MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 220, 13 July 1866, Page 3

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Sir, A few lines touching the muriicit>al elections fast app'oachi'j' roav not be out of place. Tour leading article in last ""lidav's issue, illuslr? 'ng what class of men should be elec'ed for the Mayo'-al ; y of CKde and Cromwell was oopor'nuely penned, and deceives (he ea>'ne«t a ter/tion of the ißPu'C'pal electors of the two progressive towns. Tour •tatement that (be Mavor wi'l be the cbie'-mrg's-trate to the Ohti-ict shoi'ld demand more consideration than any in the coi>s(Uu;ion of ibe maroralty. The Mayor will have to be sworn in as a Justice of ihe Peace, and whilst so consented, he wi'l be naturally expected to occupv a seat on the judicial bench whenever his services may be required. The Mayor of Duneein, at the present time, is daily adjudVaiiogon miror offences of every description, and hereby ligh'ens greatly the pie:sing busiue:s devolving upon the Besidentag'stra'e of Cue city. It is not to be supposed that the Mayor of Cromwell or Clyde will often he called upon to occupy the bench, but when the presence of the Resident-Mag : s! rate is demanded here, no'ineonvenience to the public should be allowed to exist for a single hour, when the Mayer of the town can act at magisterial functionary. To constitute an efficient magistrate, classical education is not nece?3ary, but ordinary education is imperatively demanded, and wi hout it no man can possibly fill creditably a judicial office, '• Commonsense" in the ordinary transactions of daily life may prove equal to any task set before it without any aid whatever from scholastic training ; but in dealing with matters in a couvt of justice, some degree of education and legal information ii essentially necessary to assist him in dispensing justice in an independant and fearless manner. Nothing can be more farcical than to indulge in a supposition that no man can be a lawyer unless he will have been bred to the law as a profession. Any person of ordinary intelligence and education may study in a single month, sufficient items in jurisprudence to qualify him to deal satisfactorily with the majority of cases which present themselves for the consideration of a bench at the Police-Court, but a mind deficient in ordinary cultivation cannot reasonably he expected to supply itself with such items, and therefore it behoves the Electors of oar young raunicipalites * to weigh [scrupulously the

" mental" as well as moral and social qualifications of all aspirants to magisterial honors. There ought to be at all times a certain amount of majesty attached to the commission of the peace, and few men in any up-country district can be found capable of malting that majesty manifest when the functions of that commission are being exercised. The mere possession of wealth adds no dignity whatever to the character of a man, and the want of it. in an abstract view, does not lessen the greatness of any personage in the estimation of well tutored minds. The electors should choose a Chief Magistrate, not for his wealth, but for his general intelligence, and his acquaintance with the usages of that society in which good breeding may be expected to have beeu enjoyed. Your reference to the reception of distinguished visitors at Clyde and Cromwell, was desirable in the highest degree. A member of the Town Council iray pass unscrutinised by such visitors, but the Chief Magistrate holds a position of such prominence, that not a single sentence can drop from his lips, unnoticed by those to whom it may be addressed. A tradesman may appear exceedingly eloquent vhilst measuring calico, or weighing tea and sugar behind the counter, but the unmeaning volubility indulged in on such occasions, cannot for a moment retain life in the atmosphere and presence of well informed minds. The Superintendent of the Province, and Members of the Government, may be expected to ray us periodical visits, and the Mayor of Clyde should be capable of conversing with them upon some topic other than an approaching Bachelor's Ball; and, the Chief Magistrate of Cromwell Bhould have something to say to them, more interesting than that the projected road to the Nevis will be of much service to the district. Your article, I must confess, created much speculation as to whether we could produce a Mayor up to the standard demanded by you or not; and, also, whether the electors would select the most editable man, independent of any private pitjue they may entertain. I need not exercise any hesitation, whatever, in stating, that Cromwell can produce men of fair average intelligence and education ; and would do much more credit to the Magisterial office than a large number of those pitchforked into the Commission of the Peace by Messrs O'Shannassy and Ireland in Victoria. We hare so men of more than ordinary abilities, but we have some possessed of sufficient astuteness to judicial and and civic functions. Several of them are public speakers'of no despicable order, and if they will abstain from "aping" the orator too glaringly before •' distinguished visitors," they need not be apprehensive of making an unfavorable impression on the mind of strangers. It is already unmistakably manifest that party feeling will run discreditably high at the approaching election of a Mayor, and votes will be doubtless recoided for one candidate, not on account of his fitness for the office of Chief Magistrate, but because he is some one to keep another out, whom tho elector may not wish to see elected. The same indiscreet voting will probably be in existence at the elections at Clyde and the other new'y cieated Municipalities; but such voting is much to be regretted and condemnpd by every well-wisher to the general prosperity and the credit of the new Municipal districts. A nun may net a most useful part as a Town Councillor, and yet be utterly unfit to hold the responsible office of Mayor, and it is to be hoped that the electors of Cromwell will prove of that opinion on the election day, and elect for their Chief Magistrate, not only a " man of the world," but one possessing superior intelligence. Your obedient servant, G. H. Cromwell, 10th July, 1866.