THE MAYORALTY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16479, 24 March 1919, Page 6

THE MAYORALTY.

MR J. J. DOUGALL TO BE A CANDIDATE. In response to tho request made by a representative deputation which waited on him on Saturday morning, Mr J. J. Dougall, of tho legal firm of Messrs Du'.igall and Upham, stated that ho would accept nomination for the mayoralty of Christcliurch. Mr N. L. Macbeth, who was spokesman, said that those comprising the deputation were moderate men, and represented moderate men, and they respectfully asked that Mr liougail would consont to stand for Mayor of Christchurch.

Mr Dougall repliod that he appreciated tho honour done to him by requesting him to contest the Mayoralty. Ho was not going to mince matters— he should be deeply honoured by, and should greatly cherish, being Mayor of the city, particularly during the nest two years. He recognised that, apart from the of the progress of the city, the position was going to be of considerable importance and was •going to require the best talent tliafc: could bo got. Ho did not mean by that that he would ropresent the bosk' talont. but he did think that the city,' would need at the head of affairs a man who could be regarded as other than 1 an extremist. He had had reason to anticipate a request of this kind, and he had alroady considered the matter, nnd had -decided to allow himself to be nominated, and to do all in his power to advance his candidature. He hoped that lie. would have the support of the moderate electors of the city. Ho was a strong believer in tolerance, and if over there was a time for tolernnco this-was it.

Mr H. J. Ranger expressed tho opinion that Mr Dougall was acting in the best interests of tho city. Ho pointed out that in tho next Mayoral term of office there would be tho peace colebrations, the visit of Lord Jellicoe and H.M.S. Now Zealand, and, Jator, the visit of the Prince of Wales. The interest* of the city should be upheld' by a capable man in the position of Mayor. It was most essential that tho city should have as its Mayor a gentleman who had ability, who would fill tho position with dignity, who wns tolerant, and who in his private life was not associated with extremists in: any shape or form.

In thanking Mr Dougall for acceding to the request of tho deputation, Mr Macbeth said that tho moderates, in this as in every other thing, wero between the upper and the nether millstones. Whether in businoss or politics, or anything else, the people who had moderate ideas and reasonable aspirations could not be represented by extremists in either one direction or the other. He felt that their interests could be safely placed in Mr Dougall'3 hand 9, and that they owed that gentleman a debt of gratitude for consenting to stand. MR HOLLAND DECIDES TO-DAY. In view of the fact that Mr J. J. Dougall has acceded to the request of a deputation to staud for the Mayoralty of Christchurch, a "Press" 1 representative uskod Mr H. Holland yesterday if he had any further statement to make as to his intentions — whether he intended to rotire or 16 contest tho Mayoralty. "I am sorry,", said Mr Holland, "but my tongue is tied until about noon tomorrow. I shall be able to tell_ the publio then exactly what my decision is. 'Until then lam afraid that I cannot say anything at all." Though Mr Holland did not mention the fact, it is extremely probablo that a large deputation will wait upon him to-day, and ask him to once more be a candidate for the Mayoral spat. It is more than likely, however, that Mr Holland will regretfully find it necessary to decline the request, for 110 has already hinted fairly strongly that he feols that he has held the honourable position of Chief Magistrato of tho City of Christchurch long enough.