The Dominion. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1910. THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1910. THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

— -4 r— A GiiEAt deal more interest was taken yesterday in the Mayoral elections for the city and surrounding boroughs ; 'than was anticipated. Polling was fairly heavy, and in the city election especially the supporters nf the' two candidates worked hard and well. Of the seven boroughs changes have taken place in three only, and in each of these— Wellington, .Eastbourno, and Miva-mar?-the retiring Mayor did not seek re-olection. : In the remaining four boroughs—lvarori, Onslow, Pq- , tone, and Hutt—the retiring Mayors have all been re-elected, the three i first-named unocposed, Naturally, I

chief interest centred in the struggle for the Wellington Mayoralty. At the outset it seemed a foregone conclusion that Me. Wilford, who h;id already, suffered defeat on several previous occasions, would this time have his persistence rewarded. No one appeared anxious to' contest the office, but eventually Me. C. J. Crawford was persuaded to come forward, and he has really put up a very fine fight. Although well enough known in Miramar, where he had done splendid service for the borough,' he was little known in the city, save by name. Starting with this heavy handicap—particularly heavy in view of the familiarity of bis opponent with the ground to be covered in such contests in Wellington—he has fought his way steadily into public favour and at the hustings yesterday he scored a rccord poll for a candidate making his first iippearancc in a Mayoral election at Wellington. The votes recorded for Mr. Crawford yesterday—s27o —exceeded,' by over 700, the total aeuured by Db. Newman last year when elected. In view of the disadvantage under which he laboured in having so little time to cover the whole of the city and outlying districts in order to make himself known to the electors personally, as Well as to plaoe his views before them, Mr. Crawford's achievement b really a remarkable one, and both he and his enthusiastic band of supporters should be encouraged 'by the amount of success met with. Me. Wilford has at last attained his ambition' in regard to the Mayoralty. We do not approve his election methods, nor do we regard him as a desirable occupant of the Mayoral uffice; but we are prepared to credit him with haying fought the fight of his life to win. He has fought vigorously throughout, and no doubt his platform work helped him a good deal in certain quarters. It would be absurd, judging Mk. Wilford on his past record as a public man! to look forward to 7 anything in the nature of a constructive policy or, indeed, to any\ material benefit to the city from his term of office.. His long political career is singularly barren of achievement. He will, however, have the , advantage ;of working with an ■ experienced body of councillors,, and there i is no reason to believe that he will not receive every assistance at their hands. Me. Wilfoed having won the Mayoralty should now. be'given a fair chance,to prove himself. - '.