The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 24th NOVEMBER, 1886.

Southland Times, Issue 9383, 24 November 1886, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 24th NOVEMBER, 1886.

The mayoral election in Invercargill this year is a comparatively tame affair. As far as we are aware it has not created the slightest excitement. The candidates and their respective knots of canvassing friends no doubt experience an occasional access of mild enthusiasm, but the bulk of the ratepayers await the result of the poll with minds as unruffled SB a lagoon in tbe heart of Seaward Bush. There is no burning question to rouse them. Not only has tbe bill for the consolidation of our loans become law ; the new loan has itself been floated — with flying colours, too, as the Mayor expressed it on Monday evening, his Worship having been out of eight more successful than tbe Colonial Treasurer, wfcose venture nearly miscarried } and as the said loan bas been apportioned to the several schemes for which the money was wanted, all that is required in the immediate future is careful administration and supervision. At the same time there is something to be said for Mr McDonald's candidature. He claims, for instance, that it is in great measure owing to his exertions since he first became a member of the Council that our Borough affairs are not like those of Dunedin, in dire confasion. Nor is this claim altogether unfounded. We certainly thiak the Mayor has a fair conceit 'of himself, and we were more amused than convinced by his frank declaration that the man who has not is an objectionable person. But we should be the last to deny or disparage the services which he has rendered, both as a councillor and as Mayor, to the Borough of Invercargill. It is admitted, in particular, that he has deserved well of his fellow burgesses in the matter of the consolidation of the loans, so well indeed that upon this ground alone he might not unreasonably base his claim to a second term of office. But this is a matter for the ratepayers to settle. We may, however, say that we can scarcely understand why there should, be no general an .opinion in favour

of having a new Mayor every year. ' There is no reason in the world why the office, as ike saying ia, should go round —no reason even why the Mayor should. be]chosen from amongst the members of the Council, Men are of course apt to be corrupted by power. It is sad to think that even a Mayor might degenerate* into a tyrant, not withstanding the. ; yeJrf, limited character of his authority. Suc¥ ( is the fraiity of human nature. Look how sure a colonial government is to become absolutist in aim and aspiration, if not in practice. As a rule we must" have frequent change of rulers if we would maintain our liberties. Still it is hardly necessary to change our Mayor every twelvemonth. The principle of fitness is higher and of more concernment to the public than mere rotation ; and if a town or city were to light upon a man eminently qualified for the chief magistracy we would advise tbat town or city to choose that man year by year continually — at least until he began to 1 develop the almost inevitable despotic tendencies. Then he could be cashiered I or lynched, as the circumstances might require. Not that w© consider Mr McDonald likely to grow into a Cromwell or a Caesar. We have no coubt that he would continue for an indefinite length of time to rule according to the constitution. There would be no danger at least in choosing hitn for anolhei 1 year. The mayor who is only mayor for a single term is seldom more than mayor a in name ; nor should it be forgotten that the practice in vogue here in Invercargill tends to invest the Town Clerk with the authority which belongs of right to the Chief Magistrate. Which is not at all desirable. It is for one thing unfair to that official to lay such a heavy burden upoa him ; and it is also unfair to tbe town to place it practically under lhe irresponsible management of a subordinate. And yet this is no reason why Mr McDonald should be reelected, unless the ratepayers believe him to be decidedly more fit for the post than his opponent. He is a shrewd, solid, and so uewhat stubborn Scotsman with a quid conceit of himself undoubtedly, but also, we believe, with a sincere wish to devote his talents and I acquirements, which are not iaconsider- [ able, to the advancement of Invercargill.