SELECTION BY BALLOT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 8

SELECTION BY BALLOT

TO AVOID VOTE-SPLITTING

CANDIDATES FOR MAYORALTY.

With, only ten days to pass before nominations close for the Mayoralty and other civic offices, interest in the campaign for the Chief Magistracy of the city is becoming keener, especially amongst those who are anxious to see vote-splitting avoided between the three candidates who are opposed to the Labour nominee. Negotiations have been ■proceeding for some,days with the object pt inducing some of the candidates to stand down, but so far all efforts have proved fruitless. The sitting Mayor (Mr. R..A:'Wright, M.P.)' maintains that he has a right to seek re-election, as two years in office only suffices as an apprenticeship to the" position, and also because he wishes to see certain important works completed. ' Councillor Len M'Kenzio states that he is fulfilling a promise made at the last election, when he stood'down as a result of vote-split-ting' negotiations, that- he would be a candidate on this occasion; he therefore declines to. break his word by standing down on this occasion. Mr. 6. Mitchell has not had experience as a city councillor, but he argues that such service is not essential to the proper and efficient fulfilment of the duties of Mayor. It is generally recognised that with four candidates in the field, one of whom (Mr. 1 P. Fraser, M.'P.) is supported by party, influences, the remaining three will stand but small chance, and will be opposing one another more than the other: opponent they are each striving to defeat. The polling at the Parliamentary election in December is being referred to by supporters of the Labour Party candidate as an indication of what may be expected in the forthcoming Mayoral contest, and the chances of their nominee are regarded as all the more promising on account of the splitting of votes as between his three opponents. On the other hand, some non-party electors contend that many of those who supported Labour at the General.Election cannot see how the party policy for the civic offices is to be pursued without increases in rates'becoming, necessary; they therefore argue that many party votes are likely to be cast in favour of a candidate of the present rating scale.' " "•■■'■

With the object of reducing the number of candidates, the Wellington Civic League, comprising bodies of electors and ratepayers in< every euburb. has communicated with the three anti-party candidates—Mr. E. A. Wright, M.P., the present Mayor, Councillor Len M'Kenzie, and Mr. G. Mitchell—asking if they are prepared to submit their names to a selection ballot to be conducted by the league. It is understood that two of the candidates have signified 'their willingness to so place themselves in the hands of the members of the Civic League.' A meeting of delegates appointed by the various associations is being held at the 'offices of the league this afternoon, at which the candidates ■ are expected to be present, and the hope was expressed with some confidence this morning thali' a ' satisfactory .'arrangement would .be arrived at by ballot..