MAYOR AND ALDERMEN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 6

MAYOR AND ALDERMEN

The proposal that Wellington should have aldermen conjures up visions of new civic dignities—robes and chains and the Lord Mayor's Show. Councillor Meadowcroft's suggestion, however, while it would confer a new distinction on councillors with long service, aimed chiefly at securing for the council the right to elect the Mayor. It is urged in support of this that councillors know best the work and qualifications of their fellowsi Against this there is the danger that councillors will not always be guided by considerations of merit; but will choose as Mayor a councillor who will accept their views. They may even decide to give the Mayoralty as a reward for long serviced The fact that councillors have on several occasions supported a Mayoral candidate who has not secured election shows that inside and outside estimates of merit do not always agree. We do not say that the voters are necessarily right. Often the council may be a belter judge; but it seems desirable to retain the independent election method, as this gives an opportunity for submitting a definite policy to the people and .returning a Mayor with a mandate to carry it out. There is opportunity also for review of policies in the election of the council, but owing to the multiplicity of candidates it is not easy to submit a clear-cut issue and obtain a decisive verdict. '