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Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 205, 14 October 1873, Page 5

Notwithstanding the fact .that it has been well known for the last fortnight that a vacancy would occur in the office of Mayor for this town, and that the vacancy has actually occurred, we have as yet no certain knowledge of a candidate being forthcoming for the honour of the office. Accustomed, as we hitherto have been, to err rather in an excess of political enthusiasm than otherwise, this lethargy is somewhat startling, and betokens a change which is not altogether satisfactory. We have not surely become utterly indifferent to the question of electing our chief citizen, and jnst as surely the result is not a foregone conclusion. Why, then, so much indifference displayed in the matter 1 On Friday first, however, the question will be partly settled : on that day, the candidates for the office will require to be nominated.

We do not agree with those people who profess not to care two straws who is elected ; who say that one man is as good as another, no matter what his past conduct as a citizen may have been ; and who are continually decrying the honour which appertains to the office. These are the people who help in a great measure to deter many from looking for municipal honours who otherwise might be induced to take part in them with great advantage to themselves and the interests of the township. They say there is no honour in holding the office of Mayor, for instance, and they do their best to make their own words good by continually finding fault with the man whom they have chosen. We cannot agree with the3e people, nor do we think the citizens as a body agree with them either. The office of Mayor is an honourable one, and it only depends upon the man himself who is elected to the office whether he shares in the honour attached to it or not. And further, if we rightly consider it,—and it is of importance that we should rightly consider it,—we should see that the selection of our best man, or one of our best men, for the office of Mayor, in a great measure settles the position which our town will take anion" others in the country. Tf he is a man who carries with him a character for manliness and rectitude, all the residents of the town will to a certain extent be credited with the possession of these qualities. He«will be treated with respect by the authorities in other townships, and he will in a corresponding degree be esteemed within outown boundaries. In his dealings with the Government, he will be able to obtain advantages and concessions for his own district in a fair and straightforward manner \ and, as he would not be expected to do so, will not require to stoop to any mean or petty scheming to attain the satisfactory completion of his purposes. The man who may occupy this position need not neces-

sarily be, as the phrase is generally tinderstood, a highly educated man, but it is imperative that he bear the reputation of being an upright and sensible one. Beyond that he requires no other qualification. Such a man as we have indicated is the one we trust the citizens will nominate from amongst themselves on Friday first to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Fraer's resignation; such a candidate is the one we require to secure the respect of neighbouring municipalities, and to procure for our town and district the attention which their increasing importance demands.