HOW TO ELECT MAYORS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 20 August 1913, Page 9

HOW TO ELECT MAYORS

MORE PROS AND CONS. BY MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. Should there be an alteration in tho present system of electing tho Mayor? This was a subject on the Order l'aper at tho meeting of tho Executive of the Municipal Association yesterday morning. At the last municipal conference a remit "that the .Mayor be elected by tlic council," was rejected by an overwnelming majority. Yesterday, the matter was beiore the executivo when tho Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1913, was unuer discussion. Tho chairman (Mr. J. P. Luke) announced himself as strongly in lavour of tile scheme of election by the council. They were desirous of getting into the position of Mayor the very best men available for tho carrying out of tho duties that devolved upon them. Under the present system the councillor carried with him the disabilities of the council when he 6tood for election as Mayor, and very often when ho had ably tilled' the minor position and proved himself worthy of it, ho was turned down by the peoplo for the higher office. Several members expressed tho opinion that in view of the. resolution passed by tho conference the executive could not further deal with the' matter. Mr. J. Ai. Coradine considered that tho executivo should merely point out to tho Government the resolution that had been carried by tho conference. Mr. B. .Fletcher said that if the chairman would take a resolution ho would move that the election bo conducted as at present on the municipal franchiso retaining the right of .the people to elect tho Mayor, but confining tho office to those who had already served as councillor or Mayor. This not to apply to the first election of now boroughs. Before this was put to tho meeting, the chairman euggested that a' motion should be tabled approving the principle of election by the council. A resolution in this direction was moved by Mr. W. J. Thompson, but on being put to the meeting was lost. Mr. Fletcher's motion was thou declared- open for discussion. ■^f r : strongly opposed any such restriction being plaeed on the office. He characterised the proposal as undemocratic.

Mr. Fletcher: Absolutely democratic. You want the men with wealth, but without experience to get into the position.

Mr. Ixick replied that he wanted men of brains. The suggested restriction would keep the best men out. Very often a capablo man, who would'find difficulty in finding time for the duties of counciltor, would bo willing to undertako the office of mayor. Opposition was also raised by Mr. Coradine and Mr. A. J. M'Curdy, the latter contending that anyone who had a right to a seat in tho Legislature was eligible for the position.

Mr. C. Cathie considered Mr. Fletcher's proposal was a good one, and would commend itself to the local bodies.

Mr. E, P. 'Bunny was of opinion that, so far from _ being handicapped at a. mayoral election, a man who had experience as a councillor had a distinct advantage over those who had no such experience. There must- therefore bo some weighty reason for the people choosing one of the latter class, and he was therefore opposed to anything that would take that right from tho people. Mr. F. Holdsworth' was also strongly opposed to Mr. Fletcher's proposal, which would block a great many persons well qualified for the position. Mr. Fjetoher said ho would be brief in his reply, becauso he was "afraid it was a fsrlorn hope. Ho contended, however, that the proposal was not one that-would interfere with the rights of the people, but it would result in bringing forward the very best men for the office of -councillors.

The resolution, on being put to the mooting was lost by seven votes to two. It was then decided that the resolution of the conference, providing that the mayor be elected for two years, should be brought under the notice of the Government. Mr. M'Curdy recorded his vote against this.

The-meeting rejected a proposal introduced by Mr. T. IC. Sidey, that the retiring mayor should serve on tho council for one j-mt after completing' his torn of office as mayor.