THE MAYORALTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 46, 16 August 1911, Page 4

THE MAYORALTY.

The publication of the names of several gentlemen who have been mentioned in connection with the Mayoralty has caused some argument as to whether or not the law provides for the filling of the vacancy by the Council itself from its own members l . This course, whilst customary and perfectly in conformity with the law, is not at all obligatory upon the councillors; at least, so we read Section 20 of the Municipal Corporations Act, which says: "(1) The Mayor may resign his office by writing under his hand delivered to the Town Clerk, and in such case, or in case of his death, incapacity or ouster from office of the Mayor, his office shall become vacant, and the Council shall forthwith proceed to elect another Mayor in his stead, who shall hold office until the Mayor elected at the next annual election comes into office. (2) The Town Clerk shall forthwith, upon such vacancy occurring, call a special meeting of the Council for making such election thereto." It was doubtless the intention of the Legislature that the Council should elect as Mayor for the remainder of the term a member of the Council, but there is nothing in the clause quoted to show that the Council shall not go outside its own ranks. It is, however, clear that the choice of the new Mayor lies with the Council and not with the electors, who, in the event of the position being filled, say, by the election of the Deputy-Mayor to the office, will be called upon to elect a councillor in his stead. This councillor would eke out the remainder of the term of the Mayoralty, and he might thus have a seat at the Council table for a longer term than the Mayor-elect. The ambiguity in the Act is hardly likely to cause trouble here. The Deputy-Mayor, Councillor G. W, Browne, is the senior councillor, and a man who Ims during the whole term of his municipal life evinced an exceptionally keen and active interest in borough affairs. A man of considerable initiative, and one whose capacity for work has been proved by the manner in which ho has successfully grappled with the intricacies of the municipal electric light and power undertaking, there seems no reason why the Council should go further in choosing their chairman for the remainder of the Mayoral year. It is an honor to which Mr. Browne is entitled by long years of faithful service.