The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 23,1912. TO-MORROWS MAYORAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1421, 23 April 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 23,1912. TO-MORROWS MAYORAL ELECTION.

So far, and we are on.the eve of the election, citizens have displayed very little interest in the contest for the Wellington City Mayoralty. Probably! it will surprise a good mauy people even to learn that the election is fixed to take place tomorrow. It may be said that the unconcern of citizens as to who shall fill the office of Mayor for the coming year affords evidence of general satisfaction with the position of the city's affairs. If that is so, the public of AYellington is very indifferent to its interests. The position of the tramways, for instance, is very far from satisfactory. But even if everything were just as one would like it to do, that is no reason at all why the burgesses should be indifferent as to the particular man to be placed at the head of the municipality's affairs for the next twelve months. We are not with those who overrate the powers attached to the Mayoral office, but there is no doubt that on the Mayor rests very great responsibilities, and it should be the endeavour of evei\v citizen to ensure so far as lies within bis power that the best man available should be appointed to the position. The least that the possessor of the franchise can do in this direction is to record his or her vote, and it is to be hoped .that citizens will not neglect (heir duty in this respect to-morrow. They have a choice between four candidates, and should it so happen that no one of ilie four quite fulfils all the requirements any individual elector may look for in bis ideal Mayor, he at least has the opportunity to cast his vote for the candidate who comes nearest to (he standard-lie has set up; and thai opportunity should not be wasted. Probably a good many burgesses will have some kittle difficulty in finally ranking up their mindr, sb to which, of the foui' sajididatcs %<£,.

should vote for. There is no otitstandin'g figure to focus their attention and command their interest; and support. _ Three of- the candidates arc running on much the same lines, while the fourth is the Labour candidate. What Labour hopes to gain from running a candidate of its own has not, so far as v/c know, been stated. _ We have already expressed our opinion on the question of putting forward a class candidate for the Mayoralty of the city. The office is one which demands that the holder shall be free from any sectional influence or class bias—that he shall in fact represent the interests of the city as a whole. It is a very open matter whether Labour in the mass would really gain anything through the election of Mr.. M'Lahejc. It is probable Hint many who on principle vote for Labour candidates at Parliamentary elections realise this, and recognise also that in the choice of a Mayor very different considerations require to be taken, into account to those which prevail in general politics, and in consequence Mr. M'Laren will not receive by any moans a solid Labour vote. Still he is certain to poll well, and his position is strengthened by the fact that his three rivals arc expected to split the vote of the bulk of the citizens, and thus enable him to slip in on a comparatively small class vote. There is only one ■way to avoid this. Each of the three candidates opposed to the Labour candidate will secure a certain personal vote, which would go to them in any circumstances. But outside this personal support there is a large body of electors more or less indifferent as to which of the three they will vote for. If their support were concentrated on any one of the three candidates, lie would have an excellent chance of being Mayor. The difficulty they will experience will no doubt be in determining which of the three has the b'est prospects of success. . It is not easy to arrive at any very accurate conclusion on that point. Mr. Smith has the support of'the Citizens' League, and will probably secure a "sympathy vote" on account of his long association with the municipal life of the city. Mb. Biss is said to have a wellorganised committee,''and expects a solid vote from the business section of the city. Me. AVright has an advantage over the two gentlemen named, inasmuch as he will have behind him a strong body of personal supporters gained as the result of his electioneering campaign during the general election. He should poll a very substantial vote in Wellington South on that account. It is probable', on the whole, that at the prosent time, next to Mr. M'Laren, Mr. Wright occupies a stronger position than any of the other candidates. This no doubt will influence a good many of the indifferent section of voters referred to to cast their votes in his favour. Unless this is done it can be taken as practically certain that tho Labour nominee will fill the office of Mayor.