WAITOTARA COUNCIL ELECTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 124, 29 May 1941, Page 4

WAITOTARA COUNCIL ELECTION

Sir, —Were the circumstances surrounding the election of one representative of tne four allotted to the Brunswick-Westmere riding normal, 1 wculd not assume the presumption of offering its ratepayers some seasonal comments pertaining to their choice of a further candidate. However, a somewhat unusual situation has aiisen, and in fairness to Mr. Palmer, and the ratepayers themselves, I feel that some light should be thrown on the position.

When nominations were called for the current election an effort was successfully made to so arrange an county representation on the council. Hatbcur Board, etc, that an election woiJd not be necessary in the county. .Mr Farley's decision to re-enter county politics, however, meant that eit-e: one of the sitting councillors must retire, or an election be held.

The Westmere-Brunswick Riding, being an amalgamation of the old Westmere and Brunswick ridings (each re-tu-r ing two members,, has ever sin.e toe amalgamation, had at least >mcouncillor of its four drawn from the Brurswick portion of the riding, to toe north of the mam road. As a preponderance of candidates were offering from the Westmere portion of the riding, Cr. G. Handley very generously offered to stand down in favour of Mr. Palmer, so that the Brunswick district would not chance losing its representative. A poll was thus to be avoided.

Unfortunately Mr Palmer's nomination paper—through the oversight of one of his nominators who undertook to forward it, but mistimed the closing day—did not connect in time Thus only three seats were filled. On the call lor nominations for the extraordinary vacancy, Mr. Palmer's renomination was early in. but was unexpectedly followed by those of Messrs. D. Ross and F. Littlejohn, both representing Westmere interests . No one disputes the right of these' two gentlemen to offer their services, i and their merits or demerits to represent their ratepayers are not the matter at issue. What does matter, how-; ever, is that the desirability of the i large Brunswick area of the riding' being represented may (?) be jeop-i ardised, which would be very regret-' table. Since the two new candidates did not offer themselves at the first I call, it is not too late for them to ! follow the excellent gesture of Mr ‘ Handley, and save the possibility of | inequitable representation, and at the

same time the balance of the costs of an election. During the past few months, Mr. Palmer has done a wonderful job of work assisting in the organisation of the various branches of the Home Guard throughout the country, sparing neither his time, energy and substance, in his effort to further the movement. As a councillor, he has shown an understanding of county administrations second to none of his fellow councillors, and should his opponents decide to allow the ballot to proceed, I am convinced the ratepayers (Westmere and Brunswick alike), in view of the foregoing tacts, will magnanimously see that the Brunswick area continues to be well represented.—l am, etc., L. T. JONES, Paparangi. 24/5'41.