The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1911. NEW PLYMOUTH MAYORALTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 1, 17 August 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1911. NEW PLYMOUTH MAYORALTY.

Some controversy is taking place in New Plymouth just now as to whether it is compulsory, in ease of the death or resignation of a Mayor, to select, a successor for the balance of the term from among councillors, or whether some other person may be chosen. The Municipal Corporations Act, although not making the matter too clear, yet certainly indicates that a successor shall be chosen from among the sitting councillors in the event of a Mayoral chair becoming vacant under extraordinary circumstances. It is stated in section 35 of the Act of 1900 (not the consolidated statutes) that in case of the death, incapacity, or ousted from office of a Mayor, the Council shall forthwith proceed to elect a successor; and “The Town Clerk shall forthwith, upon such vacancy occurring, call a special meeting of the Council for making such election thereto.” The fact that there is no provision in the Act for a fresh election by the burgesses would appear to show that the Legislature intended the selection to bo made from among councillors; and this is a reasonable view to take. An utter stranger to municipal procedure would not be likely to give satisfaction; but a man who had boon working for years side by side with a Mayor whose seat suddenly became vacant would bo in a position to take up the duties of the office with some show of success. It would bo a grave reflection on a councillor who haul, occupied the position of De-puty-Mayor for perhaps months in a most commendable manner, to be passed by for one who bad probably never sought to serve the ratepayers at the Council table. If any doubt should exist in connection with the Now Plymouth Mayoralty, owing to the untimely death of Mr Tiseh, the custom followed by other governing bodies under similar circumstances ought to bo a sufficient guide. When the Premiership of the Dominion became vacant through the death of the Hon. John Ralhuicc, the late Mr Saddou took upon himself, as next in command, the responsibilities of that high office, notwithstanding that it had been

assorted that Mr ikillanco, hel'ore death, had expressed a wish that Sir Robert Stout (who was not then a member of the .House of Representatives) should succeed him. That Mr Seddon’s action was popular was amply home out hy his long and successful reign. He was in touch with the politics of the day—knew, in fact, every move on the hoard—and was far more; competent to carry on the administration than one who had for a lengthy period severed himself from an active political life. As in general politics, so in local. It is the man or men in harness that we must, look to in an emergency such as has arisen in the mother town. The Mayoral chair is the highest honour in the gift of burgesses, hut no man should seek to ohthin that, position until lie has hrst. served his apprenticeship as a councillor. Very few citizens would he found willing to devote their time

to municipal affairs, if it became ibc practice to clod, untrained men over their heads to till the office that every councillor with a particle ox ambixion ■hould aspire to. The Mayoral chair belongs of right to those who iigh t the battles of the ratepayers as councillors, and only under tec most exceptional circumstances, if ever, should the electors depart, from such a course. Since writing the foregoing, section -!0 of the Municipal Act of 1900 has attracted our attention. ft reads: “Should the Mayor he absent from t.ho borough, or should lie at any meeting of the Council announce his intention to be so absent, or should bo be ill, the Council may, if it thinks fit, appoint one of its own members to act as Deputy-Mayor during the time of such absence or illness, who, duxing such time, and until the Mayor returns to the borough or notifies the Town Clerk in writing under his hand of the fact of Ins recovery from illness (but within the term of office of such Mayor), may do all acts that the Mayor, as such, might do except act as a Justice of the Peace, unless such Deputy is himself

a Justice.” The conclusion to be drawn from this section is that if a Mayor should be taken seriously ill immediately on being elected, a Deputy Mayor might be called upon to fill the office for six mouths, or even longer; and we fail to see what difference exists between the present, position in New Plymouth and the case cited. It is imperative that a DeputyMayor be selected from the councillors, and wc believe, as we have before stated, that the Act fully intended that the occupant of the chair for an unexpired period—in case of resignation or death—should bo selected in the same manner.