THE WELLINGTON MAYORALTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 27

THE WELLINGTON MAYORALTY.

(From Our Own CoRR-EsroNPFNT.) WELLINGTON, April 12. There is every prospect of a keen contest for the mayoralty. There are four candidates in the field. Two of them, Messrs Wright and M'Laren, were members of the last Parliament. Mr Wright was on the Opposition side of the House, and represented Wellington South. He was beaten at the general election by Mr Hindmarsh, the Labour representative. He is a man of high integrity. and purpose and possessed of more than average ability. He favours a policy of progress on sound financial lines. Mr M'Laren was the sole representative of Labour in the last Parliament, but was beaten by Dr Newman, Opposition candidate, at the last election. He is, of course, a Socialist, but is not so revolutionary as some of the present labour members. The other candidates are Messrs John Smith and Mr A. S. Biss. Mr Smithy who is getting up in vears, has been acta ing mayor during Mr Wilford's illness and absence from New Zealand. He did not show to great advantage during the recent tramway strike. Mr A. S. Biss was formerly an efficient member of the council. An effort has been made to get two of the three candidates to stand down, so that there may be. a clear-cut contest between the Labour and the Citizens' League candidates. So far the effort has ended in failure, and the chances of the Labour, candidate (Mr M'Laren) are thereby greatlv improved.