THE MAYORALTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11601, 15 March 1901, Page 6

THE MAYORALTY.

WITHDRAWAL OF MR. WITHEFORD.

THE REQUISITION TO DR. CAMPBELL.

Matters in connection with the selection of a Mayor for the city advanced a stage yesterday, and "there is now: every probability that Dr. J. Logan Campbell will be unanimously elected to the office. In the forenoon a requisition was presented to Mr. J. H. Witheford, M.H.R., asking him to become a candidate for the Mayoralty. The answer of Mr. Witheford, as will be seen below, was not a final one, but it indicated a public-spirited desire to recognise the high claims of Dr. Campbell to the office, and later in the day Mr. Witheford attended a meeting of citizens, held to arrange for the reception to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, and stated that it was his desire that Dr. Campbell, the most esteemed citizen of New Zealand, should, on the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, present! Their Royal Highnesses with the address of welcome from the Corporation and citizens of Auckland. This statement was received with loud applause, as indicating Mr. Witheford's support to the now unanimous election of Dr. Campbell, and Dr. Campbell cordially thanked Mr. Witheford for his graceful withdrawal from the contest. It was subsequently arranged that the requisition to Dr. Campbell, to which over 3000 signatures are attached, will be presented at half-past ten this morning in the City Council Chamber. Those who have forms partially filled up are requested to return them to Mr. Fowlds before that hour, and citizens interested in the proceedings are invited to attend. The requisition to Dr. Campbell is in the following terms: —

Dr. J. Logan Campbell, Auckland: Dear There is a generally expressed feeling in the community that on the occasion of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to this city, Auckland should bo represented in the person of its chief magistrate by one who v has been associated with the city of Auckland.and the colony of Now Zealand from their foundation, by one who has taken a prominent part in our political and social life, by one who has been foremost in promoting and developing our industrial and educational institutions, and by one who is held in the highest respect and esteem as a citizen. Sir, we feel that as you will fill the requirements of the position admirably, we are entitled to call upon you to allow yourself to be nominated to the office of Mayor of Auckland for the ensuing year. No one among us is so fitted to welcome our Royal visitors and "to do the honours of the city as yourself. Recognising your many years, and that you have. retired from active work, wo do not expect you to undertake the- onerous duties connected with the routine work of the Council, which can be performed by a deputy-Mayor, as provided by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900. We confidently look to your acceding to the appeal wo have made, and feel sure that your consent will ensure your election without opposition. REQUISITION TO MR. WITHEFORD. The requisition to Mr. J. H. Witheford, M.H.R., asking him to become a candidate for the office of Mayor of Auckland, was presented at the Star Hotel yesterday. There were present, in addition to Mr. Witheford, Messrs. W. Ledingham, E. W. Page, Warren, Blyth, R. Eagleton, M. A. Carr, W. J. Beelian, J. Bennett, Geo. Cashel, Angelo Davis, E. Jackson,, and Rainey. Mr. Ledingham handed the requisition to Mr. Witheford. He said it bad only been in the hands of two canvassers for three days. It had been signed by 1000 citizens, but a number of forms had not come in.There were, however, over 600 citizens represented on the requisition as it now lay before him. Had there been more time there might have bean nearly as many thousands as there were hundreds. He thought the citizens of Auckland generally recognised Mr. Witheford as a man eminently qualified to fill the high office of chief magistrate of Auckland. The city required now more than ever it did a man with progressive ideas, and accustomed to the discharge of public business. Mr. Witheford had discharged his public duties with credit to himself ; and with honour to his constituents, and if he agreed to the requisition there was no doubt the city would elect him. Since the requisition was taken in; hand, another candidate had come forward in the person of Dr. Campbell, a citizen whom they all held in the highest estimation. But both from the social and business points of view Auckland required at present, for the office. of Mayor, a man full of energy and enterprise,' and he regarded Mr. Witheford as that man. As a member of the House of Representatives and as chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr. Witheford had performed his duties to the satisfaction of everybody, and when he (Mr. Ledingham) was in Australia he was personally cognisant of many acts of kindness extended by Mr. Witheford to New Zealanders. Mr. Witheford entertained the New Zealanders In Sydney in a most royal manner, and went to great expense to uphold the.credit of the country he represented, and in Auckland he also entertained the returned soldiers in a very hospitable manner. These were only examples of what the city might expect socially from Mr. Witheford if elected to the office of Mayor, for the social duties of the office were very considerable. They held Dr. Campbell in the highest respect, but at his advanced age he could scarcely be expected to fulfil the duties of the office, and as the whole Council had to be elected the city had no idea at present who would be there to fill the office of deputy-Mayor. He hoped Mr. Witheford would give a favourable reply to the requisition, and agree to stand against allcomers. If he did, the citizens of Auckland would ensure his return. .' ■:''•*'.

Mr. W. .J. Beehan said he did not know any man in New Zealand who could carry out the functions in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York so well as Mr. Witheford, and Mr. Witheford had the time, the ability and the desire to bring Auckland into the forefront among the cities of New Zealand.

Mr. Page and Mr. M. A. Carr supported the remarks of the previous speakers, and also urged Mr. Witheford to accept office. Mr. Witheford, in reply, said when they last met in that place it was to present him with a similar requisition to stand for Parliament. It was a great gratification to him that after a lapse of 12 months the deputation had come not only to express approval of his action in the past as their member, but also to ask him to,take the position of chief magistrate of the city of Auckland. He regarded the compliment the more highly because he loved Auckland and the Auckland people very dearly, which led him to come and spend the rest of his days here. With regard to accepting the Mayoralty of Auckland, if he did it would be with a desire to work, not for the sake oi honour. If it became simply a question of lionoui he held that a man like Dr. Campbell war. entitled to every honour the city could bestow upon him. His feelings towards Dr. Campbell were expressed in the following letter he had sent to Di. Campbell : —

Dear Dr. Campbell,— heartily join in the expression ot kind and respectful remembrance of your past services for Auckland. I will do myself the honour of calling upon you when in Auckland; I have also to see several who have for some time past desired me to stand for Mayor. My own feeling is that I would prefer to retire in your favour, but I mast first meet those who have extended courtesy to mo. When asked in a letter from Mr. Fowkls to meet some citizens of Auckland, no mention was made that it was to meet the deputation who waited en you, nor was your name mentioned; so that in carrying out a previous engagement in going away for a few days it was in ignorance of the subject on which Mr. Fowlds and friends desired to see me, beyond the fact that the meeting had reference to the Mayoralty. Assuring you of my personal regard, 1 urn', yours sincerely, J. 11. WithkFORD.

Now that he had met the deputation he had to thank them very sincerely for the trouble they had taken, and for the expression of respect evidenced by the names of nearly 1000 representative citizens of Auckland. He would consider the matter, and let the deputation know his decision. Personally, if it was simply a question of working in order to place Auckland in the position it should occupy as the leading city of New Zealand, he was prepared to do any kind of work to benefit the land of his adoption. If it was simply a question of honour he felt he would rather stand on one side and let any citizen who had spent a lifetime here, devoting himself to the interests of Auckland, take the honour. He did not

want honour for himself; he did not want anything for himself. In all the capacities he had ever served he had never sought to : benefit i himself either monetarily or in ; any shape or form. He had simply worked conscientiously in the interests of "his fellow citizens. r If he took up the duties of Mayor at any time he would conscientiously try to improve the city in every possible way, not only with regard to drainage and water supply, but with regard also to adornment, so that visitors could come and see what a beautiful city Auckland was, He felt that the city was .greatly/indebted to Mr. David Goldie for the reforms he had instituted in putting the. finances in a good position, but on the other hand Auckland was a good deal behind- in the matter of street : formation, drainage, water supply, etc., and it required a very strong man >to take matters in hand and carry out improvements. An economical policy was right to a certain extent, but the time had come when Auckland must step to the front and make a bold stand. The ratepayers would have to face the position, and be prepared to provide a little more money in order that necessary improvements in many directions might be effected. He had to thank Mr. Ledingham for the kindly, reference to what he did in Sydney. - He thought it the duty of a representative of Auckland, when he went to the Australian colonies, to uphold the dignity and prestige, of the city he represented. It was his duty also to show kindness to the men returning from the war, and to show that the people of Auckland sympathised with them in their sufferings and difficulties. Had he not availed himself of the opportunity to welcome them, he would have felt that he had failed in his duty. The requisition was prepared and. taken round before it was known that Dr. Campbell would stand ; it had not been presented in any spirit of antagonism whatever. (Hear, hear.) He noticed that reference had been made to what occurred in the Star Hotel the other, day, when he entertained the Hon. J. G. Ward. Some friends had stated to Mr. Ward that they would like to see Mr. Witheford elected as Mayor, and Mr. Ward made a passing remark that he hoped Mr. Witheford would be elected. At that time Dr. Campbell's name had not been mentioned, and the Government had had nothing to do with the matter whatever; in fact, he knew it was not the intention of the Government to interfere in municipal elections at all. On the whole, he would rather see Dr. Campbell get the office than take it himself. He would think the matter over, and would do what he thought was really in the interests of Auckland, irrespective of himself. Mr. Ledingham said it would be a disappointment to a great majority of the electors of the city if Mr. Witheford's answer was not favourable.