MAYORAL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 20778, 28 April 1931, Page 3

MAYORAL ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,' —Had the Labour movement nominated a candidate for the position of mayor this letter would not be written, because my devotion to the Labour platform would prompt mo to place the movement before any person, no matter how great his qualifications might be. But as the contest is between the retiring mayor and Cr Scott, I feel free to express my innermost thoughts, untramelled by party considerations, as neither candidate is- a nominee of the Labour movement. , I have read, with feelings of appreciation and pleasure, the well-deserved references to Or Scott made by Cr Marlow, and from;my association in the past with the City Council, I can only say that the just tribute paid by Cr Marlow must bo endorsed by those who know Cr Scott's work in its committees. Cr Scott has always appealed to me, not only for his humanitarian ideals, but for his great spirit of toleration for the views of those who may differ from him. 1 have never known of a case in which a public move was made to raise' funds to assist the afflicted or ’ deserving poor where Cr Scott did not support, that move, no matter when or where the function was to be held. I feel-sure that if Cr Scott is elected mayor the social workers in this city will be , ably assisted by a mayor who will live up to the high traditions of the past. In writing this letter I have no intention to detract from any good work put in by the retiring mayor, and knowing Cr Scott’s. love of fair play, I feel sure (he would, never sanction any supporter-, descending to such tactics. Should _Cr Scott be returned he will fulfil his mayoral duties with that conformity to the decencies of civic life and dignified heaving that has made our Dunedin mayors the envy of other cities. When I was first elected to the City Council and for long afterwards, I moved many amendments on reports submitted by committees, but very rarely did I have occasion to move amendments to reports submitted by the Gas Committee, of which Cr Scott was then chairman, except when 1 differed in opinion on a policy to be pursued. The reason for that was that Cr Scott encouraged my search for truth and explained everything so clearly that I could only differ on clearly-explained proposals. It was ho who arranged with Mr Hungcrford, the then engineer, to show mo oyer the works and explain in detail their ramifications. ... Had the same desire that decisions be given on ascertained' facts been in evidence in_ other committees, fewer amendments in search of truth would be moved in open council. Perhaps that sense of fair play that characterises Cr Scott was ono of the great factors that contributed to the successful work put in byjtho employees of the gasworks. 1 These workers, though unorganised at the time, were invariably paid the wages conceded by the northern awards. When the awards wore varied up north on a cost of living or conditions basis, a minute by Cr Scott or the engineer drew attention to the matter, and enabled the committee to make adjustments accordingly. This spirit of fair play, saving the men the cost of fighting before arhitraton tribunals, was largely responible for the harmonius working of the gas department. The office of mayor has long been regarded as a rolling stone, with, I think, advantage to the public.’ It enables men with fresh municipal ideas to be elected from time to time, who can initiate progressive measures by placing their views in the form of a minute before the council. The progress. and development of tho city owe much to these changes of mayors.—l am, etc., <T. E. MacManus. April 27.