The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3225, 23 May 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1911.

It might be as well to remind electors

; A Reminder to the Electors.

that the poll to fill the vacancy on the Borough Council caused by the death

of Mr. Jaokson will be held '/to-day. The fact that their choice on this occasion is limited to only two candidates ' will not, we hope, be allowed to detract from the importance of the contest. As to the question of sentiment that has been raised, we have already made it clear r that the vacant seat can in no way be regarded as “belonging” to the Labor party. Mr. Jackson, it is true, was associated with that movement, but it ,could not possibly be said, as was emphasised in a previous article, that he owed his re-election to that fact alone. Surely, if the electors had been favorable to the r Labor programme, they would not have rejected Mr. Sheridan for the Mayoralty, Mr. Richards for membership on the Council, and Mr. Turner for a. seat on the Harbor Board. On the other hand nothing could be more evident, we feel, that the electors do not want the Labor policy. Really • the highest tribute that can be paid to the memory of Mr., Jackson in this regard, is to appoint as his successor at .the Council table the aspirant who is the more' likely to do most to advance the 1 interest’s, of the borough. In view .of the need for a strong governing body at the present juncture, we regret that •the electors have not a wider choice in the matter. , Strong as no doubt the Couricil is as it stands in some directions, '"notably practical knowledge, it is correspondingly weak in other direc-

tions, as regards which finance may be instanced. But it is now, of course, too late on this occasion for other electors- who- ‘have special qualifications which would be of great advantage tq the borough to come forward. In this regard, we may add that we believe a certain “arrangement,” which had for its object the discouragement of nominations for the vacant position was not in the best interests of the corporation. What right, may we ask, havp the leaders of any parties, even if they be the two strongest sections of the community, to make any such compact? As far as we can see, what has taken place in this matter is hut another proof of the fact that the party system is being allowed to “run mad” here. But to return to the contest which is to take place to-day. There are, as we have said, only two candidates—Mr. Anderson, /who is the nominee of the Labor part}-, and Mr. Sawyer, who claims to be a thoroughly independent candidate. For our own part, we do not see that the electors oan have much difficulty in coming to a- decision as to which should secure their support. The personal equation must, of course, enter largely-into this matter. And what do we find? Mr. Anderson has been a resident of _ Gisborne for but a few months, and can be known only by name to a great many of the electors. In Mr. Sawyer, however, the electors are well acquainted with an old resident, who has long been held in the highest respect in this district. As to the requirements of this district, Mr. Anderson can have only such knowledge as may be gathered in the brief period during which he has resided in the town. So far as Mr. Sawyer is concerned, however, he has not only served for a term on the Council, but has had every opportunity of noting the growth and progress of the borough from its infancy. In combating the value of length of residence, greater ability may, of course, always bp claimed, but this is not a plea which we feel sure the electors will allow to weigh with them in the absence of proof. But Mr. Sawyer’s claim to election under this heading does not rest at this point. Unlike Mr. Anderson, who has only just recently acquired a place on the electors’ roll by virtue of the “residential” • qualification, Mr. Sawyer has for many years been a ratepayer, having a fairly considerable stake in the community. How the electors could under this heading prefer Mr. Anderson; to Mr. Sawyer it would indeed be difficult to understand. Coming then to the question of the policies of the respective aspirants, the claims of Mr. Sawyer over Mr. Anderson to election are equally strong. As in the case of the late general contest, the question as to. the method under which the various works in hand or contemplated should be undertaken looms most prominent. On the one hand vs find Mr. Anderson a strong advocate of the day labor system, although since the campaign has been in progress he has qualified his views on the subject to a considerable extent. What his pledge on this question is really worth as it now stands may safely he left for the electors to decide. Mr. Sawyer, however, is clear and to the point. “I am,” he says, “in favor of as much work being done by contract as possible.” In this connection we feel that Mr. Sawyer undoubtedly supports the method of work which is likely to prove quite as satisfactory and much less costly than that which Mr. Anderson and bis party would like to see continued. Under the circumstances, therefore, and as between the rival candidates, we have no hesitation in recommending the electors to record their votes in favor of Mr. Sawyer. This we do with all the more satisfaction in view of his pledge that lie “claims no party,” which is hacked up by an emphatic statement to this effect:—“Referring to my own candidature, I may say that most of the residents of Gisborne know me. I have been here for 30 years, and know also that I have always kept my word in every capacity, public or private, so they will understand me when I say lam standing as an entirely independent candidate, and subject to nothing of which my conscience does not aoorove.”