HOW ELECT MAYORS?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1507, 1 August 1912, Page 6

HOW ELECT MAYORS?

THE NEW IDEA. DECISIVELY TURNED DOWN. Methods of electing Mayors were before (Ik* CoufcrfiicG tignin yostorthiy. l-'lc't-lipr, Wellington, moved: "That, tlin election to the ollice of Mayor shoujd be condijcted as at present oil the Municipal Franchise, hut the selection ot" candidates lx> restricted to those who have ' served in the capacity of Mayor or councillor. This shall not apply to the first election of new boroughs."* .Mr. I'letcher said that, under the present. .system a municipality might have ' a Mayor who has not had the opportunity 1 of learning the first thing about civic government. This had been seen in Wellington—a mail had taken the Mayoral Chair had had to be guided by tho council. Only recently a Wellington resident h-ul told him (.Mr. Fletcher) that ho' ] would certainty not stayd far the council, but that tho position of Mayor was "altogether different." That typo of man objected to doing the drudgery, but was willing to talie the "plums." This (tho speaker's) proposal would induce men who now took little interest in civic affairs to come out, bei-awse they would know that they would only bo eligible for the i high- ollice of Mayor after having served ; an apprenticeship ill tho Council. As ! things were at present, it was easily pos- . sible for tome wealthy but inexperienced mail who was a "good fellow" to obtain ; tho highest gift which citizens could be- | stow. l ill-. J. A. Nash (Palnierston North) seconded the motion. Mr. .T. H. Seamlrott.(lnvorcargill) said . that Mr. I'letcher had put the position j well from the point of view of the coun- , cillor, but the chief point of view ought to bu that of tho citizen. Tho choico ' of the. citizens for the Mayoralty should I not be restricted. Mr. J. Fuller, jnn., said that he was ' surprised at such ;v remit being, brought ' forward. "Suppose there was an epidemic amongst councillors and Mayors," he continued," "what would be the position then? (Laughter.) It is simply ridicu- ' lous. I want to see tlii,*.thrown out with ; a big throw. That's all." Mr. C. Cathie iKarori) said) that tho measure was quite democratic, with a ' little conservatism thrown in. It would 0 result, in tho people electing councillors ' with a vie.v to those councillors some day standing for the Mayoralty. It would " rai.se the general standard of the munici- ■ pal representatives. - ' "Mr. I). M'Laren, Mayor of Wellington, " said that it seemed to him curious that. ■ those who were opposing tho remit had : had the principle in existence in their • districts for a considerable time. The ■ principle contained in tho proposal was a > good one. 1 The motion was lost. Thero was a substantial majority against'it.