The Press Tuesday, April 28, 1925. The Mayoralty.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 28 April 1925, Page 8

The Press Tuesday, April 28, 1925. The Mayoralty.

It is unfortunate that the task of selecting a Mayor will be complicated to-morrow by factors of a disagreeable kind. Of some of these wo shall say nothing, and it is sufficient to say of the others that they may concern a small committee of citizens but have nothing to do with the whole body of electors. The point to be remembered is that the duty of citizens is to find the best occupant of the Mayoral chair for the next two years, and not to arbitrate in a personal or party quarrel. Mr Boanland has served the community faithfully over a fairly long period, but Mr THesher is the official candidate of tho anti-Labour group of voters, and should therefore be supported. I,n faet, every vote cast for Mr Bennland is a vote for Mr Archer, who will certainly be elected if the assistance given to him in this way is substantial. And to elect Mr Archer is to place the government of the city for tho next two years in the hands of a man who is not only contemptuous of the rights of ratepayers, but determined to show on the City Council that the key to human happiness is Socialism. For it is gvoatly to Mr Archer's credit that he makes no secret of his municipal aims and objects. As a supporter of Labour in general politics he might still be au unexceptionable Mayoral candidate if he would regard the duties of tho office as prac» tical, non-partisan, and non-political. What makes him a candidate whom it would be' a calamity to elect intentionally or unintentionally is his fixed determination to inflict his political theories on the Council and on the citizens. If people choose to vote for him directly jthere is nothing now to be said: it is neithor possible nor desirable to make people think alike, and in public affairs there is frequently no other way of acquiring wisdom than by experiencing the consequence's of folly. But the direct vote is not the danger. There is no risk of a Labour administration if the citizens who do not want it take the obvious method of warding it off. In other words, there, is no risk of Mr Archer if all opposed to him vote for Mr Fleshor. If they do not so vote, but break instead into two or three parties, Mr Archer will be elected.