Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 1902. The New Mayor.

Manawatu Herald, 13 February 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 1902. The New Mayor.

Soon the burgesses will be called upon to elect some one as Mayor of this town for the coming twelve months. It must bo apparent to all that no matter however estimable a citizen may bo in private life, it does not necessarily insure his being a successful Mayor. We want, which goes without saying, our Mayor to be a respectable person, but we want him endowed with some push and some originating powers, as to him is entrusted the honourable and onerous duties of suggesting beneficial schemes for the progress of the town, and the ability to place the proposals clearly before the Council and the public, and he must also have the energy to push his proposals to success.

That we are disappointed in the present Mayor has been apparent, and it is only from his remissness to the duties we hold belongs to his office that this is so. As a private citizen he is one we cannot speak too highly of, as he is not only an old resident but one who by his uprightness has won the goodwill of all. The great mistake that the Mayor has made, and which he makes no hesitation in admitting as being his principle, is that of mistaking that the Council should lead him and not that it is his duty to lead the Council. The Mayor forgets that he has been chosen as Chairman of the Council and head of the Borough, so that like a shepherd he may lead his sheep to pleasant pastures and new fields. It is not in order that the sheep should drive the shepherd—yet that is what the Mayor wants. “I am ready to do what, the Council directs me ” are his words, “ but I . will suggest nothing." Under these conditions he becomes as one of the least of Councillors, as all the others have the power of originating schemes. We might inquire in what manner does the Mayor believe he exceeds other Councillors to sanction accepting the salary voted for the Mayor. In the times when the town possessed an energetic Mayor it was possible to see in what manner the salary was earned, but during the past year whilst Mayor and Councillors have been lying on their oars drifting past the rapids of finance, it is difficult to understand the position.

We know that there have been dangers incurred of getting too big an overdraft from time to time, and the bogey has interested Councillors sufficient for them to use the same as an excuse for the past stagnation, but the fault was all owing to proper want of consideration. The money by overdraft, some £250, was by Act possible to wipe off by making the' same a loan, and whan that was wiped off no further overdraft could be built up. The Mayor and Council instead of raising this loan took, what with all diference to them we think, a mistaken step, and decided to pay off the bank out of current revenue. The result has been witnessed of a long twelvemonths without a contract let for new metalling. What money has been spent has been in and settlors at the ex-

tremities of the borough have had their claims neglected. What has been done cannot be helped, but from the past we may learn something t?o make the future brighter, and by carefully considering which of our residents come nearest to having the qualities for making a good Mayor, the groundwork will be laid for success. Towns must progress or go backwards, there is no standing still, and thus the decision in this matter lies so in the hands of the gentlemen elected to the honourable position of Mayor that more thought and interest should be taken in the election of this official.