THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1881. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2391, 1 December 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1881. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Speaking broadly general politics enter but little into municipal matters in New Zealand. Mayors are not elected because they may happen to be orange or blue. Their general status and their views on purely municipal matters are what influence electors in their choice. In England, as is well known, the case is very different. It is considered a matter of vital moment to which of the two great parties the chief officers of the borough-

or city may happen to belong. 18 is the case in the various gra a ions of municipal magnates. The ommon Councillors, the Aldermen, and the Mayor himself all feel more or less directly that their political opinions count for a good deal. A resident in New Zealand on a trip to the old country will probably be somewhat surprised and slightly amused at what he sees. He may say to a burgess, “ Why all this political excitement in the election of common Councillors? When elected what will they have to do with politics ? They will have to look after the streets, to attend to the sanitary matters of the town and such like affairs. Why import general politics into the elections P” But the burgess will point to the influence which the Councillors possess during an election for Parliament in justification of what is occurring. He will show that the Councillors of the various wards are looked upon as being in reality more or less of City Fathers, and that in the case of a general election the influence which they possess will form a very considerable factor when counting the chances of the Conservative or Liberal parties. In New Zealand, although the state of the case is so different from what it is in England, yet there probably are exceptions to the rule that general politics enter but little into municipal elections. In two cases which have just occurred the previous political conduct of candidates for the mayoralties have no doubt had a good deal to do with the manner in which their candidatures have been received by the citizens. We allude to the cases of Lyttelton and Wellington. In Wellington, Mr. George Fisher has, as will ha seen in to-day’s telegrams, been elected. Mr. Fisher is a “ Hansard ” reporter, and the singular spectacle will be seen in the Empire City of his Worship the Mayor jotting down the sayings of the members of the House of Representatives. Deputations to his Worship may file up into the reporters’ gallery to interview the city magnate. Aggrieved cabmen may attempt to urge with their nsually suave language their claims until stopped by the officials of the House. All this may occur unless Mr. Fisher thinks it incompatible with the dignity of the Mayoralty to retain his present position. The two unsuccessful candidates were Messrs. Young and Hutchison. Mr. Young is an old Councillor, who has served the city for some years past. Mr. Hutchison is the well-known politician, who runs under the ultra-red flag. That Mr. Hutchison Las ordinarily the knack of making himself agreeable to the citizens is evident by the fact that he has already occupied the position of Mayor five times. But on the present occasion the citizens have placed him altogether at the bottom of the poll. Now, it may fairly he presumed that Mr. Hutchison’s sayings and doings in the House have had a good deal to do with the scant measure of courtesy meeted out to him ia the election for the Mayoralty. In point of fact the citizens Lave become disgusted with a once popular windbag-politician. Mr Hutchison has all along been one of those orators who have endeavored to impress the public in general with the fact that he and he alone was devoted to their interests. In season and oat of season he was always endeavoring to show that he—together with Sir George Grey and a few other choice souls—is at any time quit© prepared to lay down his life for the people when an occasion presented itself. His promises have been much like those of his great model—namely, remarkably barren ones. The general public have begun to realise this, and have apparently lost all faith in their “ hereditary mayor.” Mr. Hutchison, as chronicled in “Hansard” does not belong to a desirable class of politicians. His political career has evidently not endeared him to the citizens of Wellington.

Turning to Lyttelton wo find that Mr. Harry AUwright has again been elected Mavor. Now, Mr. Allwright’a political career has been well before the public, and probably respecting no public man in Canterbury have so many diverse opinions been pronounced. Many hard things have been said about him, but we have always held that he has throughout played the part of a thoroughly conscientious and straightforward man, who has determined to carry out his convictions at any sacrifice. It is hardly possible to dissociate Mr. AUwright from his immediate political past, and it may be safely assumed that the citizens of Lyttelton have been considerably swayed by the lights in which his proceedings have been viewed. Mr. Allwright’s election must therefore be looked upon as endorsing to a large extent his own opinion as to the direction In which his duty lay when first he went up to Wellington, No body of burgesses would think of choosing a man as their chief magistrate who they might consider to have acted with duplicity on an important occasion. The election of Mr. AUwright shows that the citizens of Lyttelton have appreciated his conduct. We have pointed to what wo consider exceptions from the rule that obtains in New Zealand, that general politics do not enter into municipal elections. The soundness of this rule is at once apparent. It would certainly prove highly inconvenient if ever the contrary were to be found prevailing. Extreme cases may occur in which citizens may justifiably mark their approval or disapproval of the political conduct of a Mayoral candidate. But, speaking generally, the Mayor has to look after purely municipal matters, and the description of man that is wanted for the post is a gentleman of integrity and standing, who will further the interests of the citizens with zeal and will maintain his office with dignity. Such a candidate, to whatever party ho may belong, will always prove acceptable.