THE MAYORALTY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12095, 24 March 1925, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY

MR MITCHELL WITHDRAWS BUSINESS APPOINTMENT BARS HIS ENTRY TO' CONTEST. CIVIC LEAGUE ASSENTS. Mr George Mitchell will not; be a, candidate for the Mayoralty at the forthcoming municipal election. With the consent of the Civio League, which had endorsed his candidature, Mr Mitchell has withdrawn from the contest. ' Tlie meeting of the Civio League candidate’s selection committee, held yesterday evening, was presented With a serious problem in a letter from Mr George Mitchell and a short report made by the chairman and secretary (states the report supplied by the committee to the Press). The letter ’a given her© in full, and explains the situation that lias arisen. Very serious consideration was given ,to fhe matter. A motion was carried unanimously.. “That this committee, with much regret, decides to release Mr Mitchell from _the_ obligation- he had made with it, in view of the circumstances which have arisen.” NOMINATIONS WANTED. Further reports wer© made by the offioers, having reference to further! possible candidates. It was agreed by all present that the new situation required to he folly reviewed and that this eouldi not be done completely at that, meeting. It was decided that a statement of the position be -given to the Press; that a further, meeting be called for Monday, March 30th, to review the matter of selection for the Mayoralty; and that the committee consider the : claims of any nominee who endorses the principle that th<* Mayor elected shall not seek' Parliamentary honours. • MR MITCHELL’S LETTER. Mr Mitchell’s letter,* addressed to the Civic League, reads as follows: , Dear Sir, —Since I announced my candidature for the Mayoralty, which action your committee endorsed, circumstances have arisen which I am bound to put -before you. A wellknown firm in the city has offered me the position of manager at a very considerable salary, hut, while the directors are agreeable to allow me to be a candidate for the Harbour Board and the City Council, and thereby take my share in the public life of the city, they naturally and rightly feel that were I elected (which with the endorsement of the citizens’ committee and Ratepayers’ Association throughout the city and suburbs is assured!) I would desire to concentrate my time on the' business of the city and could not properly carry out the duties of Mayor and the responsibilities of manager of their business at the same time. They, therefore, make , their offer conditional on my not being, a candidate for the office of Mayor, which means that I must either give up the Mayoral campaign or sacrifice the responsible and permanent position 1 which they offer m«. In the ordinary course I would accept the offer made without hesitation, hut my confidence is not dear 1 . 1 owe a duty to your committeo. to those who axe supporting me so loyally, to the people, and to the tity, and ’therefore place the matter frankly and fully before you If your committee are of opinion that I may accept this offer without breaking faith kindly inform me. If, on the other hand, they are of opinion that I am creating an awkward, position and that in the interests of the city they desire me to go on jy itk my candidature for Mayor, pleaaeysay so and I will sacrifice the offer made and commence the campaign at once. I wish again to impress on the committee that if in their opinion I am honourably obliged to go on I will sacrifice anything rather than dishonour any obligations I ow© to the people, who have so loyally supported me in the poet. I leave the decision entirely in your hands.