THE MAYORALTY.

CITIZENS* ASSOCIATION

NOMINEE.

MR FLESHER SELECTED AS

CANDIDATE,

All doubts as to the Citizens' Association's choice of Mayoral candidate were settled last evening when, at the conclusion of a largely attended meeting of members, it was announced that Mr J. A. Flesher, the present Mayor, had been selected, in preference to Mr J. W. Beanland. as the party's official nominee.

According to a statement made by the chairman subsequently, the rumours which had been current regarding threatened disaffection within the Association's ranks and the possibility of the formation of a new party, were cntirelv discredited.

".It was a very large meeting, one of the largest the Association has ever held," said' the chairman, Mr A. F. Drayton, to a representative of "The Press," "and it was notable for the very fine feeling displayed throughout. The Association has proved that it is unanimous in the opinion that there is only one thing to be considered in connexion with the forthcoming municipal elections, and that is the welfare of the city. Any feeling tfiafc there was a possibility of a new party being formed from the ranks of the members, has been squashed.' The two men whose names were coupled with that rumour denied the truth of it emphatically.

"After a considerable amount of discussion it was decided to nominate the present Mayor as the Citizens' representative for the Mayoralty. The question of the nomination of candidates for seats on the City Council has been discussed very fully, but as we have not yet got the definite consent of some of the men we are anxious to nominate, wo have to hold hack Ihe names in the meantime. The question of the number of candidates to be nominated by the Association has not been decided." Mr Drayton added, in reply to a question, that the domination Committee of the Association would probably reach a decision regarding the selection of candidates for "the Council, the Hospital Board and the Harbour Board at a meeting to be held next Friday, hut it was unlikely that the names would bo announced till after the meotiug of the General Committee, on Fridav week. From what was said by various other members after the meeting, it was gathered that the. vote, which was taken on a show of hands, was almost unanimous, in favour of the nomination of Mr Fleshcr. *

Mr Flesher said, in reply to the reporter's question, that he had nothing to say regarding tho result of the meeting, beyond the natural remark that he was much gratified at the decision the Association had arrived at. He took it as a high compliment, indicating satisfaction with his work in tho past. Mr J. W. Beaniand was not present at the meeting.