SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1901. AFTER THE ELECTIONS. The New Franchise Justified.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 43, 27 April 1901, Page 8

SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1901. AFTER THE ELECTIONS. The New Franchise Justified.

IN the .light of the recent election contests for mayoral positions, ami City and Borough Council beats, the timid and distrustful people who \iewed with serious apprehension th > extension of the municipal franchise must surely he reassured. They expected something in the nature of a social revolution, but there have been no political earthquakes, and the foundations of society are still stable and intact. But the widening of the franchise, and the admission ot householders to a say in the choice of civic and borough representatives has _ enkindled an inteiest in these elections which they never b"tore possessed. During the past month Wellington has presented all the aspects of a general election campaign. Municipal politics have agitated all minds, candidates have been on the stump all over the city both night and day, the newspapers h&\ c been filled with electioneering advertisements, and everybody has been canvassing the chances of the candidates and criticising their various platforms. It is a healthy sign, and all the more gratifying because there is no gilded bait attaching to these eagerly contested civic and borough positions. * * * The results shew that the recently enfranchised householders are not embarking on a voyage of discovery and exploration. As the city is borrowing a sum of £330,000 the majority of the "burgesses— taking them in the aggregate, both ratepayers and householders — ha\e set their faces against the experiment of swapping horses in midstream. Mayor Aitken has been re-elected by than a two to one majority, thus demonstrating how completely he possesses the confidence ot his fel-low-citizens, and for the twehe Council seats eight out of the ten retiring Councillors who stood for a further term have been chosen. « * * Among the other four successful candidates, Mr. Devinehas already rendered good seivice in the Council, and Mr. D. J. Nathan's position at the top of the poll shews not only the high esteem in which he is held, but also the determination of the burgesses to bestow their suffrages upon leading citizens who shew their faith in the city by ad--\ocatmg a progress c policy. Mr. Godber is a very old and well-known citi/en who brings to his duties a mind well informed b) lecent travel, and Labour will ha\e an outspoken advocate at the Council m the peison of Mr. D. McLaren. * * * Even the bitterest opponent ot Mr. "Wilford must admit now, after the ficht is over, that he takes a beating like a Briton. He made a strenuous fi^ht, and exhibits no resentment at the result. That is the spirit which wins its object in the long run, and Mr, Wilford will bo heard from again to some purpose. In the meantime, the city has a id.ijol in Mr. Aitken v\ho is fully ah\e to the responsibilities of his office, and everyone will applaud hi-, patriotic declaration — " The work 1 have set my heart upon i-, to try and make Wellington the premier city of the colony municipally. 1 ' So mote it be '

In the outside borough-, the Lower Hutt has becured a popular and progrebhnc mayor in Mr. Orton !Ste\enb,

and Mr. Bunny has accepted his defeat in the best possible spirit. Petone has rewarded faithful service rendered in many capacities by making Mr. R. Mothes its mayor, and as it was Mr. R. C. Kirk's personal wish to retire after a long term he will not regret the change. Mr. Frost has been reelected Mayor of Melrose, Mr. Valentine was returned unopposed for Onslow, and Mr. F. J. McDonald has beaten Mr. J. W. Henderson by the narrow margin of two for the mayoralty of Karori, shewing that they stand ju&t about equal in the regard of the burgesses.