The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1877.

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

The Globe. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1877.

In connection with the election for the Mayoralty of Christchurch, which takes place to-morrow, an endeavour is being made to raise a class cry. Mr. Gapes is anxious to make out that he is the working man’s candidate, and therefore it is the duty of that portion of the community to give him their support. As far, however, as wo can learn, Mr. Gapes and his friends very prudently avoid selling what they mean by raising the cry. And in the first place, we would ask, what right has Mr. Gapes to pu himself forward as the representative oi the working men P Has he in any sense

shown that ho is specially qualified to he a loader of that largo and very important portion of the ratepayers p Were times of political excitement unfortunately to arise, when class might be arrayed against class, would the working men naturally turn to Mr. Gapes as their advisor? We scarcely think so. He lias shown none of those; qualities which justify him in claiming to ho the working man’s representative. Of course, as far as hois concerned, it is a very convenient cry to raise, and lie is naturally very anxious to leave no stone unturned which shall aid him in securing for another year the coveted position of Mayor. But wo do not believe the working men of Christchurch will be so easily led. They know quite as well as any other portion of the ratepayers, that the election should turn on no such cry. The Mayor, no matter to what class he belongs, cannot possibly forward the interests of one section at the expense of another. Were this an election for the General Assembly the case would ho quite different. The House of Representatives deals with questions which affect the pockets of all classes, and it may be necessary that each portion of the community should endeavour to have its own special interests looked after. But the City Council administers a law already in existence, which they have no power of altering or amending. What is therefore wanted is a Mayor who can preside over the deliberations of the Council with dignity, who has business capacity, and who has a thorough knowledge of municipal affairs. The working men are as deeply interested in the good name of the city as any other ratepayer is, and are quite capable of forming an independent opinion on the merits of the two candidates. If we mistake not, they will see through the transparent humbug of Mr. Gapes and his friends, in raising a cry which ought in no possible way to affect the question. The real point to be settled is which of the two gentlemen before the ratepayers is the better man, not to what class do they belong. In former articles wo have tried to point out why Mr. Gapes snotdd not be returned, and why Mr. Thomson should, so it is not necessary to go over the same ground again. Our object on this occasion has been to show that Mr. Gapes is trying to make use of a totally irrelevant cry to climb into power and pay; and that he is besides only a selfconstituted representative of the class he is endeavouring to use. Had it been necessary to place in the mayoral chair a really representative working man, there are hundreds in Christchurch better qualified than Mr. Gapes to fill that position.