GREEN ISLAND BOROUGH ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22563, 6 May 1935, Page 28

GREEN ISLAND BOROUGH ELECTIONS

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —It is with a feeling of apprehension of the future welfare of the borough that the interested ratepayers of Green Island learn that party politics are being introduced by an unthinking section in the forthcoming election. This is unfortunate in view of the fact that the borough affairs have been so well managed in'the past without the introduction of politics. Had these budding politicians any saving grace, such as business ability or civic interests to a greater degree than the average, one could, by excess of generosity, grant them a measure of license to indulge in their little hobby—so long as it was entirely harmless. But when such u hobby as politics is introduced into business affairs one's iense of humour and generosity ceases in favour of business reasoning and business principles, founded in this case on a sense of civic pride and civic duty. " For a candidate for municipal honours to expect intelligent ratepayers to vote for politics at a municipal election is surely revealing an ignorance of the requirements for the position. In view of the huge cost of the drainage system which is being introduced and the consequent increase in rates, it surely, behoves the ratepayers to establish a council of men who, by business training and proved ability, will use the money subscribed to the very best of advantage -men who will place their business services at the disposal of the ratepayer, not their wasted exuberance in political claptrap. In view of this, ratepayers should be Turnisied with definite information as to. the names of councillors standing in the interests of the ratepayers only, and not in those of any political party whatsoever. This information is surely the right of the ratepayer, and should, in view of the inability of many to attend addresses, be delivered per medium of the prese.—l. am, etc., Abbotsford.