Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1923. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 644, 1 March 1923, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1923. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

In the course of a few weeks the electors of the several municipal Jodies will he called upon to elect their representatives on the several Councils, Harbour Boards and Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, with a surfeit of candidates in some cases and possibly but few in others. The cost of local government nowadays is becoming such a serious matter that it behoves the ratepayers and the burgesses generally to look well to the character and fitness of the candidates coming forward for election. Palmerston North has hitherto been fortunate in both respects, its councillors and other local body representatives having been, generally speaking, a particularly fine type of citizen—men who gave their time and abilities freely and ungrudgingly in the service of the town and district, without expecting either fee or reward, other than the approval of their own consciences. The borough has been particularly fortunate in its choice of the gentlemen who have filled the Mayoral position from time to time and now that, after nearly fifteen years’ service, the present occupant of the office has intimated bis intention of retiring, it becomes a matter of considerable importance that his successor should be a man of similar business capacity, capable of dealing with the problems associated with the many important works that the council has now in hand. Fortunately Palmerston North has never lacked public spirited men, ready to come forward and bear their part in furthering the progress of the town, and it must bo a matter for general satisfaction that, whenever a change has been necessary. ' the right man nae always been forthcoming to cany on the works required for the advancement of the town. So far as the councillors are concerned it is early yet to say who are likely to offer themselves as candidates for scats at the council table. The present councillors have managed the affairs of the borough with considerable credit to themselves, and although the ratepayers haye not always endorsed their decisions, or approved of all their loan schemes, it will, we think, be admitted that they have enjoyed the confidence of the burgesses to a very considerable extent. It rests with the burgesses themselves to see that none but good business men are elected to the new council, should any of the present councillors decide not to again offer their services. It will be recognised that those of our citizens who serve the burgesses in an honorary capacity in this way devote much valuable time and attention to the affairs of the municipality and that therefore they are deserving of the best thanks of the burgesses for their services in this way. ■ AN ANOMALOUS SYSTEM. It seems to us, however, that the existing system of electing a Mayor and councillors is somewhat of an anomaly. Two years ago the “Standard” expressed its regret that the gentlemen who then contested the Mayoralty were placed in such a position that the defeated candidate had; necessarily to be shut out of civic life for at least two years. We remarked on that occasion that, neither Councillor Crabb nor Hr

J. A. Nash could well be spared from the local cquiicil board, and that it was unfortunate the, burgesses, in choosing between them, should have the responsibility cast upon them of rejecting one or other of those gentlemen. As both the councillors and the Mayor are elected on the one common franchise, the law might surely be amended so that the councillors themselves could elect the Mayor as their chairman. That is the English custom, and it is one that has always worked well. There is every reason to believe that the interests of the people would be just as well and possibly better served were the councillors themselves invested with the responsibility of choosing their own chairman to preside over their meetings. Under existing circumstances, it may happen that the Mayor, who propounds the policy which he desires the council to pursue, may be altogether out of sympathy with the majority of the councillors ; they may even bo opposed to the policy he outlines for the approval of the burgesses. Such things have happened, and will probably happen again. In more than one borough the Mayor has, indeed, been known to come into conflict with the councillors, who have as much right to be studied in the programme and policy of the council as the Mayor himself. There appears to be an idea .abroad that it is more democratic to allow the burgesses to elect the Mayor of a city or borough than it is for the councillors to choose that functionary but as the councillors N are themselves elected by the burgesses, it is not an easy matter to justify such a. contention. ,It would save a g00d,., deal of trouble and much vexation of spirit in some cases were the law amended so as to do away with the Mayoral elections as at present conducted, substituting for them a system under which a given number of councillors would be elected every second or third year, who would proceed at their first meeting to elect one of their number to the office of Mayor in the same way that a county council elects its chairman. By adopting such a system it would be possible for the municipality to retain the services of all good men aspiring to seats on the council, whether candidates for the Mayoral office or otherwise, as they would not be compelled to stand down in the event of some other member of the council being chosen as Mayor. It would, further, largely minimise the trouble which occurs in the larger centres, when three, four or five aspirants for the Mayoral chair split the votes in such a way that possibly the least desirable candidate secures the premier position in the council. In Wellington this year trouble is likely to arise from this cause, although, so far as the council itself is concerned, it is probable majority rule will prevail.