The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY. APRIL 22, 1915. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Issue 17492, 22 April 1915, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY. APRIL 22, 1915. LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS.

When the hour for receiving nominations lor the Mayoralty and Town Council arrived yesterday a very gratifying list of candidates was announced. A number of the retiring Councillors had declared their intention of withdrawing from the Council table, but they have been prevailed upon to place their knowledge and experience at the disposal of the electors for another term. It would have been an unfortunate thing had Messrs Dunlop, Dillicrap and Ott refused to reconsider the matter of retiring, and it is a fortunate thing that the electors will have the opportunity of returning to the Council so large a. number of the old Councillors, men who have an intimate knowledge of tiie town's affairs and who am able to maintain continuity in the management of the town's numerous trading enterprises. In addition to the gentlemen already mentioned Messrs Baird. Carswell, Bennie. O'Byrno and Stead are offering themselves for reelection and' it is safe to asstime that all will be returned. AH of them have served the town well, sacrificing their time, and sometimes their interests, in order to promote the progress and well-being of the municipality. They have the strongest claim to support. and in virtue of their past record they are the candidates in whom the electors can with the fullest confidence repose their trust. But there are a number of vacancies to he filled. Two members of the last Council, Messrs Haggitt and McKay, are candidates for the Mayoralty, and Messrs Brent and Moffett have found

it necessary to retire. For these four seats there are thirteen candidates, many of whom are well known to the bulk of the citizens. The number includes ex-Counci 1 lors in Messrs Andrew Bain and Wm. Martin, who have come forward in response to an undoubted call for. their services. Prom the other eleven candidates the citizens should have no difficulty ■in tilling the remaining two places, and there is every reason to hope that the new Council will bring to the consideration of the important questions that come before the Invercargill Council knowledge, experience and ability. The position of Town Councillor is rather a thankless one. Among the public there are mady who make the Council a butt for thoughtless and ignorant criticism and few who trouble to inquire how much time Councillors give up to the public service, often at great personal inconvenience, and how carefully most of the Council's difficult and responsible work is done. It is only when election time comes round and the services of competent men have to be sought that the citizens realise how much they owe to the men who undertake the supervision of the town’s business.

As to the Mayoralty it is a little unfortunate, we think, that Mr McFarlane should have decided to seek a further term of office. Mr McFarlane has already occupied the Mayoral chair for two successive years, and unclef the new law the candidate who is elected next Wednesday will be Mayor for the ensuing two years, that is, for the life of the new Council. Mr McFarlane therefore asks the electors to give him four successive years in the Mayoralty. To our mind that is too long a period for any one man to fill the position of Mayor. The Mayoralty is a position to which members of the Council should be encouraged to aspire. They are reasonably entitled to look forward to roundingoff their service in the Council with a term in the Mayoral chair, and, quite apart from the question of competency, we think that it would have been a graceful thing had Mr McFarlane, after two years in office, decided to stand aside in recognition of the claims of others who had sat under him. The electors are not likely to regard with favour what looks like an attempt to monopolise an important public position. No doubt Mr McFarlane is actuated by quite good motives, but it seems to us that he has failed to give adequate consideration to the aspect of the matter we have brought under notice. With regard to Messrs Haggitt and McKay it will probably be generally agreed that Mr Haggitt has the stronger claims. Mr McKay has an unquestionable right to offer himself as a candidate, and is. indeed, to be commended for doing so, but so far as is known he did not, as Mr Haggitt did. come out in response to strong representations that his services in the capacity of Mayor were desired. Two years ago Mr McKay was the last of the elected Councillors, and the two years’ work in the Council has proved that Mr Haggitt is the better fitted for the Mayoral chair. Mr Haggitt is well qualified for the position and would worthily represent the town as its chief citizen. Triangular contests are rarely satisfactory, and the result is likely to be affected by wholly irrelevant considerations, but if the qualifications of the candidates are impartially considered and made the basis of support Mr Haggitt should have a substantial majority.

It is a matter for congratulation that a lady has found the courage to offer herself as a candidate for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The appearance or a woman in the lists is a novelty here, but in other towns, no further away, for instance, than Dunedin and Timaru, women have for some years been valued members of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. For much of the work connected witli the administration of hospitals, charitable institutions, and charitable relief women are peculiarly fitted and their advice is of great value to the Board. Mrs Cruickshank: would be an acquisition to the local Board, in fact we may say “will be,” for there is little doubt but that the electors will put her in a position for which she is eminently suited. As to the other candidates for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and those for the Bluff Harbour Board the result of the election is hardly in doubt. Mr Petrie is certainly able to put persistency first among his qualifications, but it is a quality to which be cannot reasonably expect the citizens to attach an undue value.