MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 89, 19 August 1913, Page 5

MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

AMENDMENT “TURNED DOWN.” 1 [Peh Buess (Association.] Wellington, August ID. A discussion took place at the meeting of the executive of the .Municipal Association to-day on a clause in the .Municipal Corporations Amendment Dili, providing that the mayor of a borough should be elected by the Council. The motion was moved by Mr Thomson (Johnsonviile) that the method of election be as provided in the Bill. The Mayor of Wellington, in seconding the motion, explained that it could only go for what it was worth, as the Municipal Conference had thrown out the proposal. lie was (irmly of opinion that the clause should bo pass'ed. Ho was a democrat, and believed in election by the people, but the position in Wellington was that practically every time a councillor went to the people as a candidate for the Mayoralty with an outsider as an opponent, the councillor was “turned down.” The motion was lost. Mr Fletcher, Chairman of the Wellington Harbor Board, then moved, that •the election of Mayor be by Municipal franchise as at present, hut that the candidates should bo restricted to post Mayors or councillors. Under the present system, he stated that it was often a man of wealth who was elected, perhaps with ability, perhaps without, whereas the man who had served the Council faithfully and well was nol elected. Mr Lock (Nelson) strongly opposed the motion on the ground that it was desirable to got only tho best man, irrespective of whether he was a councillor or not. After discussion, tho motion was lost by seven votes to two. A rcsolut ion was carried by eight votes to one that it be a recommendation to the Government that the Mayor should be elected for two years. A proposal from St. Hilda that fhe Mayor should serve for twelve months on the Council after expiry of his term as Mayor was negatived.