THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1749, 27 September 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1879.

Thebe is a dreadful dearth of oligihl o Mayors all over New Zealand. Not only in Christchurch, but in other large towns, tho post may bo said to bo going bogging. Historical paintings by tho dozen might bo executed of deputations of fervid citizens laying civic crowns at the foot of reluctant gentlemen, and in vain begging them to accept the honors which they would so satisfactory illustrate. In Wellington in particular the greatest efforts are being made to fill the Mayoral chair in a manner worthy of the position and of a wealthy city. Colonel Pearce was first requisitioned, but finally refused to stand, and now, as will be seen by today’s telegrams, twenty lists are rapidly filling up, asking the Hon. Randall Johnston to come forward as a candidate. Now why there should be such unwillingness among those suited to fill mayoralties to accept such honorable positions ? The post of Mayor, if any post can he said to be hallowed by antiquity, may surely claim to bo so. Other appointments that are eagerly sought after,“are more mushroom creations in comparison. Moreover, the power entrusted to the Mayor is very great. And it cannot be said that tho oftentimes pettiness of the work to bo done should in any way act as a deterrent to gentlemen suited to the post. There are details connected with all appointments which, of course, form the less agreeable portion of the work to bo done, but which must nevertheless be carried through. And take any of the other appointments that are generally considerable desirable. Take the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for instance. Has not that Board to wade through minutiae as small, and equally, if not more, annoying than those through which the City Council has, at times, to plough its way. No—it is probable that it is not anything practical that prevents gentlemen from coming forward eagerly. Old-world ideas have no doubt a great deal to answer for in the matter. The bloated civic dignitaries whose principal employment has been popularly supposed to have been the digging of their own graves with their teeth, have hy their apathy, purse-pride, and generally distorted views of the true duties of municipal power, which is not only honourable in ( possesses a past of which few offices can boast, and has, we would hope, still a brilliant future before it. It is a thou- ; sand pities that leading citizens cannot shake off this antique view of the Mayoralty. .Even if, in England, certain ideas still cling to the post, there is no i reason whatsoever that, in a new country, i which should be untrammelled hy oldi world •uperstitions, the same error should [ still exist. However, wo have to deal with things as they are, and not as they ought to be, and we must face tho fact that suitable candidates for the Mayoralty are in Christchurch, as elsewhere, singularly hard to flush. And in Christchurch there is an additional reason why it is desirable that at the present juncture the best possible man should be chosen. The doings of onr City Council during the past year, have not been of a nature to elevate the character of municipal honors at large. I The late elections have, however, given us a body of gentlemen well suited to uphold the dignity of the City Councillor, ; and it would ho above everything de--1 sirahle that, as a coping stone to the , municipal edifice, a Mayor should be chosen who hy his position, intellectual parts, and general business capacity ’ should he generally looked up to hy the Council itself and hy the citizens at large. At present, as far as we are aware, there are hut three candidates in tho field, •namely, 'Messrs. Ayers, Gapes, and the i! present Mayor. We include the latter 1 gentleman because it appears on sufficiently good authority that, if he finds that it is the wish of any large section of 1 the ratepayers that he should again fill Hie Mayoral chair, he will consent to become a candidate. The ratepayers, in fixing their choice in November, should hear in mind one fact. The present Council is almost entirely composed of new members. With but two exceptions all the Councillors are new to their work. It is an entirely abnormal state of affairs, and should ho treated as -such. It will not happen again, and is ouly brought about by an entire change in the principle of election having just been introduced. It seems then very desirable that out of the candidates presenting themselves, the one who possesses the largest knowledge of mnnieipal matters should, ipso facto, possess a large claim on the suffrages of the ratepayers. With a Conneil well posted in tho affairs which they will have to manage, the case would not ho tho same. It is a very different matter presiding over a body who are, for the most part, thoroughly conversant with the affairs laid before them, to presiding over a body who are not so conversant. Without wishing to disparage in the slightest tho present Council it cannot, of course, ho denied that their business i• new to them. It would, therefore, be a very great advantage to them that they should bo presided over hy a gentleman who is well versed in municipal affairs. Now of tho candidates at present before the public, the one who undoubtedly possesses this qualification in an eminent degree is the present Major. Mr Ick is a thorough man of business, and he has brought his capacities to hoar on municipal work during the past year with great energy. That he has had an unruly team to deal with is certainly not his fault. He has done his best with them, and his efforts to keep their antics within hounds should only bo an additional claim to tho gratitude of tho ratepayers. We have frequently differed from Mr, Ick during his tenure of office, but we cannot help saying that, in the absence of any candidate such as many of the have been endeavoring |, to induce to come forward, Mr. Ick’s :

business capacity, his knowledge e£ the ins and outs of municipal affairs, and his energy, give him a great claim on his fellow citieens. With reference to Mr.; Gapes, we can hardly think that in any case he will ho the chosen man. His last tenure of the Mayoralty was not a success. It was generally acknowledged to bo a failure, and we can hardly think that the residents of Christchurch would care to see him again filling the Mayoral chair. Mr Ayers undoubtedly possesses many amiable qualities, hut wo fail to see that at the present juncture, should he be elected, he would he the right man in the right place. He has been hut one year in office, and his knowledge of municipal matters is, compared with that possessed by Mr Ick, very small. It has been urged that a turn should he given to Councillors all round, that Mr Ayers has worked hard for his follow citizens, and that therefore ho should he elected. We quite fail to see the matter in the same light. There is a spice of sentimentality about that view which is likely to mislead. It is not a matter of giving councillors a turn of the sweets of Mayoral life. It is a matter as to who is, in his own proper person, the man who will best servo the citizens at this particular juncture. Mr Ayers’ intentions are no doubt of the best, and, if elected, he would, in all certainty, do his best. But is ho the man best suited, under the present circumstances, for the post? Wo say unhesitatingly—No. What we want now—for the reason we have stated above —is a gentleman well versed in municipal lore. The 'Council is a new team, and is composed of very capable men. But instinct alone cannot 'guide them, and it would bo, above everything, desirable that their chief should bo a man who knows his business thoroughly. This Mr. Ick does. We consequently sincerely trust that the choice of ratepayers may, in November, place the present Mayor once more in office.