PUBLIC BODY ELECTIONS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 April 1935, Page 5

PUBLIC BODY ELECTIONS

INTERESTING DISCUSSION.

AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

At the meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Mr E. M. liodder brought up the question of the approaching municipal and other public body elections. As a Chamber and as business men, those present were very much interested in securing a sound and able Council for Masterton. There was a danger of the general public being too apathetic. Ho thought it would bo a good thing if a small subcommittee were set up to see to it that regular contributions were made to the press. The press had already done much good work in stressing the importance and necessity of eVery person exercising a vote. Masterton had been fortunate in the past in having a good Council. Masterton could claim to be in a very sound position. The committee could prepare propaganda which was not sectional, but solely to see that everybody voted. Mr Free said that lie supported Mr Hodder. Many times in the past the community had been blameworthy for not exercising its vote to the full. It. had been noticeable in loan polls being carried by a small majority when there had only been a small percentage of voters. Anything that could be should be done to urge every voter to record a vote. Criticism often came after an election, and sometimes it came from those who had not recorded their votes. Mr Michael suggested that such a proposal might put the Chamber in an awkward position. The Chamber was an association of business men, but did not represent the whole community. At least one section might consider it a sectional action. The Chamber was definitely non-political, and should maintain that principle. Any action such as this might be taken erroneously. The president said they might be able to do something individually, but not collectively. Mr C. M. Bowden considered such an action as dangerous to tho Chamber. The newspapers were very good in calling tho attention of voters to exercise tlioir votes. Any articles such as suggested would undoubtedly be misconstrued, and ho would move that the matter 'be allowed to drop. The discussion then closed.