THE LOCAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17148, 30 April 1919, Page 6

THE LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Municipal politics claim the attention of all conscientious citizens to-day. Throughout t'ue Dominion the personnel of the more important local bodies such as city and borough councils, harbour boards and hospital boards is to be decided for another term, probably the most critical period economically the country has yet passed through. Under these circumstances it becomes the duty of every ratepayer to realise his personal responsibility for efficient administration and to record his vote, even if it is done at some inconvenience. In the vicinity of Auckland city many important local authorities have to be constituted afresh. Apart from the harbour and hospital board elections choice is to be made of four Mayors, and one city and seven borough councils. In addition loan polls will be held at Northcote and Birkenhead and at Onehunga, where the future of that important artery of the borough, Manukau Road, will be reconsidered. At Northcote also there will be a vote on the proposal to levy rates on the unimproved value. All these polls have a local significance which may easily be under-rated. In the aggregate they will decide the efficiency or inefficiency of local government in the city and suburbs. The privileges of the municipal franchise are often valued more in the abstract than in the concrete, but it is to be hoped that on this occasion there will be no reluctance to exercise it. All the local bodies are under the necessity of undertaking works postponed during the war period, and it is therefore essential that they should be the most capable that can be obtained by a careful sifting of the candidates. In every district there are aspirants better qualified than the others, and it is the ratepayer's duty to give them preference. To do this, he will find it necessary to disregard "tickets," which embrace men of varying capacity because of some bond of sympathy having no bearing on municipal affairs. The discriminating voter will refuse to accept the nominees of any organisation, but will give his verdict for the best qualified candidates, whether they are on a " ticket" or stand on their own merits.