THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1908. THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 April 1908, Page 6

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1908. THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS.

' It is a remarkable circumstance that with tlie exception of the Borough of Karori, in which case the retiring Mayor did not seek re-election, the whole of the boroughs in the immediate vicinity of- this city, including the Borough of Wellington it-self, have this year returned to the chief civic office the men at present holding that office. In the Ilutt, Petone, Onslow, and Eastbourne Boroughs the retiring Mayors were returned without opposition, while at Wellington and Miramar they were re-elected after vigorously.fought contests. Chief interest, of course, has centred in the struggle between the Hon. T. W. Hislop and Sir. J. G. W. Aitlcen, M.P., for the Mayoralty of Wellington, and a close finish to a hard-fought campaign 1 was generally expected. . The forces at work, however, proved too powerful for the efforts of Mr. Aitken and his friends A and a decisive victory was

registered for Mr. Hislop. It must lie conceded without question that the successful candidate proved himself a skilled tactician. He had marshalled his forces aiid secured a material advantage before his opponent entered the field. • He neglected no opportunity to enlist the services of existing organisations, and devote them to his own interests. He cleverly manoeuvred the Labour vote; he called the Socialists to his banner; he had the quiet_ support of-the liquor interest, and it is idle to ignore the fact that these interests were a material factor in deciding the result. They are more or less organised at all times—there is little preliminary work required to place their forces oil active .service, and they have striven desperately to win _ success for their candidate. Against these organised influences Mr. Aitken entered on the campaign almost single-handed. He has foiightan uphill fight courageously with conspicuous fairness, gaining fresh supporters every day, but only i to be beaten in the end by the heavy odds arrayed against him. _ We have fought in the present election struggle for Mr. Aitken;,we have voiced our opinions freely on the tactics of his opponents; we have expressed the strong conviction, and we still hold it, that the interests of the city would have been better served by the election of Mr. Aitken than by the return of Mr. Hislop to the" mayoral office. We have been beaten in a hard fight, but we are not with those who would attempt to belittle "the great triumph that Mr. liislop and his supporters can. claim to have achieved. To us the most; significant feature of the contest is the attitude of Labour, and the effect of the success it will certainly claim. to have been responsible for. Already the exhilarating effects of victory have, produced notable results. The Labour Representation Committee, stimulated in part by yesterday's poll, last evening decided to contest at least four of the local seats at the coming' general elections, and the organisation of the political labour movement will no doubt receive a marked impetus; Possibly Labour takes an exaggerated view of the importance of the part it has played in the mayoral contest, but .the results may, nevertheless, prove embarrassing to , many of those who have worked with it in the recent struggle. There is only one.other matter in connection, with the 'Mayoral election, that calls ..for „c.omment. now, and we refer to. it with:reluctance. In the hour of victory a man can afford to be generous'to his opponents. We regret that Mr. Hislop did not,display that generosity one would look for after a triumph such as that which fell to his lot yesterday. 1 His references to Mr. Aitken last eyening, which are reported elsewhere, were a bleinish on what should- have' beeir one of the proudest moments of' his life._ Mr. Aitken accepted his defeat with the same quiet courage and dignity with which he has received, the favours .which have liberally fallen to his lot. Seven , times lie, has 'sought'the ' suffrages of his fcllow-citizensj' and 'on six; he has triumphed. Though beaten on the seventh occasibii, throiigh"'; tliesplendid organisation,.of. his opponent and the powerful influences at work against 'him, lie. lias the' satisfaction of knowing that he has ably fought a clean and honest fight. His opponent has secured-the palm of the victor, but to the vanquished belongs the honour • that is the due of the man who "plays the game." ■