CITY'S NEXT MAYOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21857, 20 July 1934, Page 12

CITY'S NEXT MAYOR

MISS E. MELVILLE NAMED REQUEST TO SEEK ELECTION CONSIDERATION PROMISED A deputation of representative women citizens yesterday afternoon waited on Miss Ellen Melville, a member of the City Council, with the request, that she should consent to accept nomination as a candidate for the Mayoralty of Auckland at the next municipal elections in May, 1935. Miss Melville has promised to give her reply to-morrow. Mrs. Kenneth Gordon, the principal speaker for the deputation, said that as one who had taken some part in local politics she considered that the chief work of the country wak not done in Parliament, but in the sphere of local government. The deputation felt that the time had come for New Zealand to fall into line with older countries and encourage women to take a greater part in local government. In many English cities and boroughs women had filled the office of Ma.yoi with distinction and, until a few years ago, a woman was Lord Mayor of Liverpool. "What is good enough for Liverpool is good enough for Auckland, added Mrs. Gordon. She expressed the opinion that Miss Melville was admirably fitted to assume the position of Mayor as she had served for 21 years .as a member of the City Council and had talon such a practical interest in civic and social affairs. Miss Melville s chairmanship at a recent public meeting in the city, the speaker said, had enhanced her reputation greatly. Quality of Citizenship

A former Mayoress of Auckland, Mrs. Devore, widow of the late Mr. A. E. T. Devore, who was Mayor from 1886 to 1889, said that if elected Mayor Miss Melville would be the right person in the right place. She recalled that Miss Melville was associated with Mr. Devore when she first entered the legal profession. Other members of the deputation, several of whom spoke, were Mesdames Hugh Kasper, I. Gray, E. McNair, D. Latimer, IT. Cohvill and the Misses E. It. Wilson, E. M. Newton, A. It. Quayle, A. Walker and G. M. Hemus. In replying, Miss Melville said she appreciated very much the attendance of such a representative deputation of women and she would give their request earnest consideration. In citizenship the question whether a citizen who aspired to public office was a man or a woman made very little difference. The question was the quality of the citizen. A Voice: Hear, hear. Representing Every Section Miss Melville said she was very proud to have had a share in civic work and she felt that from the point of view of experience she should be able to render good service to the city. In public life it was experience and devotion to duty which counted and not whether a person was a man or a woman. A Mayor of a city must be the representative of every section of the community. It was mentioned by 'Miss Melville that in England there had been a number of women Maycyrs and there were women members of the London County Council. Probably first woman Mayor in the British Empire was Mrs. E. Yates, who was Mayor of from 1894 to 1895. Today it was looked upon as perfectly natural that women who entered local politics should aspire to tho highest offices. FORMER MAYOR'S KEY HISTORIC EVENT RECALLED An inscribed silver key given to the late Mr. A. E. T. Devore, a former Ma yor of Auckland, .when he officially opened the public library and-art gallery building in Wellesley Street East on March 26, 1887, was yesterday afternoon presented to Miss Ellen Melville, a member of the City Council, by Mrs. Devore. It is probable that the key will later bo placed in the Old Colonists' Museum. The presentation was made after a deputation of women had waited on Miss Melville to request her to accept nomination as n candidate for the mnvoraliy of the citv. M iss Melville, who is chairman of the Library Committee of the City Council, recalled that when she was first elected to the council her nomination paper was signed, by Mr. Devore and another former Mayor, the late Mr. David Goldie. She said she greatly appreciated being given the custody of the key presented to Mr. Devore ou the occasion of the opening of the main library building. She already had two keys which wero given to her when she officially opened two suburban branch libraries.