THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1907. THE MAYORAL CONTEST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8409, 25 April 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1907. THE MAYORAL CONTEST.

We have to congratulate Mr J. M. Coradine upon the success with which he contested the election, held yesterday, for the Masterton Mayoralty. Mr Coradine's task was not a very easy one, and the peculiar circumstances with which he had to contend rendered it all the more difficult to accomplish. Between himself and Mr McEwen the utmost good feeling, we believe, existed,' and the broad-minded manner in which each candidate conducted his electioneering was distinctly creditable. In a sense, it may be said that Mr Coradine was not fighting Mr McEwen, but the Borough Councillors who supported him. Mr Cora dine had "a bone to pick" with the late Council's administration and, he, also, objected to the principle that the Borough Council should elect their own Mayor. Of course, the Borough Council cannot actually do ary thing of the kind, but there are "svheels within wheels," and if it became the custom for the retiring Borough Council to nominate one of their number, and then to succeed in securing that member's return as Mayor, something equivalent to the Borough Council electing their own Mayor would be arrived at. At any rate, this was the view taken by the successful candidate of yesterday. Mr Coradine had, practically, all the members of the late Borough Coum-i 1 in opposition to him, and, realising this, he made a "point" of emphasising the soundness of the

democratic principle that the Mayor | should be elected by the burgesses j and not by the Borough Council. | Although Mr Coradine's majority was small, his victory was meritorious in view of the influential opposition with which he had to contend. We feel sure that no one wishes to ignore the valuable services which Mr McEvven has rendered to the town for a number of years past, but, as we hnve already'pointed out, the contest could not be regarded as a straight-out "go" between Messrs Coradine and McEwen. But it is i over now -the gods, or the people, which are identical, have decided, and we are pleased to note that, ' when thanking the burgesses for re- | turning him, Mr Coradine announced his intention of "working in" with any Borough Council. Smooth working at the Council table is essential to the business of the town being properly transacted, and there is certainly no reason to anticipate other than that the new Mayor and Councillors will work harmoniously together. Mr Coradine has promised strong finance, and has given other pledges to the burgesses, and they will, no doubt, look forward to his redeeming those promises during the coming municipal year. For our own part, we have every confidence in both the ability and earnestness of Masterton's Mayorj elect.

THE NEW COUNCILLORS. Writing recently in regard to the candidates for seats at the Borough Council table, we remarked: "Of the 'new' candidates those who appear to be regarded with the most favour are Messrs J. Yarr, W. Pragnell, A. Haughey, and J. Prentice. It is tolerably certain that they will all poll fairly well and they, with the retiring Councillors, (Messrs Pauling, Elliutt, Ewington, Temple, and Morris) will possibly comprise the new body of Borough Councillors." Yesterday's pod proved the correctness of our anticipation, andthe new Council may certainly be regarded as a strong and representative body. Voting yesterday also decided that the area under the control of the Masterfcon Borough Council should be declared "a fire district." Altogether the various results of the polls held yesterday must be regarded as being quite satisfactory.