WANGANUI CITY ELECTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 108, 10 May 1938, Page 6

WANGANUI CITY ELECTIONS

CAMPAIGN ALMOST OVER CITIZENS’ LEAGUE HOLDS FINAL MEETING LABOI R HAS ONE SHOT TO FIRE The municipal election campaign U almost over. The Citizens' League candidates addressed a final meeting in the Opera House last night. Laboru candidates spoke at WangaMui East and St. John's Hill and will appear at St. Paul's Hall in a linal meeting to-night. The speakers at Ihe Citizens' League meeting last night were Messrs. G. H. Trott (mayoral candidate), D. G. O'Toole (Wanganui Harbour Board), Douglas W. Earle (City Council), Orren Hales (City Council), and G. E. Bennett (City Council). Mr. W J. Gibson Hughes presided and introduced the various candidates to the audience. At the conclusion of the meeting a motion of thanks and confidence was passed. MR. TROTT'S FINAL APPEAL "EVERYBODY SHOULD VOTE" DANGERS OF POLITICAL BIAS "It is generally considered that the | result of the municipal elec ion* • ' ' indicate the trend of political opinion at the forthcoming Pariianit... election to be held later in the year.” states Mr. G. 11. Trott, Citizens’ League candidate for the Wanganui ! mayoralty. "Indeed, the capture of the local body seats is known to be part of the Socialist plan, so that when the electors to-morrow are registering their vote they will really be stating a preference for, or an objection to Socialistic administration. "Since the advent of official Labour into local body affairs the qualifications its followers now demand of candidates are no longer those of ability, integrity or experience, but merely that they shall hold what they consider to be the correct political bias towards Socialism and all that this term implies. Any person of broad outlook must recognise that the Labour viewpoint should be given an opportunity of expressing itself, but to assume that only those definitely in the Labour ranks can appreciate or present that outlook is manifestly wrong. "Of the candidates not on the 'Labour ticket’ who are offering themselves for election to the City Council, the majority, including myself, have had some years of practical experience as working men. To suggest that, because a man who, by enterprise, initiative and determination has lifted himself from the position of the employed to that, of the employer can have no sympathy or understanding for those with whom he has worked, is absurd. By reason of his experience as employed and employer he is surely better enabled, from the wide angle, to consider any proposal affecting the welfare of each. "So far as my candidature for the mayoralty is concerned, I am offering the electors an opportunity of expressing their preference for sound administration based upon proved business practice and supported by experience, or Socialistic rule actuated by political prejudice and party bias. I maintain that a candidate’s political opinions should not be permitted to affect his judgment in matters concerning the welfare of the city. There is no reason for political issues in the conduct of local body affairs. "The duty of those entrusted with the governing of these Institutions should be to act at all times in the best interest of the whole community and not that of a few and this duty devolves upon all those elected, whether of Socialist or anti-Socialistie predilections. "In making this final appeal, I would urge upon every elector the necessity for registering his or her vote so that, whatever the result, the issue will not be in doubt, that those who aie returned to the various offices will be able to feel that they definitely have bestowed on them the | confidence of the majority of the! people.” LABOUR APPEAL MEETING AT WANGANUI EAST A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN The second 1 to last shot by Labour candidates in the municipal campaign was fired at Wanganui East last evening when Mr. W. J. Rogers and other contests for seats addressed electors and made final appeals for their support. The chairman, Mr. J. Robertson, said that one of the most successful Labour campaigns in local body elections was drawing to a close, and that he was confident that his party v.juld be backed by the confidence of the people. Mr. Robertson regretted that an old campaigner, Mr. J. J. Scott, could not be present but he was confident that the electors present would accord him their support at the forthcoming elections. Messrs. R. Andrews, J. Townsend, J. C. Batt, A. Lawrence, E. L. Healy, R. G. Bowen, G. P. Hawkins, Wm. Searle, A. W. Scoular and S. J. Harris, candidates for the City Council, delivered final appeals and Mesdames E. M. Scott and K. Gould, for the Hospital Board, made brief addresses. It was pointed out by several speakers that at the last elections over 900 invalid votes were made for the City Council alone, and their listeners were urged to ensure that their votes were in order. "Citizens should carefully consider the qualifications of those who are offering themselves for local body elections in Wanganui,” said Mr. W. J. Rogers n his final address. "In Wanganui there are 15,000 entitled to vote, and I trust that there will be a big poll and a decisive verdict. In past years I have known the confidence of the people, and it will be for the majority of the citizens of Wanganui to say if I am capable of continuing in my office,” he said. With regard to city rates, Mr.

Mr. Rogers said the Harbour Board levy would not be increased, and that he hoped that it would be decreased. He did not favour any rate increase in the aggregate, but if the people wanted better civic amenities loans would be raised provided ratepayers ' sanctioned them. "If the people decided that Mr. Trott is the better man I will abide ■ by their verdict,” said Mr. Rogers. “I urge you to support other me. I ars of my party contesting local body seats,” he said. "The test to govern in both national and local affairs is not by • bank books, but by’ character."