THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14339, 26 April 1912, Page 9

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

m tut: kdiihk of "the jt.f.ss." Sir. The <-r-.!',><-.-il f'.vi;|| :i capital ■( "i apathy oi -In- ( hristchurch publki is again demonstrated by the number of voters v, ho \v»!r too apathetic, or t<m> tired, to i-n>t their vo.ns. I notice it lias been suggested that. "uiil-'H the i;f".v Loral Government ISill can legislato public spirit into the minds of the , citizens, i; is rather hopeless to expect any .striking improvement in the nature or quality of local administration.' . Can thi.s iie don.- by oihej- means than making municipal voting compulsory—tor that matter Parli.imen.ary as well I- Tho only '..ay to escape a tine beiiv.; to rr<>ilnco a <!o» tor's certificate or some valid cmiis,- for absence.

It seems ;i farce the oloctioii for Mayor nnniinl ar.fl that for councillors bi-annual. Both should hrv \ho same, say, Iri-aniiual. Hetter still, flu away with the ofliee of Mayor, and let f.ho councillors elect one of their number r.s chairman, to take over the, duties a; present performe-d by the Mayor, ami with tho .same honorarium. This system would givo a man a chance ot putting a programme into force- an<l inrryinn it through. I nder tho present system the .Mayor fin the majority ot eases') has not "BurkleyV chance, it' tho Council are '"ayin liiin. ,.

The American system of commissioners is best left alone. It might 1)0 tbo stepping-stoiio to a system of graft. The late Government go: close- enough to that for my liking.—Yours, ptc. ANTJ.