IMPRESSIONS OF THE WEEK-TOPICS OF CURRENT INTEREST

NZ Truth, Issue 725, 10 May 1919, Page 6

IMPRESSIONS OF THE WEEK-TOPICS OF CURRENT INTEREST

Sidelights 9a Matters ef Public Moment (From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)

The municipal elections turned out pretty well as was last week predicted m this column. The "new" Council cannot, by any sketch of the imagination, foe classed as the embodiment of intellectuality, nor can it lay itself open to charges of competency, capacity and capability. . Still, it's the best I>unedln can furnish, and that, possibly, is the -most apt and the (most readily-comprehended description that can be supplied to the outer world. "Don't shoot the musicians; they're doing their best!" is a test that might profitably be adopted by citizens when our "new" Council begins its next gasbag sonata. ■ -The' Mayoral election was a boil-over. Two days before, it was any odds on Black; but >he was not a stayer and was soundly walloped by Begg when the winning post was reached. The reason for Black!s fading out and Begg's eleventh hour popular- , ity has been assigned to the over- } energetic electioneering tactics of the former. To "Truth", it seemed, however, that some hidden and very powerful influences came suddenly forward to bring about a complete revolution against the one candidate , and m favor, of the other. Exactly what those influences were, many men may guess. The chief feature of the contest, and one that gives satisfaction to all decent people, was its resolving ! itself into a "go" between two candidates who are not wowsers. It was feared that, with opinion divided as to the merits of Black and Begg, Dunedin might allow a wowser to slip m between the two. We have to congratulate ourselves for once that we did not heap further indignities upon the dour city by burdening her with a wowseristic mayor. Begg is a decent sort of a chap and has, all his life, been closely associated with several branches of sport. With him and Doc. Thacker filling the two principal civic offices, the South Island should make the North "Luke" to it.