“A BEDSIDE STORY.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17527, 2 May 1925, Page 1

“A BEDSIDE STORY.”

j HOW MR ARCHER BECAME MAYOR. | WELLINGTON COMMENT. (Special to the “ Star.' 7 ) WELTJNGTON. May 2. Under the heading “Bed-side Story’’ the “New Zealand Times” comments as follows on the Christchurch Mayoralty ; “"There's a bed-side story for civic leagues and hurt politicians in the result of the Christchurch Mayoral election. Two year- ago. Mr Beanland decided to contest the Mayoralty of that city. A Mr Flesher was of the same mind at the same time. Both were members of the Citizens’ Association. which took fright at the prospect of vote-splitting. .Labour having a man in the held. The association waited on Mr Beanland. and persuaded him to stand aside in favour of Mr Flesher, who won. Announcing his candidature for the office this year, Mr Beanland stated that the price promised him two years ago for his patriotism was the support of the association for the 1925 election. “That body told a different story. It explained, after having labelled Mr Flesher, that Mr Beanland must have misunderstood the 1923 contract, but tho explanation did not satisfy a considerable number of perfectly reputable and impartial citizens. Convinced that he had been made a scapegoat. Mr Beanland insisted on going to the poll. There was. of course, no question of Mr Fiesher withdrawing; ! lie is more than usually ambitious Gauging the situation. Labour, previously uncertain, decided to put up a. representative. It was an opportunity too good to miss. The inevitable hap]>ened. Mr Flesher is not outstandingly popular in the town, though an able administrator. Mr Beanland was assured of a substantial personal following. plus some sympathy votes. He ruined the chance of his association colleague. "The Socialist slipped in between the two. and secured the honour by a comfortable margin. But he is a trifle astray when he describes the outcome as (1) a victory for the party, and (2> a victory for himself. It was neither the one nor the other; it was merely a victory for muddlement. The FlesherBeanland votes outnumbered Labour's by 3393. A fourth candidate—another independent—polled over a thousand. The Mayor-elect of Christchurch flatters tho party as well as himself.”