THE INCOMING MAYOR.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13108, 6 May 1908, Page 8

THE INCOMING MAYOR.

To-day the Mayoral installation takes place, and Mr Charles Allison will formally assume the chair of office as Mayor of Christchurch for the ensuing year, in succession to Mr George Payling. Before the recent election we pointed out that Mr Payling had deroted himself with zeal to the duties of the office, and we suggested that it would be a courteous act on the part of the ratepayers to elect him for another year in order that he might watch over the progress of important works which ho had been instrumental in initiating, notably tho high pressure wator supply and tho extension of the electric light eupply. The ratepayers, however, appeared to havo their thoughts occupied, by other matters than crvTo government .just then, nnd as the result of an unusually small poll, Mr Allison was elected, to tho

especial surprise of those of Mr- Payling'e friends, who took no pains to ensure his re-election. We do not at all -agree, however, with the attempt which has heen made to depreciate Ifr Allison since hie election and to treat it as a foregone oonclusion that, hie Mayoralty must necessarily be a failure. On the contrary, we think there is every reason to believe that he will justify the confidence placed in him by his friends, and make a very good Mayor. He has had an amount of experience in municipal matters that very few Mayoral candidates can claim. As chairman of the "Works Committee ho has distinguished himself by close and conscientious attention to the affairs of the city, and so far as we are aware he has not forgotten the impartiality due from the chair. Ho has the opportunity during the coming year of applying his practical knowledge in a way that may result in material benefit to the city. He has, we believe, a sincere desire for economy,, oombined with efficiency, and no one can deny that there is room for improvement in both these respects in the management of the city's affairs. Wo can not believe, for example, that the maintenance of the roads is being carried, out as well as it might be, or that the city is getting good value for ita money in this department. Tho electrical enterprise with which the Council is oonrocted has now reached a critical stage in its history. There is an evor-incroas-ing demand for supply of tho current, and the City Council, having a monopoly, certainly ought to take steps to meet that demand. At the same time, in justice to tho ratepayers who cannot afford to indulge in tho luxury of electric light, tho management ought to be conducted on commercial linos, so that if there is not very much profit thoro should at least be no deficiency to bo made up out of the rates. The Council, it will bo remembered, ombarked on the supply of electricity as a means of utilising the power from tho destructor. The undertaking has now grown far beyond that stage, and it is a serious question for consideration whother the Council, instead ot adding more units to tho present installation, ought not to go in for a power station close to the railway, so that coal may be obtained at the cheapest possiblo rates. This is a point on which the Council ought to be guided by the best expert advice. These and other questions will be sufficient to occupy the attention of the Mayor during tho coming year. What is wanted, in ordor to secure tho btst results, is a hearty co-operation between tho Mayor and Council for the good of the city. With a little tact on the part of the Mayor, and a dispoeir tion on the parb of the Council to work amicably with him in carrying out works, there is no reason why the municipal yeaT now commoncing should not be one on which all concerned should be able to loot back with pleasure, if not with pride.