THE MAYORAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 8

THE MAYORAL ELECTION

Sir,—One has been hearing many opinions lately on tlio present unfortunate position of the Mayoralty question, --ml if ouo summarised them tho summary would bo stated in two-fold form. Firstlv, thcro is a very strong feeling that Wellington's next Mayor must bo a gentleman -thoroughly well fitted iroui every point of view to do credit to ins city during tho forthcoming twelvemonths; and, secondly, there is an absence of satisfaction with any ono of tho candidates. Mr: Luke is blamed for not having allowed his willingness to stand a»ain be known definitely a month or. more ago. Mr. Weston is a total stranger to nine-lcnths of tho electorate, and Mr. Barber is only likely to secure 0 purely personal or district vote. Put there is one weighty objection which is common to all tho throe candidates; it is that not one of them is quite suited to represent Wellington on such special ncc-a-sions as tho visitsi of 'Silent John- ' Lord Jelli-oe) and H.R.H. tho Prince of Wales. Tnere are in this city two gentlemen either of whom would fill Ho difficult position of Mayor wiHi complete satisfaction in connection *** «e ™rt of our distinguished and Roya visitors, and to tho satisfaction of all of us respectivo of politics,- if either of I em could be induced to accept nomination. T mean Dr. A. K. bowman, M.P-, ami Sir Francis Bell. In the hands of either of these well-known gentlemen wo should all feel safe. It will be said.of course, that both are in Parliament, and that ono of them is also a Minister As a wneral rule it is not desirable for a Mayor to he also a member of Parliament, but the present is a very «coptional occasion, and Disraeli was not far out when he said that "«'™»iMtaneM alter oases." Moreover, Sir Francis Bel » nortfolios are not very lieavy ones ho has tho Solicitor-General behind him in tho heaviest of them; next session m not likolv to bo a. long one. and whlca. over of them is chosen could resign tho Mavoraltv at the end of the first year. The small extra expense thereby cast on (■ho city is nothing when compared witli its being adequately represented. Inm launching mv ««^ lon J. consulting anyone. Should it «» favour and bo tried I imagine that tho throe citizen candidates (as distinct from Labour) would at onco withdraw; indeed, if thev cnunot agree on anything elseiti.ey might' well agree to actively forward the suggestion as a good way out of an awfc. ward position that is likely to bo nrei udicial to the best interests of the city. And tho remaining candidate might also withdraw, as under.any circumstances it is onlv in a throe or four-cornered -jon-t-pst that ho would have any chance oi success.-! am, etc., VETBIUN . April 3, Win.