THE H.B. TRIBUNE. SATURDAY, APRIL 22. 1911. HASTINGS MAYORALTY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 109, 22 April 1911, Page 5

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. SATURDAY, APRIL 22. 1911. HASTINGS MAYORALTY.

The burgesses of Hastings, on Wednesday next, have important duties to perform, and judging by the genaral interest displayed in municipal matters they intend to do them thoroughly. They have heard from the public platform the views and programmes of two of the three candidates for the Mayoralty, and the majority of selectors no doubt have already made up their minds to cast their votes in certain directions. Owing to the

equal personal merits of the two candidateswhohavespoken. it may be found somewhat dfficuit to make a choice, but if personal friendship ami self-interest are placed in the background that difficulty is removed. The only things to be considered in the selection of Mayor, are which man is the must capable and which is most likely to efficiently carry out the duties of Chief Magistrate of the town. As Mr. Garnett said at his meeting last night. Hast

mgs has reached a critical stage, and whether the place makes progress or retrogression depends entirely on municipal management during the coming year. This fact is emphasised by the census returns which show that Hastings and sub-J urbs has now a population exceed-; ing 10,000. To hold and increasej this population the town must be excellently equipped with every modern convenience. This the peo-t ple<have shown recognition of by; their almost unanimous vote authorising loan proposals for carry- : ing vut necessary works. Very well then. What the electors have now 1 to do is to select the man who not only has the ability, but also the knowledge of details connected ; with the present undertakings, and ! is not possessed of private business ■ worries which must distract his attention from his innumerable offi- ■ cial obligations. What man is there, having an enterprise on hand entailing the expenditure of from £50.000 to £70.000 who would place such an undertakingin charge of a man : whose time was fully occupied with his own personal business ? Anyone committing such a folly would deserve to lose his investment. And would it not be just as foolish for

Hastings to place a privately occupied man in charge of our large municipal business when we can secure the services of a man of leisure. ability and integrity. We have said sufficient to indicate which of the two candidates, who have spoken publicly, we think the most fitted to occupy' the position, but that we may not be misunderstood. 1 we unhesitatingly state that we ■, think it will be to the advantage of ] Hastings to have Mr. Garrett at the helm while the loan money is being expend- ■ ed. He has. as councillor, been associated with recent municipal ■ developments here and no one can 1 say that he has not kept a vigilant eye on the expenditure of loan ■. money’. Should he be defeated, ob--1 viously he will be removed from 1 local politics, and at this juncture such an event would be a public ’ loss. While paying tribute to Mr. 1 Thompson forhispast services and fully recognising his sterling worth, 1 it must not be forgotten that he ’’as been removed from public life for two years—a period which has ’ witnessed many changes. Added to I his disadvantage in this respect is the fact that he has his private business to attend to and it is unlikely he will be able to devote as ’ much time to Mayoral duties as ! will his more leisured opponent Mr. Garnett.