The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1935. THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20103, 9 May 1935, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 9, 1935. THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE

One of the most gratifying aspects of the municipal election in Timarn yesterday was tlie whole-hearted endorsement by the people of the sane and safe policy pursued by the municipal administration over the past two years, and the emphatic recognition they gave of the capable and conscientious way in which the affairs of the borough have been conducted by the Mayor and Council which was without a single loss returned to office at the polls yesterday. In view of the absence of any burning question of municipal policy at issue at the polls, the interest was sustained in a most gratifying way right up to the close of the counting, and it is doubtful if within recent years such a large assemblage of citizens has attended at the declaration of the polling. The re-election of the retiring Mayor against the efforts to make the question of unemployment an issue at the election, is in itself a tangible recognition of the courageous manner in which Mr Satterthwaite played his part in the administration of the affairs of the borough. One feature of the Mayoral election campaign which should furnish some food for thought, was the poor showing made by the candidates claiming to represent official and independent Labour: but it can be said to the credit of Mr Paterson find Mr Koller that although they suffered defeat, they took the verdict of the electors in a real sporting spirit, without rancour or display of bitterness or resentment. The Deputy-Mayor who had conducted a campaign that left no regrets as far as decorum and good feeling were concerned, hardly did himself justice in the manner in which lie accepted the vote of the people. The return of the retiring Council without loss did not come as a surprise. During the past two years of municipal administration, the Mayor has had the assistance and co-operation of a capable and progressive team. The' people of Timarn in the most emphatic fashion have returned the Council to office with a plain mandate to pursue a progressive policy based on sound finance. Once again the electors of Timarn have repulsed ail attempt to introduce party politics into municipal affairs. Organised Labour offered candidates for five local government polls in Timarn and every candidate was rejected. The first essay into local politics by the New Zealand Legion come as something of a surprise in view of the obvious attempt that was made to displace one of the retiring members of tlie Council and offer in his stead a candidate pledged to tlie Labour Party’s platform! Manifestly the Legion’s advice- was wholly disregarded and the electors returned all the retiring members of tlie Council, whose re-election was assured before the Legion made its eleventh hour pronouncement, while the vacancy caused by the nomination of one Councillor for the Mayoralty, lias been filled by the election of a candidate not endorsed by the mysterious Legionaries. Indeed, we think it can be shown that the people of Timaru paid not the slightest attention to the Legion’s puny attempt to play a part in j municipal politics in Timaru. Yesterday’s electiou as far as Timaru is concerned may he said to have been a verdict for sane municipal progress and tlie dignified conduct of the affairs of the borough.

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS. Contested elections were held throughout South Canterbury in several areas for seats on the various branches of local government. Quite a lively campaign developed in the areas of the Levels in which two of the most progressive members of the Timaru Harbour Board were confronted with the candidature of two aspiring members who were obviously inspired by the nonprogressive element on the old Board. The verdict of the electors gave an emphatic endorsement of the policy espoused by the retiring members. In Timaru, the issue was understood by the people who returned Mr Turnbull at the head of the poll, with two well-tried members, ahead of their opponents. The voice of the people of Timaru made itself heard in no uncertain way yesterday in the endorsement given a progressive harbour policy. Iu the country districts no change has been made in the Board’s representation. It is regrettable that all the country seats on the Harbour Board were not contested, because of the importance of having a definite pronouncement in town and country on harbour policy. The election of members to the South Canterbury Hospital Board excited considerable interest, in view of the inspired campaign that was launched against the chairman of tlie Board in the Fairlie district. The victory of Mr E. Macdonald was most emphatic, and it is rather significant that his opponent not only suffered defeat in the Hospital Board election, hut was also unseated from the Mackenzie County Council and the South Canterbury Electric Power Board. A change in the personnel of the Hospital Board was made by the

electors in the Levels district, and a verdict was recorded there for progress. In Timaru the three retiring members were returned with emphatic majorities and they have been given a mandate to pursue a progressive policy. One or two changes have been made in the personnel of the Power Board, but no significance need be attached to the election of one or two new members, although the defeat of Messrs Scott and Macdonald will occasion some comment. So many vital and difficult problems will come up for consideration and solution within the three-year term of office covered hv the life of the local bodies elected yesterday, that town and country representatives alike who are entrusted with the administration of harbour affairs, the distribution of electric power and the care of the sick, will be called upon to give the most careful consideration to the many phases of questions in which repose the future progress of tlie district.