea road. It might be explained that the Cattle Market is a 10 acre block, just a little the town side of Bishopdale, and a valuable possession of the City, as there are very few blocks available that size now. There is either a road or the provision for a road almost ngnt round the block. Nelson South is a growing locality, and the reserve presents no great engineering difficulty, or a tremendously expensive proposition as regards levelling, in order to make this old possession a valuable asset to t e city. I understand that the residents -in. tile district would strenuously 9PP°® e the sale of this reserve, even if the proceeds were applied to a flat section which would be much smaller. It seems to he the wish of many of the citizens to hold this valuable asset for all time Would Mr Page kindly state his views „„ .hi, matte,

Nelson, Ist May. T P.S.: Since writing the above 1 have seen the advertisement m this evening’s “Mail” of Dr. Washbourn announcing liis candidature for tUe Mayoralty. also the reported remarks of Messrs Sharland and Carr at the end of Mr Page’s meeting at Toi lot VaUey. d.jN •

(To the Editor) Sir,—Mr Milner’s letter in your issue of the Ist is strong evidence of definite bias in favour of certain gentlemen he mentions but is stronger evidence still of a bias against a certain gentleman he carefully avoids mentioning. Most voters will have little interest in the personal preferences of either Mr Milner or myself, but being a democratic community, Nelson will undoubtedly object to the method adopted. \Ve are prepared to listen to any candidate who wants to give his ideas publicity but we object to having any candidate jibed at because Mr Milner considers him “Somewhat ambitious. What a crime! Certainly the innuendo was veiled in the plural but it is well known that certain older people, are very annoyed at the temerity of a younger man in daring to stand for such'an august body. I believe that no candidate for the City Council is under thirty years and if that is too young for the junior member of that assembly then there is something wrong with the younger generation. The older generation often complain that the younger ones do not take sufficient serious interest in things; then vs hen one starts, he has a jibe like this thrown at him ! It is not suggested that we have a full council of boys of 21 but surely a leavening of a slightly younger generation is merited. Otherwise, if you keep men out till they are old, how are they to gain experience? Mr Milner mentions the important matters to be considered. W e all know that some of those matters have been considered too long. Age tends to be too deliberative and youth too

impetuous. Possibly together we may get finality. Greybeards got us into the war that youtii had to get us out of it at its own expense. Age was at the tiller when the storm of the depression hit us. For goodness sake let us try the effect of a little young blood. Too young at thirty odd ! Nonsense ! Nothing in this letter is to be taken as a hit at any present member of the council. They have put in two years doing what they think right, and receiving .little hut kicks for it. A handclap for the retiring members. — I am, etc,, YOUTH CALLING. Nelson, Ist May. (To the Editor) Sir, —Local elections in Nelson have in the past been conducted with a marked sense of fair play amongst the candidates and the electors have been allowed to exercise their own judgment in selecting those they wished to represent them without interference or direction from any person or any association.

We regret, therefore, and protest against the publication of a letter signed by Mr Charles Milner which appeared in the “Evening Mail” last evening in which lie suggests a ticket for the coming City Council election. We recognise of course the right of personal preference but we strongly deprecate this movement to dictate to the electors whom they should vote for. None of us attempted in the remotest way to further our respective candidature by methods savouring of dictation and the present attempt to divide the electors into classes, parties or cliques is to bo strongly deplored. We recognise with the greatest satisfaction that neither of the .Mayoral candidates is identified with (lie formation of the ticket. We have been unable to get into touch with Mr Day owing to his being out of town. —Yours etc., F. W. 0. SMITH. STEPHEN H. MOYNAGH. WALTER BLACK: G. P. RUSSELL. F. H. SHARLAND. J. FITZ-GERALD. J. B. CARR. J. W. SIMPSON. S. McARTHUR. LEWIS COTTON.

Candidates.

Nelson, 2nd May. (To the Editor) Sir, —Now that Mr Milner’s staff know who their boss is going to vote for, do you think sir, that this will have any influence on the way the staff itself votes? —I am, etc., . LAYING ON THE JAM. Nelson, 2nd May.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —I was amazed to read in last night’s paper an attempt to sift the oats from the chaff signed by one C. Milner, whose attempt to encroach on our. intelligence will be resented by all right minded citizens. After all it is only the opinion of one mere man, who possesses no special qualifications to dispense judgment on the candidates offering on behalf of the people. ’But what is at the back of it Mr Editor? Is a ticket being sponsored comprising the names of the gentlemen sifted out by your correspondent? If so by whom and for what purpose. They are six in number which spells L-E-G-I-O-N. —I am. etc., VERITY.

Nelson, 2nd May,