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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 281, 30 April 1914, Page 4

THE MAYORALTY. We must confess that the result of the New Plymouth Mayoral election came as a surprise to us, and that we would hsve preferred to see the Bitting Mayor re-appointed for the present year in order to enable him to get well under way the important schemes to which the borough is committed. By a majority of ninety-one in a comparatively small poll of 1801 out of about 4600 voters, however, the town has declared for a change, and its decision, we sincerely hope, will not prove unwise or disadvantageous. To Mr. Wilson we extend our hearty congratulations. He has done useful work as a councillor and in other directions, and we hope in his new and enlarged sphere ho will prove equally successful. This is certain, he will be able to always rely upon the cordial support of councillors and townspeople. There is important work ahead, calling for the exercise of great care and acumen, and entailing much hard work on the part of the Chief Magistrate. It is greatly to be regretted that Mr. Wilson is just now laid aside with a serious illness and will be prevented in the ordinary course of things from assuming the reins of office for severr.l weeks. In this connection a rather unusual position arises. The Act provides that the Mayor before entering upon his office has to make and sign the pi escribed declaration in the presence of the Council, and this declaration must be duly attested. It is also provided that the Mayor shall come into office on tt.e first Wednesday iu May following his election, and shall continue in office until his successor comes into office. Unless Mr. Wilson is able to make the declaration on Wednesday, Mr. Browne must continue in office until the Mayor-elect is restored t j health. As for the retiring Mayor, it will be conceded, even by those who voted against him yesterday, that he has rendered valuable service during his occupancy of the office, for which the town owes him a deep debt of gratitude. A more hard-working, enthusiastic or ,lisintcrcsted Mayor this or any other town could not possess, and, our only regret is that he has not been permitted an other year of office to carry on the big works with which his name must ever be inseparably connected. From the point of view of his own personal in torests, no doubt the severance will come as both a relief and an advnn- | tage, for during his term he must have made great personal sacrifices, probably greater than he was justified in doing, but made, wc feel sure, cheerfully in

the .knowledge that he was assisting the town, whose interests lie lias ahown to have so close at heart.