MAYORAL QUALIFICATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12812, 11 March 1905, Page 4

MAYORAL QUALIFICATIONS.

The consent of Mr. Arthur Myers to the request that he allow himself to be nominated for the Mayoralty of Auckland places at the disposal of the city a candidate whose qualifications should ensure his election. There are various phases of municipal activity, financial, industrial, administrative, and social, and it is extremely difficult to find a gentleman qualified to lake a guiding part in all these functions who is both able and ready to devote the necessary time, and to make the necessary sacrifices. The position needs an occupant who is accustomed to deal authoritatively , with financial questions, for, the public finances are the largest, most inclusive and mostintricate in the city. It needs an occupant accustomed to industrial organisation on a large scale, for civic enterprises are not only extensive but growing. It needs an occupant versed in the municipal requirements of all classes of the community, for municipal government affects the greatest as the smallest interests, and may either advantage or injure trade, commerce, and manufacturing, as we)' as the residential section of our population. lid it needs ah occupant whose acknowledged social status enables him to take that social leadership, and to dispense that civic hospitality which by ancient and universal custom are associated with the Mayoral chair. All these qualifications arc possessed in a marked degree by the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, and not less so, as the whole city is well aware, by Mr. Arthur Myers. Seeing that Mr. Mitehelson, having given the city two years' arduous service, claims the right to refuse reelection, it would not be possible to obtain a better successor than the latter gentleman. Air. Myers is not only native-born, but an actual resident in the city, the head of great commercial and industrial enterprises, of high repute as a iinan-' cier and industrial organiser, as well as for his social qualities, tactful, popular, and hospitable. The method of electing city mayors is designed to enable municipalities to put forward their ablest and most suitable men, regardless of place on the city councils, and without any derogation to our city councillors it must be said that the method is a wise one and makes it possible for Auckland to make a better selection than would otherwise be possible.