The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 130, 2 June 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1879.

In commenting npon the late Mayoral election the New Zealander makes certain pertinent remarks which we commend to the attention of the people of Nelson. Our contemporary says :— " Concerning this election, two unsatisfactory facts assert themselves. There was at the outset a difficulty in getting a choice of eligible candidates, and at the poll a much larger number of electors than usual refrained from voting. Both facts apparently suggestive of a growiug indifference to the progress of public affairs which bodes ill for the welfare of the city. The friends of the defeated candidate profess, now that the contest is over, that it was with very great reluctance he came forward at all, and that personally he has nothing to regret, but is rather to be congratulated, at being believed from the responsibility of onerous and thankless duties. So much the worse for the city, if a responsible office has so fallen into disrepute that the trouble outweighs the honor. Accepting the assurance of Mr Hunter's friends as plain unvarnished trntb, there remains no alternative but to accept another and self - evident fact, namely, that only one man in all the city had any ambition to be elected its Chief Magistrate. What does this presage ? Why have civic honors fallen so low in public esteem, and especially at a time when it is proposed to materially add to the fiscal burthens of the city ? If responsible men show an apathetic indifference to holding the office of Mayor when material interests are at stake, can it be expected that the aspirants for the subordinate offices of Councillors will, as vacancies occur, continue to be of the social calibre and repute which well-wishers for the honor and progress of the City must desire ? If the elections are to degenerate, as there now seems a danger of their doing, the fears professed by many that the City will be overwhelmed m debt to no good purpose is

likely to be realised. There is an evident need (hat more men of good ability and repute should step into the breach whenever public duty calls them, and show that they hold in high esteem the dignities of office which their fellow-citizens have the privilege of conferring. It is easily understood that ratepayers object to trouble themselves about voting when the choice is limited to candidates in whose election or defeat they do not care to take any interest, but between the factitious excitement characterising the late election and the earnest intelligent interest which might have been evinced had more favoring influences been exercised, there is a very wide difference, and it is to he devoutly desired that the sparseness in choice of candidates, and the indifference shown in so many instances as to the result-of the election now jnst over, is but an exceptional incident, and not indicative of any growing feeling of indifference to the good governance of the City.." It is nttt in Wellington alone that this apathy concerning Municipal elections is manifested. It is painfully prevalent here, as may be seen on almost every occasion when the ratepayers are called upon to vote. Now and then there is a little personal feeling imparted into the contest which gives a slight animation to it ; but, beyond that, one of the days on which the smallest amount of interest is displayed in the affairs of the Borough is that on which an election takes place. And if there is indifference over the election of a Councillor, there is a far greater amount when it is a Mayor who is to be elected. The office, in fact, generally goes begging, and the greatest difficulty is experienced in persuading any one in whom the ratepayers can repose confidence to allow himself to be nominated. In fact, the importance of the interests committed to the care of the Mayor and Council does not appear to be realised, the disposition being rather to say, "Oh, it doesn't matter who gets in." If this really is the feeling of the ratepayers, they need never be surprised if there is a scarcity of candidates. Neither Mayor nor Councillors are paid. In order, then, to make the position of either an object of ambition to such men as the citizens would care to see occupying it, they must invest it with some degree of honor and importance, and not be prepared to throw it at the feet of the first candidate who offers himself, as is too often the case at present. There should be a feeliug of obligation on both sides, on that of the ratepayers to the man who devotes his time and thought to their service ; on the part of the Mayor or Councillor to those who have placed him in au honorable as well as a responsible position.