HOW ELECT MAYORS?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1821, 6 August 1913, Page 6

HOW ELECT MAYORS?

BY PEOPLE'S OR COUNCIL'S VOTEf

(By Telegraph —Spccial Correspondent.) Christchureh, August 5. Tho Mayor of Glirislchurc.h disapproves strongly of tho clauso'in the Municipal Corporation Amending bill providing for tho election of a Mayor by the council. Mr. Holland considers it nu undue interference with tho rights of tlio electors, wiio, by electing a Mayor, endow mm with a greater authority and responsibility than could 1 over ba undertaken by a Mayor elected by the council, He said that ho oould recall instances where Mayors, appointed by a council to nil a casual vacancy, had failed to receive the courtesy and consideration which they wore entitled to, and would have received had they held office by popular vote. I would rather," added Mr. Holland, bo Mayor of Clirislchurcli elected by the people than Lord Mayor of London elected toy the council." ■ Tho opinion of other people connected with municipal matters in Uinstehureli seems, however, to be alout evenly divided on tho proposal. Some of those seen, comprising ex-Mayors and past and present councillors, thoroughly approved tho change, mainly on tho ground that tlio members of tho council wero.more likely to know tho qualifications of an aspirant for tho Mayoralty than tho public. It was pointed out that the electors .would still bo able to control the Mayor, as., before ho could stand for tho position, lie lwd to bo elected to tho council, and, moreover, lie was elected by tho people through tho councillors. . . Others connected with municipal government, however, considered tlio proposal a retrograde steij, and stated that, personally, thov would neither like to vote as councillor.'; for the election of Mayer, nor ■ stand in the position of a Mayor not elected by the popular vote. A Labounto Mavor went even further, and advocated the"election of chairmen ef coun y councils and harbour boards, etc., by the popular voto.