THE MAYORALTY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4288, 17 December 1874, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

Sm, —To-day is big with fate for Wellington. To- ' day the citizens are required to exercise the privilege of electing their chief magistrate. I trust that, before doing so, they will calmly consider the importance 1 of the matter in hand; and, after due deliberation, record their vote for the man they think best qualified to advance the interests of the Empire City. I confess, at the outset, that my predilections are in favor of Mr. Dransfield, and I wiil tell you why. 1. Because he has been a devoted servant of the public for the last nine years, has taken his share of the work in all matters that have been proposed for the advancement and improvement of the city of Wellington, and is therefore fully conversant with all the business transactions that have been entered into by the Council. 2. This is the first opportunity the citizens have had of electing the Mayor, and I think it very desirable that Mr. DransflehTs long and valuable services should be recognised. It is well-known that he has been accused of malversation of oflice; that members were especially sent into the Council to investigate the accusations made against him ; and that after the most searching inquiry, the rumours that were circulated were found to be perfectly groundless. So convinced of the fact were Messrs. Burrett and McKirdy, who at one time were his bitterest opponents, that they are now his warmest supporters. Mr. Moorhouse is a comparatively new man to Wellington. He has candidly acknowledged his entire ignorance of civic affairs; that since he has been here, he has not touched politics with a long stick ; and has only attended one public meeting, in which he took no part. The chief qualification, as I take it, that he urges is, that he was four times elected Superintendent of the province of Canterbury. But then he tells us " that there is such a thing as being played out." On the fifth attempt he made to be elected Superintendent he was rejected; are we therefore to suppose, using his own words, that he was "played out." I do not like the patronising air he assumes towards the citizens of Wellington in offering himself as a candidate for the Mayoralty. It would appear as if he were conferring a great favor; in fact, that he was the great Mogul, and had a right and power to command the situation. I, for one, do not subscribe to any such assumed position. He may have been a very good Superintendent of Canterbury; yet I fail to see that that should be an infallible recommendation to become Mayor of Wellington. In London it is necessary to become an Alderman before you are qualified to stand as Mayor for the city. I think the precaution a good one ; and that we cannot do better than follow the example there set. The election for Mayor being annual, Mr. Moorhouse should first become a Councillor; and, after having made himself acquainted with the affairs of tho city, could then, with confidence, ask for the position of Mayor. As it is, it would be the height of folly to place' him in the position of Mayor; as he himself says he i» totally unacquainted with the business 1 of the city, and it is impossible that he can become acquainted with it for a considerable time. In the meantime, the business suffers; the important negotiations that are now going on for securing the land to be reclaimed from the sea for the benefit of the city will be impeded, and other important matters affecting the interests of the ratepayers will be ignored, from sheer want of knowledge of how to deal with them. The remedy for all these evils is to elect Mr. Dransfield as Mayor; and I feel confident that such will he the opinion of tho majority of the ratepayers when they return him at the head of the poll to-day.—l am, &c, Batepayek, December 10.