THE MAYORALTY OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10424, 23 April 1897, Page 4

THE MAYORALTY OF AUCKLAND.

The prominent subject of conversation in the city yesterday was the Mayoralty. On such an occasion ae this, when there is a vacancy, the question always arises as to whether the Mayor should not be taken from the Council. As the law at present stands, the citizens have s wide choice, but it is doubtful whether it would not be better if the Mayor had to be chosen from the members of the Council. In the first place, the fact that the Mayor has to be taken from the Council might lead to the best and most suitable class of men becoming members of that body, a position which we have not reached yet, and indeed which, judging from our fate during the last few years, we are not likely to reach. Then a member of the Council is likely to know the details of the work better than a man who is new to municipal politics. A member of the Council is not debarred from becoming a candidate, and indeed, other things being equal, he would always receive a. preference. The members of the Counr cil are naturally indisposed to allow the Mayoralty to go out of the body. They, are apt to act as if the matter lay in their hands, and to form an electoral committee to promote the candidature of that particular councillor whom they think entitled to the honour. But the public must guard against any attempt to fill the office originating in an arrangement of this kind, and must insist upon having the best possible man wiio can be secured for the position. In the circumstances it may be well to indicate what we consider to be the qualifications requisite. The Mayor is really the head of the whole city organisation, and the chief man in all its affairs. He can take the lead in every movement, from the smallest to the largest, without the possibility of any charge of impertinence being levelled against him. The Governor of the colony comes to Auckland occasionally, and the Naval Commander - in - Chief, and other illustrious visitors, and they are received by the Mayor, who at such times represents all the citizens, Occasions) of ceremonial occur, when it is the function of the Mayor to take the leading part, and it is essential that he should make the necessary speeches with dignity, and with the tone and manner of au edu.cated man. Then the Mayor, beyond all others, has the conduct of the business of the city in iiis hands, and he ought to have a competent knowledge of business nflairs. Our Public Library, our Aft Uallery, the Albert Park, and the Western Park, m well ae the Domain, are all primarily under bis charge. Great complaint has recently been made jn regard tQ tjie manner in which our 'afreets have been kept, and certainly we think there should be some reform in

this respect, especially as regards Queen-street The drainage of the city as a whole also requires to be looked to, and possibly a considerable «um of money would require to be spent upon it to make Auckland the healthy, pleasant city which it should be. It has been said that the Council is straitened for want of funds, but we doubt if the citizens would consent to any alteration in that respect unless they felt confident that the increased resources would be placed in oharge of some able and straightforward man who would take care that it was not jobbed or wasted. On all these considerations, aud on others which must occur to every citizen, it is essential that at this time the best possible man should be obtained for the high position of Mayor of Auckland.