The Wanganui Chronicle. AND RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1901. THE MAYORALTY.

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 March 1901, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle. AND RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1901. THE MAYORALTY.

We feel sure tha.^ Councillor W. G. Bassctt's candidature for the Mayoralty will prove highly acceptable" to. the burgesses. Wo accept Mr Bassott's candidature as certain, because we feel that in the face of the very largely signed requisition which is about to bo presented to him he. will regard it as his duty to allow himself to be nominated. As.most of our readers are no doubt aware, Councillor Bassett's name has been frequently mentioned when the Mayoralty of the Borough has formed the subject of discussion or conversation, and it is worthy of >note that the universal opinion, so far as we have been able to ascertain it, isi that he is eminently qualified to fill, the high office with credit to himself and benefit to the town. Indeed,, (here .seems to be n, remarkably widespread clcsiro that he should allow himself to be iicminnted, and to our knowledge many prominent men—some of whom are at variance with him. in the wider political fieid— .have expressed the opinion that once he was nominated hia election would follow as a matter of course. We do not encourage the fostering cf a too-sanguine spirit, because wp arc aware that many an election has be«n .lost by over-confidence : but nevertheless it is pleasing to know that there is such a feeling prevalent in the community. It is pleasing for various reasons, but especially because it shows that as a municipality we are fairly free from tho crippling influences of Party which dominate the Parliamentary arena. And it is of course quite right that it should be so. There is no affinity between the two systems of government, and the peoplo of a Borough are but serving their best interests when they insist on the complete disassociation of the two. -, It' is because of the recognition of this fact that we find men of all shades of political opinion speaking in favour of Cr Bassett's candidature for the. Mayoralty and frceiy expressing the hope that he will allow, himself to be nominated. The reason for the confidence in Cr Bassett, so freely voiced on all sides, is not far to seek. From the | public poait of view he is regarded as a valuable man, and one capable of giving a practical supervision to tne work of the Borough. Time and again his advice has proved of material assistance to the Council and of substantial advantage to the town, and, although we have no desire to

be unpleasantly reminiscent, we cannot forget that had the present Mayor taken Cr Bassett's advice in regard to the pipe track on St. John'y Hill the many Hundreds of pounds then thrown away would nave been saved to the town. \Ve are aware that .Mr Hatrick has expressed his

willingness to serve-for another term, but, .virile we frankly admit that in many res-. pocCs he has proved a, successful and energetic Mayor, we are strongly of opinion tnat tho time has come wThen a change is desirable., more particularly as the opportunity presents itself oi" securing the services of such a thoroughly competent and capable man as C-- Bassett. Mr Hatrick has occupied-tho chair foi1 three successive teimt;, so that he cannot very well compHin if tho burgsssea decide to give another old and tried Councillor a turn, as we feef! confident they will do- if Cr Bassett allows himself to be nominated. Wo attach no importance at all to- the contention that Mr Hatrick should be al-

lowed to remain in office in order to superintend the works which have been initiated (luring his Mayoralty. If, in view ol these contemplated enterprises, it was a matter of choosing between Mr Hatrick and an outsider, there would bo something in the argument that the . present ■■ holder of the olh'ce should be given the preference. Such, however, is not the case; Cr Bassett is as conversant with the details of the proposed schemes as the Mayor himself, and ko far as the ability to carry them through is concerned, the comparison, if anything, must be in his favour. When the Corporation is called upon to face the expenditure of large sums of money, it goes without: saying that the treasury should be under the control of Ilia-best available man, and in this case the best man must certainly be the one most qualified to give a practical supervis- \ ion of tho works upon which the money is to be expended. Obviously, Cr Bassett is that one. We do not say this in any spirit of mere hostility to Mr Hatrick; wo are simply stating a lact which must bo apparent to all. Mr Bassett, as a successful contractor, has had long and wide experience in the conduct of important public works. Mr Hatrick, as a success-

ful merchant, has had his energies directed in a totally difleient direction. When, added to this, it is remembered that Cr Bassett is fully an sympathy with the mnnicipnlisation of the Gas Works and the extorts'on of the wtaer supply, it. will be seen thiit thcie is no valid reason why, on thatl account, Mr Hatrick should -be given cinother tcim of offices.. It must also be remembered, when reviewing Mr Hatriok's Mayoialty, that his extended term of ofiice has been punctuated with opportunities for* posin» in the public eye such as hcue fallen to the lot of none of his predecessors, and such, too, as are by no mears hkejy to occur again. Events of "i r\ifc national moment—for the. happening of''which Mi Hatuck w«.s of course no moie responsible thnntlie man in the. moon - -have occuned chiring his occupancy of the cli in, and Ly the ft rcc of circumstances over which he had no control he has been made the tcntial figure in a- series of popular demonsti .tion >. For this he is 10 moio entitled to ciedit than he is enutlod to blame for the outbreak of the South African war 01 the death of our late beloved Queen. As a. community -we jki\ c, m common with tho rest of the Empiie, beenpeihips |ust a little, hysteri(cl over some of these thing!.;. Certainly thcie ippeais to be a growing feeling in ( favour of sobering down and resuming, with some degree cf regularity, the even tenor of our way. As one well-known citizen was heard to express it the other day, "Wo have been indulging in a prolonged Imperial festival, and it is time that we dropped the feasting and the fireworks and paid a little attention to the material affaira of life." This same citizen was equally emphatic in the opinion,, that. a. change in the tenancy of the Mayoral chair would conduce towards the end desired. Bo" this. Tis it may, we are of opinion that there arc more cogent reasons why a. change should be, made, and we hope that Gr Bassett will allow himself to be nominated. If he does we feel sure that the groat majority of the burgeyses will give him . their support