THE DUNEDIN MAYORALTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23500, 14 May 1938, Page 24

THE DUNEDIN MAYORALTY

TO tin; EDITOR Sir, —My attention has been drawn to an interesting letter written by " Critic ” anent the outstanding qualifications possessed by the' Rev. E. T. Cox for the highest civic office. Paradoxical as the statement may seem. Mr Cox’s defeat is the greatest tribute that could be paid to his exceptional brain power. A lew days before the municipal election, a well-known business man and an ardent supporter of the misnamed Citizens’ Association, told me that it was imperative that Messrs Cox and Silverstone should be removed at all costs, because “ they are too clever.” Mercantile interests feai the scholar and the thinker, so that the organised attempt to damn Mr Cox by judiciously-employed psychological weapons was not at all surprising to the cultured , section of the community. Democracy fails when it panders to mediocrity by exiling those who possess superb qualities of statesmanship. The designation of Mr Cox as a tyro in local government is unfair to his brilliance as a university student of the social sciences. As a student of economics. Mr Cox had to qualify in general economics, economic history, banking and political science. As a student of history he had to master thoroughly the motivating forces underlying all the great movements which have profoundly affected the destiny of man. Intellectually and scholastically he is superior to any candidate carrying the “ blue ticket," the present Mayor included. —I am, etc., Graduate. [ln this instance democracy did not pander to mediocrity.—Ed., O.D.T.T TO THE EDITOR Sir, —My sincere congratulations to Dunedin. Although now far away from the city, I was a resident for 40 years of beautiful Dunedin. When I heard the results of the poll by wireless I felt that the good people of all degrees in my home town were now safe, thrifty workers and bloated capitalists alike. A genuine return to sanity is what I expected of our city. The more particularly I felt this when, after I heard the results announced, I had to listen to the unfortunate speeches of the defeated candidates. Just another tug soon and we shall all sleep safer. —I am. etc., , Bricks and Mortar. Christchurch. May 12 TO THE EDITOR Sir, —The citizens of your lovely city of. Dunedin are to be heartily congratulated upon returning as Mayor a gentleman who no doubt will at all times uphold and enhance the dignity of this highest of civic honours. Dunedin should now enjoy a period of prosperity, expansion and welldeserved popularity, and once again become a clean and tidy city Mr Cox has only received what he has asked for—viz., defeat. He can now quote Scripture to his heart’s content, and no doubt one of the favourite passages will be “An enemy hath done this.”— 1 am, etc., C. E. Knight