The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1909. THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 492, 27 April 1909, Page 6

The Dominion. TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1909. THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

; Vv' \ : Although the city Mayoral election campaign has been vigorously contested by the various candidates, and probably <1 record number of meetings has been held, there has not been any great; outward display of public 'interest in the result'. Mr. ;Fi'shek had a very fine meeting at the Town Hall last evening, but ; ; Mh. Fisher' is always entertaining, and a' -very, large number of those who. attended probably went' as much for •entertainment as lor enlightenment on the affairs of the city. It'has been'made evident during the contest that the whole of the candidates are fully impressed with the need for care arid economy in the administration of the affairs of the'city. : The speeches of all display anxiety to carry assurance to the ratepayers that the time has arrived to scrutiniso closely any proposed increase of expenditure or any suggested scheme of borrowing., Few citizens will' disagree with them ■ on this point. There has been a suggestion that economics '"proposed mean stagnation— that to attempt to progress without borrowing means to stand still. This idea is quite erroneous.» The revenue of the ' city at'the present time is a large one, 'and already many works are carried i through out of revenue. It is the candi- • date who can best handle the administrar tion of, the affairs of the municipality

during • the next twelve months who should make the best Mayor to return to office on the present occasion. The fervor his schemes for improving and developing the public services and extending public conveniences at an additional weight to the burdens of the city, the better his chances of making the most of existing services and conveniences, for he can concentrate his whole attention on ,the question of administration. This wc believe to be the urgent need of the hbur.' During tho years of prosperity under which the whole, country, has flourished so much the one cry ha,s been "Progress"; and' progress has meant borrowing. Hardly a year has passed without some work or another in the city being carricd on out of borrowed money. It is not our intention to criticise or to condemn these undertakings. In most cases the expenditure has been warranted and tho city has benefited correspondingly. But with times .less flourishing and ratepayers' showing concern as to tho demands which j may bo made upon them, it is opportune to pause for a period and take stock of the situation. Which, then, of the candidates for the Mayoralty is best' equipped for tho Mayoral office under tho conditions now existing? All may claim to have something in their favour. Mr. Bolton has energy, and suburban experience as Mayor of Eastbourno; tho Hon. J. Bigo is an old resident of tho. city, and has some oxporienco of, public affairs; Mr. Wilford is a vory pushful candidate, and has boon in public life a good many years; Mr. Fisiier is a later arrival as a public man, and has had a somewhat meteoric career, during which ho has served as a City Councillor; while Dr. Newman can claim a wide range of public "servico oxtending ovor a great many years, as well as 1 a useful experience in connection with' largo business undfcrtakings. Mr Bolton wo think can have very little hope of success on the present occasion. He is a comparatively young man, and his ambition, though laudable enough, has rather over-reached .itself in ■ aiming at the Mayoralty of the city on' the Strength of his past performances. Mr. Eigg has a heavy handicap in being pledged to tho' Labour platform. Labour just now is not reasonable, and it expects too much of'its candidates. Mn. Riqg will no doubt poll wellj but it .will be almost entirely a Labour vote. Me. Wilford has been defeated for tlie Mayoralty on two previous'occasions, and, although he is an improved Mn. Wilford, it would; £0 an;.unwise step to entrust him witli office under existing conditions. He is far too busy a man to give that full attention to the affairs of -the municipality which is demanded at the present juncture. His Parliamentary duties, his private practice as a'busy lawyer, his association with the Harbour Board, of which 110 is at present chairman, are all drags on the' energy -which' he might otherwise display, in municipal affairs, and the Mayor of the city for 1909 will be required to give much .more of his time than Mr. Wilford can possibly spare if the most is to be made of the opportunity for a close scrutiny of the administration of the city's undertakings.;, Moreover, it must, be evident to all that Mr. Wiltokd's acquaintance, with municipal matters is a'very, recent and very superficial acquisition. Mr. Fisher has one advantage over Mr. Wilford—possibly two. He certainly knows something of municipal;'matters, 1 and he probably, has more 1 leisure. But Mr. . Fisher, ' despite ' the possession of certain qualities which have brought him into public prominence, has not given the • impression that he .has that dispassionate judgment and sound'business knowledge required in the ; position he aspires to; It has been remarked of him that he is a destructive rather than a constructive force, and this in the main ; is a correct. estimate.:- Dr. Newman possesses a number of advantages over his rivals, and his friends and supporters ' have not always made the most: of these, He' is experienced in public and business _ life, and must be regarded as an emin- . ently "safe" man. It is a safe man thai . the city wants jusfc now. , But Dr. Newman is something more than a safe man: he "is a man with ideas; a man- of tact;-1 man accustomed to handling men; he is J energetic and enthusiastic, and capabli ) of arousing enthusiasm in others. ; H( ) should make not only a "safe" Mayor ] but a Mayor who would do credit to thi - city in many ways outside the routini I of business, and who,would make the mos' : of such opportunities to advance the in tercsts of Wellington which might-presen themselves during his term'of office. Wi expect a close contest, but Dr. Newaiai has met with such an amount of suppor : in a quiet way that his prospects of elec tion are probably second to none of hi ' : rivals. r The city would consult its bes interests, were it to return him at th "• hoad of the poll to-morrow. ! f. . ' " '