THE MAYORALTY.

Evening Post, Volume XLII, Issue 126, 24 November 1891, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

Tho election of Mayor takes place tomorrow, and will probably result in a somewhat close contest. Mr. Worth haß a large body of friends and supporters, although it is difficult to ascertain what qualifications for the office of Mayor he possesses, and he has not, strange to say, although generally ready enough to speak, thought it worth while to address the ratepayers, or to inform them publicly of the grounds on which ho aspires to fill tho Chief Magistracy of tho city. He has, however, been most assiduous in private canvassing, and this always tells at the poll. It is muoh easier to catch votes by private talk, in which opinions may bo modified or altered to suit tho views of the person talked to,_ than to command support by open, straightforward declarations of ' opinion on the public platform, the responsibility for which cannotaf torwards be evaded. Mr. Bell has not canvassed, but ho has addressed the ratepayers and given no nndecidod expression to the views he holds as to tho duty of tho Mayor of the city at the present time, and the policy which ho bolievos tho city shonld adopt to advance its best interests. By going on the platform he also, of course, subjected himself to tho cross-examination of any ratepayer who dosirod to nse his privilego. There is really no comparison between the two men regarding their fitness for the offico they aro contesting, and as ono of them has not spoken in public tho ratepayers as a body are ignorant of any differenco between thorn on any question of municipal politics. Mr. Bell possesses every quality which should enable him to disoharge the duties of the Mayoral office, civil, political, social, and economic, with credit and advantage to the city. To the unprejudiced eye Mr. Worth's disqualifications in all these respects are moro apparent than his qualifications ; but there is no use blinking tho fact that Mr. Bell is somewhat heavily handicapped by a personal unpopularity arising from niannerism_, while personally Mr. Worth onjoys a certain measure of popularity amongst those who know him as a worthy private citizen, and a hard-working useful Councillor. A man may, however, be both a popular citizen and a good Councillor, and_ yet be very badly fitted to maintain tho position of Mayor of a city like Wellington. During the coming year the Mayor willhave to receive a now Governor, and possibly also a now Admiral of the Station, in tho Capital of the Colony, and although Mr. Mayor Duthie's splendid hospitality has been but ill-requited, it is certainly desirable, as a matter of policy and business, that such Imperial representatives should be suitably received horc, and givon as favourable an impression of tho place as possible on their arrival. It will bo well for the ratopayors to-morrow to consider which of the candidates is the more likely to favourably represout tho city in this manner.