WHO SHALL BE MAYOR? Mr. Aitken Declines the Fifth Term.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 195, 26 March 1904, Page 6

WHO SHALL BE MAYOR? Mr. Aitken Declines the Fifth Term.

DESPITE the heartrending entreaties of the "Post," and the tearful assertion of Willie Tustm that if he dared he would say Mr Aitken "must" be Mayor of Wellington for still another term, that gentleman has wisely decided to adhere to a resolution, upset a year ago, not to take office again. Mr Aitken evidently does not accept the assurance of the press panegyrist that he is the only pebble on the brach, and is willing to give someone else a chance. * ♦ • Last week the "Post" called on Mr. Aitken to cast aside everything — Parliament ("he has a strong colleague"), business (he has a sympar thetic partner), and save the Empire City Now, however, that Mr. Aitken has definitely declined to stand for the fifth term, our versatile contemporary, with a told-you-so air, says it isn't much surprised at the result. The pressure of Parliamentary duties, which Mr Duthie could take over according to the first tearsplashed article, is now "quite severe enough for a man who has a large business of his own," etc., etc. Just so ' Wonder is that fact wasn't perceived before Mr. Aitken is admittedly conscientious and just He has got to be as just to his business partner as to Parliament, and to the city as to the House But, there is even a much larger consideration involved, as we pointed out last week It is that these honours should go round, and that it is highly undesirable that any one man should have a kind of mortgage upon the mayoralty. We should say that the man who has served the citizens well and faithfully for many years as a City Councillor, without fee or reward, has established a claim upon the burgesses for his promotion to the mayoralty * * * Yet that sort of service seems to win very little recognition in Wellington The ornamental kind of mayor is the one that is first sought after Hence it is that aU sorts of people who have not bothered thenbeads about municipal affairs are run after and pressed to be kind enough to take the mayoralty with its salary of £400. Are the men who have sacrificed their time year after year to look after the business of the ratepayers never to get a chance ? If so, the inducement for citizens to devote themselves to civic affairs is cold and meagre indeed * ♦ # It is premature vet to offer any opinion about the possible or probable candidates We hope a real

live and progressive mayor will be secured. But, do not let us despise useful qualities and plain commonsense m the eager quest for an ornamental figure-head. Let the burgesses- show a willingness to reward desert and long and faithful service. Other things being equal, an apprenticeship as city councillor ought to count for a very great deal.