Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1941 TO-MORROW’S ELECTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 May 1941, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1941 TO-MORROW’S ELECTIONS

THE FIRST duty of all who have a vote at to-morrow’s local body elections is to use it, Especially is this true of citizens in places like Richmond, where no elections are necessary for Borough Council, Harbour Board or Power Board, but where representatives on the Hospital Board are required to be voted for. It is a mistaken idea for an elector to believe that his or her vote does not matter. More than in ordinary times we cherish our democratic form of Government but we must do our part in making it work by casting our vote. To do so is both a privilege and a responsibility, for it is one of the chief ways in which the people can exert their influence in the conduct of community affairs. In the city not much uncertainty exists about the personnel of the new Council. Councillor E. R. Neale goes to the Mayoralty unopposed, having won the confidence of the citizens

by his work as Deputy-Mayor and by his long record of civic service in other directions. For the Council there is only one more candidate than the number required. This seems to indicate that the people generally are satisfied with the administration of the past Council and present members who are again in the field should therefore be allowed to continue their policy of progress with prudence. Representation on the Hospital Board and Harbour Board has produced much more spirited competition. For the three city and suburban seats on the Hospital Board there are ten aspirants and six for the three county seats. Six contenders go to the ballot for four city vacancies on the Harbour Board. Three of these are sitting members and they deserve re-election.

In support of their candidature for the Hospital Board, some of the nominees have been confusing the issue. Medical benefits under the social security scheme—which, by the way, are neither free nor gratuitous —are questions of national policy which are decided by the Government in Wellington, not by the Hospital Board in Nelson. They have> nothing to do with the choice confronting electors'in Nelson to-morrow, except that their partial administration is the task of the Board in this hospital district, as in every other. As electors peruse the list and records of those offering their services it is important that they should try to select candidates who, by ability and experience, are most competent to administer hospital affairs as they widen in scope and grow in complexity. But there is no need to be led away by red herrings. Nine candidates are offering for seven seats on the Tahunanui Town Board. In the counties of Waimea, Murchison, Takaka and Collingwood elections will be necessary in some ridings. Sitting members are in the field again in most of these cases. Whether they are re-elected or not will depend chiefly on whether the ratepayers are satisfied with their stewardship, particularly in matters affecting the interests of the ridings concerned. Two Motueka citizens have been staging a friendly contest for the office of Mayor, but nominations for the Borough Council and River Board are short of the required number.

If many ratepayers in the country areas find themselves more interested in the elections for the Power Boards than in those for other local bodies they will be sizing up their present relative importance correctly. Both the Golden Bay and Waimea Power Board have big responsibilities in front of them, because, unless the unforeseen happens, the Boards elected to-morrow will be called on to administer the electricity supply when power from the Cobb becomes available. There will be difficulties in the transition period just as there have been in both Board areas in the growing stages. The Nelson countryside is entitled to all the advantages of the great boon of electricity which other similar country areas enjoy. The watchword should be: “Plenty of electricity as cheaply as possible.” It is a case of building up power supply facilities. This needs planning, but it will not be achieved by a constantly fluctuating policy, with a Board reversing its decision from month, to month. Consumers, too, are en- ! titled to expect that when they buy current on a certain understanding it will not be arbitrarily varied. Completion of the Cobb scheme will give a new lease of activity to the Nelson district if the supply of electricity it makes available is wisely but progressively controlled. The Cobb scheme will also provide more power for Nelson city. When it arrives and when times become more normal, city householders will expect a reduction in the price of electricity. That is one of the things the new Council should keep constantly.in mind.