Truth MULTIPLICITY OF OFFICES

NZ Truth, Issue 725, 10 May 1919, Page 4

Truth

MULTIPLICITY OF OFFICES

THE PEOPLE'S PAPER. SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1919.

♦ Does Labor Still Favor "One-Maa-One-Job ?" In its remarks on the results of t'he local Government elections m Wellington, "Truth" said that it was opposed to one man holding- a multiplicity of offices, more so were such person a Labor representative It then suggested that as Mr. Chapman had been elected to all three bodies — the City Council, the Harbor Board, and the Hospital Board — if not as a matter of principle at least, as a matter of tactics, he ought to resign his seats on the two last-named, particularly if, by doing so, the vacant seats would be filled by other .Labor nominees aa the hig-hoet unsuccessful candidates on the respective bodies. "Truth" understands that during the week that has elapsed since the above recommendation was penned it has caused much comment among members of the Labor Party and among the workers generally. The great majority agree to "Truth's" proposal, especially m the case of the Harbor Board, where the •highest unsuccessful candidate is not only a Labor nominee liut a waterside worker. Some of the wise-acres and know-alls, however, who are ever opposed to clean democratic action have been loudly declaring that the suggestion is "all b-b-bosh," or words to that effect. ; "Besides," they ' say, "it cannot be done. There would have to b9 a by-eleetlon, and the seats vacated would be lost to Labor. What's 'Truth's' game, anyhow?" Answering the last query first, "Truth's" game is clean, clear-cut, and democratic. It believes in' one-man-on.e-job m the representative, as well as m the industrial, field. It knew no individual candidate m the recent elections, but supported the Labor ticket without respect of person, even though as individuals there were more than one upon whpm it was not "too shook." ' It tried by pen and pencil, by comment and cartoon, to show the workers throughout the Dominion that it was m * their interests — that it was their duty— to make a "clean sweep;" and it is m no way egotistical m claiming that its ardent advocacy of Labor's cause was no small factor m helping Labor to such measure of success as it attained on April 30, not only m Wellington, but throughout the country generally. "Truth" did not make the suggestion because Mr. Chapman had sudceeded m gaining a seat on three local government bodies; but, because the three positions were held by one man, and that man a Labor man, while on two out of the three polls taken, Labor nominees were the highest unsuccessful candidates. There was nothing personal m the suggestion, and no one knows this better than Councillor ■Chapman, as he himself will be ready to admit. , ■ • ,# # ■ As to the statement that "it cannot be done," "Truth" would like to point out that this should not be the first consideration of Labor, but "should" it be done, and if it should, then- it is up to Labor to leave no stOne unturned m an effort to have it done, and only when suoh has failed, should it be admitted, even to Labor itself, that it cannot -be done. The only way it could be done, we are told by the quidnuncs .would be by Councillor Chapman resigning from the two bodies referred to, "then there would have to be a by-election, when Labor would be sure to lose both seats, and what would be : the use of that?" Might we ask: When did ever such a byelection take place? This People's P^aper is aware that the procedure m filling interim vacancies on such bodies differs m New Zealand from that followed m some other parts of the British Dominions. In the Old Country when an interim vacancy occurs on any similar Board, the said Board selects a member to fill the seat and, though not legally bound to do so, it has become an unwritten law to offer the seat to the person having the •highest number of votes among those who were unsuccessful at the poll. In New Zealand the procedure is different, and not only different for different bodies, but different m the case of the same body, according to what part of the -constituency was represented by the member whose retirement created the vacancy. In the case of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards the law is as follows: When a representative of any contributory . district vacates hia office . . . the contributory local authority of that district shall forthwith appoint some qualified person m his place. — H. and C.I. Act, section 21, sub-section 1. Wellington City Council is the contributory local authority m the case of the Wellington Hospital Board, therefore, the appointing of a member to any interim vacancy among Wellington representatives on that Board would lie with the City Council. In the case of an interim vacancy occurring on a Harbor Board the following is the law: , ' When a representative of any ' constituent district , vacates . his office . . . the local authority of that district shall forthwith appoint some qualified, person m his place. — Harbor Amendment Act, 1910, section 18, sub-section 1. Again, m the case under review, the choice would lie with the City Council. » • #■ Do these sections from the Acts governing such interim appointments prove that "Truth's" suggestion cannot be carried out? Not by a mile. Radicals and Liberals, as well as Labor men (and," apparently, more than some Labor men) believe that such appointments ought to be made m the most democratic manner possible. As the law does not provide, for a by-election m such circumstances, what is the next nearest democratic way to choose a successor? Can any one claiming to be a democratic doubt that it Is by taking the next highest among the unsuccessful candidates, more especially when such a candidate is also the nominee of the same party, and sought the suffrages of the electors on . the same platform as the retiring member? There cannot be. The next consideration, then, is the appointing authority; m this instance, the' Weljington City Council. The City Council consists of fifteen members, four of whom are Labor members, who, it may be taken for granted, would support the line of action here suggested. Will it be possible among the other eleven members of the Council to find four who would support Labor's claim to the seats referred to, should. -Mr. Chapman be willing to vacate them? That is for the Labor members to find out, but "Truth" does not think there would be any fear of the majority of the council acting otherwise. To do so would be to act pther than wise, and m two years' time they might find the positions reversed; and m that case how could they exfect Labor to support them? In the case of the Harbor Board, the position is especially interesting as- the highest unsuccessful candidate is a waterside worker. Some time ag-o/"Truth" stated that the Hon. Mr. Yfilford irv appointing the Gdvernmeiit's nominees oh the various Harbor , Boards was likely to break away from tradition, and appoint at least as one of the nominees on each Board, a person who had been employed oh board ship or as a waterside worker . for some considerable time, instead of conferring all such appointments on business men, or persons who

had been useful to the party to which the Minister himself belonged. As a democrat tho Hon. Mr. Wilford is opposed to nominated members on any administrative Board or Council, ' Ail such seats should be filled by the vote of the citizens. That is the attitude of a leading Liberal Minister! It ■is the attitude of the Liberal' party, and eyen of many of the Masseyite party. There are representatives of both parties on the City Council. Here would be a chance, for them to act magnanimously towards Labor, and at the same time, do the right thing. The seats are Labor seats. The highest unsuccessful candidates are Labor nominees. Need any more be said. In regard to Councillor Chapman's attitude, all "Truth" can say is, that Mr. Chapman is no novice m the jj;ux>r movement. He knows his way about, and if he is desirous of doing what not only "Truth" but many m the Labor party believe to be the proper thing to do, apart from its being m the best interest of Labor also, ho enn easi'v satisfy himself as to the likely results of the move we suggest, and if that is other than this paper has here forecasted, then he need not move — that is all. But where there's a will there's a way.