LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CITIZEN CANDIDATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27507, 29 September 1950, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CITIZEN CANDIDATES

Sir, —In view of the recent controversy over tlie selection of “ Blue Ticket ’’ candidates for the local body elections, could you please inform" me who are the officebearers of the Citizens’ Association. I feel that if the association is a fully democratic one it should not object to making this information public.—l am, etc.. Curious.

[When this letter was referred to th® secretary of the Citizens’ Association, Mr A. C. Halligan, he replied that the association would not reply to the correspondent as he had not signed his name to the letter. “In the ordinary course of events the names of the executive of the association will be published in our'advertising campaign during the municipal elections," Mr Halligan said. After the annual meeting of the Citizens’ Association in February of this year, the Otago Daily Times published the following office-bearers:—President, Mr John L. Mclndoe; vice-presidents. Messrs M, Poulter and A. L. Stanton; executive —Messrs A. C. Cameron, W. Gilroy, C. T. Lee, P. H. W. Nevill, H. S. Reid, H. Skinner and C. J. Wood—Ed.. ODT.]

Sir,—l think that your correspondent “ Nationalist ” is somewhat like the small boy who sulks because he can't get hiß own way. My occupation takes me in and around the city daily and the general comments I hear upon the new Citizens’ candidates for the Hospital . Board ar® favourable. Messrs J- C. H.< Somerville and H. L. Paterson are 'well and favourably known for the amount,of community service they have done in this city. Both are practical, fair-minded men whom il would be hard to beat as representative* of the public upon any local body. Mr P. H. W. Nevill is not so well known, but, he must have outstanding ability to be appointed manager of one of Dunedin’s largest trustee concerns at such aa early age. As a graduate of our University and the son of a clergyman, he should be the right type for the Hospital Board, where young blood is needed if we are to have members with long experience in years to come. Mr Satterthwaite has a reputation in the city for being capable and active and with plenty of drive. I congratulate the Citizens’ Association upon the new men selected.—/ am, etc.. Community Minded.

Sir,—l have long been a supporter of the part the Citizens’. Association ha» taken to ensure the choice of candidate# who will worthily serve the various interests of our city." I have not questioned their wisdom hitherto, but I do feel that it is decidedly open to question this time In not having the name of on® woman candidate on the Hospital Board. Few will question the wisdom of having at least one woman in Parliament today to ensure that the interests of women are given their true focus, and this cannot be done as well by men. This being so, how very much more Important it IB that the Hospital Board, which niust protect the interests of many hundreds of women patients and staff, should include at least one woman who could best understand women’s needs. I feel this is a very grave omission ana one the Citizens’ Association should hasten to rectify without delay.—l am, etc.. Proper Representation.

Sir,—lt is probable that this year S election for the members of the Hospital Board will be of considerable interest to the public of Dunedin. We, the general public, are just wakening up to the fact that the Citizens’ Association is a very powerful body, and "that it behoves us all to do some thinking before going along to the election booth. Why has the Citizens’ Association dropped Miss Roberts and Dr North as its representatives? What will the new selectees do that Miss Roberts and Dr North will not do to further the interests of the city? Or what is the issue at stake, upon which the votes of the new choice of the Citizens’ Association will differ from the votes that Miss Roberts and Dr North would register? Th® answer to this last question is possibly known to only a few. There is somethirfg hidden behind this choice of the Citizens’ Association, something very powerful, and since this force will not come into the open (as far as the man in the street is concerned) we, the general public, must do some thinking. some delving into old reports of Hospital Board .meetings, and must go to the polling booth knowing considerably more than we usually do of the people who are standing as candidates for the Hospital Board, and their probable reasons for standing. Y ' Dr North has proved himself an excellent representative on .the. board, and T, for one, would..not feel it. was fair to withhold my vote from him,’, .should he be a*'candidate, independent or otherwise. As for Miss Roberts, we ratepayers should all feel honoured that this lady, with all her years of service to the hospital, to students arid patients, should, during her years of retirement from teaching, be prepared to devote herself to the public interest. Anyone who has seen Miss Roberts at work, anyone who has the slightest idea of the wonderful character- and drive that this capable and hard-working woman, possesses, must earnestly hope that the opportunity will be given them to register a vote, for her on polling day. Probably Dunedin has never had a better representative on the Hospital Board -than Miss Roberts—l mean better from, the point of view of the patient. Arid a hospital (though some may forget this occasionally) is first, second, third and all the way down th® line, there for tlie patient—l am, etc., Inqnietudo.

Sir, —Once again we see a body of men in their arrogance and by imprication suggesting they can do a job better than a woman. The Citizens’ Association is not unique ,in this insolent attitude, but it certainly has its nerve if it thinks the women of Dunedin will condone its attitude. PerhaDS the Labour Party will use their brain's to better advantage.— 1 am, etc., Feminist.