THE MAYORALTY ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12256, 28 April 1903, Page 4

THE MAYORALTY ELECTION.

The importance of the functions appertaining to the Mayoralty, should remove that office from partisan considerations. While every vote that is cast in Auckland to-morrow should be weighed by the influence it may have upon the government of the city, this consideration becomes; paramount when the selection of the chief magistrate is in question. 'For while the shortcomings of an individual councillor may be balanced by the better judgment of others, the work of a Mayor lies largely in his own hands, and even the loyal support of councillors cannot do :! more ; than ; assist him to carry out. effectively his endeavours on behalf of our civic welfare. This \being the case, it is "clearly 'the duty of electors to vote for the best candidate ; the best candidate before them Mr. Mitchelson. That he is so cannot be seriously ; questioned, whatever personal or partisan claims may be pui- forward on behalf of his opponents. ~ An - able and capable Mayor means as much to citizens and ratepayers as an able and capable manager means to shareholders in an; industrial:,company. It means public improvements in-, telligently ; conducted, i .., public funds i economically administered, the city benefited, ; arid rates spared. To j introduce meaningless side issues I into the selection of such a public I officer is reprehensible and opposed to all public interests:. Mr. Mitchelson has had an unblemished public career. He is no tyro in public matters, for he has-been a respected Minister of the ;Crown in ; days when to hold a portfolio meant much. He has done hard and good work .for city, ; province, and.-.; colony. He is among our best known and most' honoured citizens. He is the head : of a large industrial enterprise, v and : universally regarded as a good manager, and of sound common sense in matters financial. That he has been persuaded into candidacy by those who recognise the great advantage' which the .: city • would receive by his occupancy of the Mayoral chaiij is well .known to

all our readers; we > say, ; unhesitatingly, .that the city ; needs j a Mayor whom the office seeks; not one who seeks, the office. There are enough public positions reserved to personal and partisan ambitions to allow the citizens of Auckland to maintain this one administrative office for merit. And if choice goes to-morrow by merit,.! as it surely ought on the ballot of every independent and intelligent elector, to-morrow night should ; see Mr. Mitchelson our Mayor-elect. .' *