The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1938 THE MAYORALTY

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20492, 7 May 1938, Page 6

The Waikato Times. SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1938 THE MAYORALTY

Next week the residents of Hamilton will be called upon to elect a Mayor for the ensuing term. The retiring occupant of that office has served the town faithfully and well, and has maintained at all times the dignity of the Mayoralty. The post is the most important, from a purely local point of view, that the residents are called upon to fill. It is a civic honour which they can confer on one of their fellow citizens, and the choice is not one to be undertaken lightly. On this occasion there are two candidates for the office, Mr H. D. Caro and Mr C. Croall. The former has been connected with the administration of civic affairs for some years and has held the office of deputy-mayor. Mr C'roall has not been actively engaged in local government, but is the nominee of the Labour Party, and during the past week or two he has explained the views of that organisation on local matters. Many people are inclined to resent the intrusion of parly politics into the civic arena, but the supporters of the Labour Party hold that local bodies can do much to implement the policy of the major organisation, and their president recently urged them to make every effort to capture control of local bodies as it would be of value in view of the political campaign that must be waged later in the year.

There is, fortunately, no fixed procedure with respect to the Mayoralty of this or any other centre. On occasion some borough elects a citizen who has had no previous experience of local body work, and usually because the people wish to honour one who has been a good citizen and has done valuable work for the community. On such occasions it is felt that the town is honouring one to whom honour is due, and for that reason the highest office in the gift of the citizens is conferred. It is a pleasing thing to see service rewarded in this wo}-, and those honoured have usually proved themselves to be conscientious in the discharge of their public duties. But, with this exception, the citizens as a rule have turned to men deemed capable, because of their experience and judgment, of filling the mayoral chair with credit to themselves and to the borough. Without endeavouring to lay down any fixed rule, most people recognise that those who have devoted years of service to municipal affairs, and have proved themselves diligent in the discharge of these sometimes onerous duties, should have the satisfaction of occupying the mayoral chair, and for a term hold office as the first citizen of their own town.

On these grounds Mr Caro has a strong claim to the support of the electors. For several years he has devoted much time and attention to civic affairs, and during the depression the demands made on those holding any local office were very heavy. He has been chairman of the finance and transport committees for a considerable time, and probably not many residents realise what calls these duties make. Throughout Mr Caro has shown a strong desire to assist all movements designed to further the interests of Hamilton. It may be said that those who do this work find their satisfaction in it, but even if that were so, years of service are deserving of recognition, and of public preferment. The choice offered the electors on Wednesday is between one who has served a lengthy apprenticeship in local administration and one who makes no claim to any experience in these things but holds certain political views and is a member of an organisation which believes firmly that control of local bodies could be made to serve the larger political issues. Viewed calmly and dispassionately it will be admitted that one who has served conscientiously is deserving of promotion. It would be a fitting recognition of work well done. There would also be an assurance that the direction of the Borough Council activities would be in experienced hands, and that is an aspect not to be lightly put aside. Matters concerning politics will come up for settlement later in the year. The duty in the coming week will be to elect a Mayor and council to administer the affairs of this centre, and in selecting one to occupy the mayoral chair the service which Mr Caro has given should weigh with the electors. There is no other means by which the residents of a borough can recognise good public work.