The Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1903. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

| Under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, municipal elections aTe held biennially. As the first general election of Councillors was held in 1901, it follows that the second must take place this year. The Act provides for holding theelections on the last Wednesday in April and therefore on the twenty-ninth of nexb month the ratepayers of Greater Christchurch will be called upon to elect their first Council. A great deal has to be done before tho machinery for electing such a Council can be put in mbticru Tor onething the amalgamation scheme has to be approved by the Governor-in-Council, and before this can be. done it will be necessary to ttrrange a number of minor details. But we take it that we are justified in assuming that nothing will be allowed to stand in the way of the fulfilment of the citizens'. wishes, and on this assumption we think .j that citizens cf the amalgamated area- will bo considering their interests if they lose no time in selecting suitable candidates for the Councillors' seats. This task ought not to present any serious difficulties. There are in Greater Christchurch plenty of gentlemen admirably fitted to discharge the duties of Councillors. Some of them have already made their mark in municipal politics, whilo others who have no record of public service have shown in various otfaer i ways that they possess qualifications 'for the- position. With such- an abundance of good material the problem facing; the ratepayers Has- not so much in I pbcing their hands on the right men a-s in I persua ing the right men to stand. Without any trouble we coul-i name at least a dozen prominent persons who would make iie?" Councillors. But we are by no means certain that more than a small proportion cf our nominees cculd De prevailed upon 1 1 Mfin.l. We m:iy bo wrong, of course. It L.ay tl!rn °ut that the increased dignity atrnching to the position of a Councillor of. Greater Christcaurch will prove a superior 1 attraction to the- prospects offered in the p;ist in ilirid-scl civic areas, and that the difficulty of obtaining plenty of suitable candidates will be small. At the same time ',va Fhoull not recommend the. ratepayers to . via or* ton much faith ia such a possibility. K they are well advised 1 they will be up and looking for candidates without further delaj-.