THE DAY TO VOTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 12

THE DAY TO VOTE.

The day to vote has come. Local body elections are being held everywhere and on the great body of citizens there rests the duty of selecting the men —and in these modern times the women—who must administer their affairs for the next two years. In every kind of election or poll the tendency is toward apathy, toward letting the occasion go by default. Warnings against the danger of this attitude have been given so often that there should be no need to repeat them now. In Auckland city, however, the conditions justify special comment. If anything could excuse the citizen for evading the duty which is. his, the task of struggling with the council ballot paper, of trying to select 21 from the 67 offering, would do it. In the existing circumstances, there are more than usually strong reasons why the difficulties should be faced. There is supposed to be a tremendous amount of popular discontent with the way city affairs have been managed. That some people are deeply dissatisfied cannot be denied. Neither can it be suggested the outgoing Mayor and council were beyond criticism. What still remains unproven is whether the silent many agree with the vocal few—comparatively speaking—about civic management. The revelation should come to-day. It is- the opportunity provided for the people to express their feelings on just this point. It should be done clearly and decisively, and the cumbrous method by which the voices must be given should not be allowed to deter anyone from doing his part. It will probably be the last time a vote will be taken in this very unsatisfactory manner, for if the amount of criticism directed against it does not impel the incoming council to make a change, it certainly should. The best course, therefore, is for everyone to do the best he can with the ballot papers he has to handle, and to determine that there must be some amendment of the system before the day to vote comes round again.