TE AWAMUTU COURIER. Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, 7th MAY, 1941. THE ELECTIONS.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4422, 7 May 1941, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU COURIER. Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, 7th MAY, 1941. THE ELECTIONS.

THE CLOSING of nominations, and the announcement of a series of elections to appoint various local bodies in office for a further term is a summons for public interest and for careful individual thought. Especially to-day have our local governing authorities an added responsibility—and this implies, even demands, that there shall be the backing of a solidly expressed public opinion. Hitherto, local bodies have been engaged in what, at least, could be described as developmental administration, husbanding and harnessing the local resources and applying organised and constructive direction for the furtherance of the public interest. But today, in addition to all these considerations, there arises the imperative need for the promotion of the war effort in many and varied directions. Only the other day Mr Winston Churchill paid a tribute to the systematic work of the local bodies in furthering the nation’s war effort and what he said of Great Britain applies, even if less directly, to our local bodies in this Dominion. The tasks of administration therefore become doubly great. The executive capacity of the local bodies can be severely tested; in place of development there can be retrenchment in order to conserve and strengthen the avenues of war sup plies and service. In a word, leadership is what is now required.

The community is indebted to the men who have offered their services and who submit themselves for election. Public service is the highest degree of citizenship; in fact, it is emblematic of the democratic system under which, by the process of selfgovernment, public desire is given form of action. Those who have offered are at least entitled to expect the serious regard of the electors. In the personnel of the new councils ■there is required a collective rather than an individual strength. Team work is one of the essential qualities, and the public responsibility just now is to select not individuals but teams. The composition of our local bodies is such that there shall be blended in a council the qualities of administration with executive capacity, leadership with systematic planning, and direction with an orderly regard to cause and consequence. To combine all of these qualities in the composite team is no easy task, but it is the task which awaits the determination of the electors at the polls next week.

■ Many long-tried and experienced holders of public office have retired this year and their names do not feature the candidates’ lists now announced. To these men a tribute is due. They have rendered service during a recent difficult period a time of restricted yet added effort. And they have, perhaps more than at any other time, experienced the effects of emotional public opinion. In the planning and in the steps taken to meet emergency there has necessarily arisen the demands to depart from precedent with neither time nor opportunity to test or measure the public reactions. And for that reason they may have exposed themselves to greater than normal degrees of public questioning. But they have, withal, served in the sphere of public duty and have earned both the thanks and the respect of the community. And, as the new councils face the future it can be acknowledged that many unusual and untried paths will have to be explored. The gaps, caused by the retirement of men who are experienced, will have to be filled—on that the voters can be trusted to exercise a wise discretion. But beyond the election there remains the need for tolerance and forbearance, understanding and mutual effort. Team work within the local bodies who shall lead in administration and public endeavour; co-operation and collective helpfulness on the part of the people. To play our part worthily in all the tasks of winning the war, to plan and organise for the renewal of developmental activities in the post-war period—that is the aim of administrator and people. It is the ideal in the selection of the executive at the approaching elections; it is the purpose which can have its fulfilment in the future only if there be judicious leadership by the executive and ready co-operation by the electors.