THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 448, 5 March 1909, Page 8

THE MAYORALTY.

MR. HISLOP'S DECISION. CONSULTING HIS PARTNER. At tho City Council Chambers last evening, between sixty and seventy members of a deputation waited on tho Mayor (tho Hon. T. W. Hislop), and asked bim to contest tho Wellington City Mayoralty this year. Included in those present were:—Councillor A. H. Hindmarsh, tho Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, Messrs. H. C. Tewsley, H. Gilmer, G. Frost, T. Dwan, J. Coogan, W. H. Westbrooke, A. A. Corrigan, H. Fielder, Andrew Collins, and the Hon. J. Rigg. The chair was occupied by Mr. A. A. George. Mr. Georgo explained tho purport of the meeting, and asked Mr. Hislop to come forward as a candidate. Thero should, ho said, bo 110 change of the man at tho helm; the times were strenuous, and men of action were needed. Ho read the requisition, which was as follows:— "We, the undersigned electors of Wellington, respectfully request from _ you favourable consideration of our petition that you will again offer your services to the city as Mayor. We are sure the vast majority of your fellow-citizens have realised and appreciated the immense services you have rendered during your term of office, and the spontaneous support given to this petition by all classes of tho community is an evidence that your election for another term would be highly satisfactory. Owing to the uncertain state of the financial world, and the growing and complicated nature of our municipal undertakings and investments, tho city requires tho services of a man with exceptional gifts, and wo recognise in you tne man available who can bo relied upon to faithfully undertake the duties.

The first names on the petition were those of tho Prime Minister (Sir J. G. W?rd) and Mr. H. D. Bell, .K.C. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. H. D. Bell (who regrotted his inability to attend), D. Bush, R Fletcher, Nicholls, and the Rev. Van Stavoren.

Upon rising to reply, Mr. Hislop was warmly cheered. He stated that somo time ago, when somo of his friends suggested that •ho should again stand for the Mayoralty, ho told thom he was afraid that circumstances would not permit it. He thought it extremely good of the gentlemen who had undertaken tho matter. It was nearly four years' sinoo ho first took office, and lie. had found it, although strenuous work, extremely. pleasant to occupy the position. The. work was congenial, and it gave enough scope to what one considered was one's bent of mind, and at the same time, if properly carried out, it was for the benefit of the public generally. He paid a tribute to the councillors, who were usually very reasonable from his standpoint, and he could not have had more congenial and hardworking councillors. He was glad to know that at all events a considerable proportion of tho population of Wellington recognised one's efforts, and he had endeavoured throughout to do his duty, and if one convinced a considerable proportion of the majority that one had conscientiously carried out ono|s duties, and had been fairly successfulit was certainly a pleasant 'tribute. The Mayor thought the chief o(Bcm, as far as consistent with, the public good, should be, kept.rolling, therefore if he had been asked four years ago to be Mayor for a long period he would have said "No." Ho would oxtromely like, notwithstanding the fact that the next twelve months.., it \eas ! b a considerable part of it, was going to be a difficult problem, to come forward, but for one reason, that the means of carrying out what was necessary to bo done would be somewhat restricted. Notwithstanding all that, he would like to place himself in tho position of candidate for the Mayoralty again, but one had other relations; Ho had to get his bread and butter like other people, and ho had to consider the wishes of those with whom he was working, and, so far, he had not been able to obtain the consent of tho man whose word in this matter must be his law; ho meant his : partner. He would follow tho example of his. predecessor in office and ask for - a day or so to put the matter beforo his partner. Whether he became a candidate or not, he was pleased at the retrospect of four years, and to think that no discredit had been done to the city of Wellington. He would liko to say to tho citizens that, he hoped they would not become'hysterical over., the prosent, little difficulties they were going through. In tho past, tho citizens had met difficulties manfully, and thero was no reason, on account of the condition of tho country, to feel despondent. He regretted that thero; seemed to be a sort of reaction against the city's progressive policy, and ho thought that while prudence might have been and acted upon, thero might have been a little moro judgment and more faith in th'o futuro. All should preserve a cool judgment, and display moro confidence in the futuro of tho Dominion. In conclusion, lie returned hearty thanks for the presentation of .tho requisition. Ho would certainly not delay his reply any longer than necessary. . The chairman hoped that tho Mayor's answer would be '-Yea."" (Applause.) I . Tho gathering concluded with three cheers l for Mr. Hislop. Speaking to a Dominion representative afterwards, Mr. Hislop said he would give his reply by advertisement to-day or • tomorrow.

It was officially reported, at last night's meeting of the Trades and Labour Council, that the Labour Representation Committee had decided not to put up a Labour candidate for the Wellington Mayoralty. The report was adopted.