THE MAYORALTY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1416, 17 April 1912, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY.

Sir,—Tt seems Komewjint strange (lint in a city of some 80,000 inhabitants it: is so difficult to Ri-t our best citizens to st.ind for the high post of .Mayor. I dn not wish lo decry any of the candidates who have announced themselves, but il cannot' be said that any of them is particularly fitted to fill the position. I am not one who believes much in letting senlimenf rule our selection in mailers <:f til:* kind, and I would have no hesitation in passing by Air. .lolin Smith in favour of a better man. his loni years of I'riiUifiil service as a i-nuncille-r. lint if ever there was a ease where senlinient should have some say it is in the present unfortunate posit:ou. On ono band we huve Mr. D. JlT.aren. who U uu cut-aiid-out chiitapion of Labour—with him it ii Labour first and last-opposed

■■': ■" .liiinios whose views are prae- ' >■■ ' ilitul. . and il seems probable ■.'?■■■ ■'': ty will . have to accept-a Mayor ' : ' '■ no ivav reiiresenlative of tho ■■':■ '■'- -li the other hand .Mr. Wright. ' . .ouljt be .sfpkiii" the voles of ; "' <"• a- a candidate for Parliament •'■■• < he present year, and the inter- ' : l-lip city would siifl'pi- (hnmah his i <■ ■ lure. .Mr. lii--, an estimable '• ■ •■ nan, is not at all enthusiastic, lie to imagine that his chances are ■I, simply because of the fact that eer- ■■■■■• gentlemen are not coming forward, •«'• lie can have an easy win. He will

' bably know better after April 1!7. Then •uTO is .Mr. ,lohu .Smith, by no means Ilio

'■'•st man iirocuraldc. and he recognises that, but of the candidate he i< by far 'he most experienced. He hiis the time to devote, anil has ably filled the position of Acting-Mayor for se.verr.'. months without remuneration. Some people discount his value, because of the weakness exhibited by the council in thu tramway strike and in controllins some members of the council. U .should not, liowv.-r, bo forgotten that Mr. Smith was embarrassed by the fact that he had to take over negotiations from the Mayor, and was not supported by the council—or rather by certain noisy members of it. who wanted to carry favour with the 'red-raggers." Give Mr. Smith tho backins of the people, and no bne will havn to complain of lack of back-bone, and he will put some of tho councillors in their place. Taking him nil round he is the best innn of tho four standing; nnd now lor sentiment—it would bo a fitting climax to his long years of service to reward him with tho robes of office for cno year. We may then find some of our leading citizens anxious to seek the position, and Mr. John Smith, I feel sure, will gladly stand down in favour of a better man.—l am, etc., VOTER.