The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1912. THE MAYORALTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 253, 25 April 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1912. THE MAYORALTY.

The electors, in a close and interesting contest, have returned the retiring Mayor, Mr. G. W. Browne, for a further term of office. The decision will cause no regret in the town, for while we, along with a very substantial minority in the town, were in favor of a cnaage in the head of the civic administration, there is no question that Mr. Browne since he took temporary office on the death of Mr. Tisch, has been a most painstaking and capable Mayor. In him the town has a Mayor who is at least immensely enthusiastic and almost laboriously conscientious in his attention to detail. Of course, his election—for it is not e re-election, as the ratepayers had no say in his original appointment to office—was due a good deal to sentiment, for It is always hard for a newcomer to "out" the man that is "in." and not a few of the electors went to the poll somewhat indifferently, it must be admitted, armed with little more than the idea that as Mr. Browne had served the town well during his intermediate service as Mayor, it was "a fair thing" to recognise those services by giving them the official stamp of approbation. In this light of the official figures we have no complaint to make against the verdict, for the voting was so close that the Mayor will probably realise now that a considerable proportion of th« citizens are desirous that he should add a little more tact and discretion to his undoubted enthusiasm in civic matters. Mr. Browno has always shown himself to be a. willing and approachable person where lie has been municipally concerned, and we have no doubt that he will now realise that whilst he represents fairly a majority of the ratepayers; he still owes a duty to the very substantial minority who east their votes against him. That minority, we are sure, will lend him every assistance in the important work that lies before him during the coining year, and his defeated opponent, Mr. J. S. S. Medley, i»

among the earliest to offer him both congratulations on his election and the benefit of his long experience as an earnest and faithful citizen of New Plymouth. The election has been contested in a clean and healthy spirit, and it is more than gratifying that the town was only asked to choose as between two good citizens. In the natural order of things only one could win, and in a good sporting fight Mr. Browne has prevailed. The congratulations upon his victory must, however, be shared by Mr. Medley, and the evening slumbers of the town will not be disturbed as the result of an election that could only be satisfactory, which ever way it went.