The Evening Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1914.

Evening Star, Issue 15478, 28 April 1914, Page 4

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1914.

Thb mayoral contests in the municipalities round about Dun-To-morrow’s edin are this year a Elections. trifle featureless. St. Kilda, West Harbor, and Mosgiel have found in Messrs M’Farlane, Blackie, and Quelch such satisfactory men that no changes are to be made. In Port Chalmers there is no burning question to divide the present Mayor and the two councillors who aro standing. Mr Mawson, in explaining his desire for an extension of his term of office, finds at once reasons from the past and the future. Most Mayors of Port Chalmers have not had their rule limited to one year, and he sees no just cause why the same generous treatment should not be extended to him on this final opportunity for such generosity being displayed by the electors, for at the next and all succeeding mayoral elections the term of office will be two years, unless Parliament sees fit to alter the new law. On tho whole there seems to be no particular objection to Mr Mawson’s request being granted. At Green Island also the present Mayor is seeking re-election, but, as we stated yesterday, his candidature is bound up with a project which we sincerely hope will not. be foisted on that borough. Mr Geddes has a long municipal and mayoral record behind him. and has certainly a more dominant personality than his opponent. It is perhaps Unfortunate that what we iirinly believe to he the right cause in the matter of a drainage scheme is not in more experienced hands than those of Mr Reeves, whose platform experience practically began with his address of a few days ago. However, those who were not impressed by the candidate’s handling of his subject ou that occasion may make duo allowances, and reflect that in this case it is a contest between measures rather than men. At Momington Mr Solomon is retiring from local politics, and Mr Lo Cren is seeking re-entry to a position frequently held by him prior to the Solomon regime. His main plank appears to be that of reform, involving an attack on some of the corporation officials on the question chiefly of tramway management. But if tho figures quoted by Cr Bolt last night reflect the position—and, seeing that he has been chairman of the Finance Committee for two years, Cr Bolt should be in a position to speak with exactness—there surely is no reasonable ground for severe criticism, and reform might just as easily turn out to be a change for the worse. Tho Morningion tram system is admittedly under-powered, just as Momington streets aro admittedly starved of metal; but Cr Bolt is aware of the need for expenditure, and advocates the ratepayers’ consent being sought for the council to raise small loans for these purposes. For the rest the tramway management has evidently been economical and efficient. The I annual loss on past mistakes has been reduced very substantially, a very much increased car mileage has been run for practically the same money despite award increases in wages, sundry improvements have been effected out of revenue, and the clerical expenses of tho corporation, of which a big portion must be chargeable to tramways, .haveubeqp, slightly reduced.

All these comparisons are a* between the year just ended tod 1909, the year in which Mr Le Cren retired from an active in borough affairs. Cr Bolt therefore stands as an upholder of the policy of the present council and cf their staff, and ho really makes out an excellent case for them. Passing over Maori Hill, whore tho ward ''system dominates matters too much, we come to the City mayoralty. Seemingly the field of four still runs in two sections, tho leading pair being Or Marlow and Mr Shacklocb, as between whom tho ratepayers may safely be left to choose. Cr Green’s candidature presents aspects which have been previously criticised; and as to Mr Belcher, ho oilers us nothing to criticise, putting forward no policy whatever. , All that can be said is that his nomination has been received, accompanied by some flippant remarks somewhat derogatory of the office he aspires to. This “ take .it or leave it ” proceeding had at least the charm of novelty last year, but by now even that has worn off, and in l this brusque method of seeking suffrages there are none others that we can discover.