Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, .1917. THE MAYORALTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1689, 22 March 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 22, .1917. THE MAYORALTY.

AS will hi* seen’ elsewhere in this

issue, :i deputation wailed upon Mr AIE Eraser, the present Mayor, with ;i request dial ho would continue in ollico tor a further term. The deputation was hacked by a petition containing over a hundred signatures with a similar request. The speakers referred to I lie excellent work done hy the Mayor in patriotic affairs, and to his close attention to gas works administration the wish being' voiced that he would continue in office for the purpose of establishing the gas works on a paying basis. We are in cordial agreement with all that was said by the deputation, and we believe (hat such appreciation will go a long way towards causing the Mayor to consent to offer his services for a further term. The majority of Mayors throughout the Dominion have consented to continue in office, and their decision is in accord with public opinion during this critical time. The difference locally is that the Mayor definitely stated that it was not his intention to continue in office. ft is an unwise policy to force any man into it public position against ins will, for obvious reasons, no matter what his qualifications. We do not infer that our estimable Mayor is likely to consider himself “the only pebble on the beach” —his reply to the deputation puts such an implication out of bounds —but it points to the fact that a number of Eoxton citizens, eminently qualified for the office, are shamefully lacking in the true qualities of citizenship. While we would welcome the Mayor in office for a further term, his refusal would probably arouse others to take up their share of public responsibility. Js it any wonder that Eoxton is drifting when public men have to be forced into unwilling service ? While such apathy exists Foxton will bear the reproach of municipal lifelessness.