THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1066, 27 November 1877, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

To the Editor of the Globe. SiE, —With your permission I would like to address a few words to the ratepayers of Christchurch, some of whom I fear are being grossly misled in connection with the Mayoral election. I have spoken to several of Mr Gapes’s supporters, but have utterly failed to hear one sound reason for re-electing him. The whole thing appears to be a case of mistaken sympathy. Several rabid politicians who at every election support the man of their particular shade of opinion, totally regardless of business aptitude or fitness for the office he seeks, finding that they could not advocate the return of Mr Gapes on the ground of ability or special services rendered —which are admitted to be the only just reasons for electing anyone as Mayor two years in succession—raised the clap-trap cry that Mr Gapes has not been fairly treated by the members of the City Council —that in fact he had been snubbed and sat upon. This very naturally aroused a feeling of sympany for the supposed sufferer, the ill-used Mayor, and without waiting to enquire into the truth of the matter, a large number at once sided with Mr Gapes. A worthy man had been injured, and they felt proud at being able to act as his champions. The feeling was a commendable one, but the hasty adoption of an unproved statement was, to say the least of it, most lamentable. The ring played a wily game, and they must have been astonished at its success, but many of ;tho?e who were at first carried away by their feelings, have found out their error, and I hope befpre to-morrow’s poll is over many others will do the same. Now, sir, what are the facts of the case ? No sooner was Mr Gapes elected Mayor than his utter want of business capacity—his inability to preside over the Council in a manner commensurate with the importance of his office —became apparent, but he was treated with the utmost consideration by the members of the Council until the occurrence of the Wellington affair, from which, notwithstanding all the challenges from his opponents, Mr Gapes has been unable to clear himself. After this, the Councillors very naturally ceased to regard Mr Gapes with that, respect which a Mayor should command. Subsequent to this, new Councillors were elected, and, with ono exception, these, after a very short experience of Mr Gapes’s ability to conduct the business of the Council, have declared against him and are working for Mr Thomson. Surely this ought to be sufficient to convince the ratepayers that Mr Gapes is cot the man for Mayor,

Under these circumstances 1 say to the ratepayers, consider carefully what you are about to do. If you vote for a man who has estranged himself from the support of two successive Councils, and who is regarded by those who have worked under him as the very reverse of right man in right place, you run the risk of what —why, of causing dissension, divided efforts and general trouble to exist where, in the true interests of the city, all should be harmony and smooth working. It is absurd to say that two successive Councils have dealt unfairly by Mr Gapes, that, in fact, some of our most respected citizens have deliberately persecuted him. Is it not more reasonable to attribute their opposition to Mr Gapes to a knowledge of his incapacity for the office, and is it not fair that the feelings and wishes of Councillors, when so unanimously expressed as they are in this case, should receive some consideration in the election of the gentleman ,who is to preside over them for a year. One more point and I have done. It is not long ago that there was a general cry of “ Why do not better men come forward for the City Council,” and if Mr Gapes is elected this cry will return. We had begun to recover from the position to which the City Council at one time fell, but if the ratepayers are not careful we shall go back again and be worse off than ever. Who among our business men will care to come forward, if their time is to be wasted, and their equanimity of mind upset by the election of incompetent men to preside over and direct the business of their meetings. Once more I say think of this, and vote accordingly. Yours, &c.,' A VOTER.