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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7724, 25 March 1904, Page 4

Apart from the special circumstances which call for the administration of affairs in the City of Wellington by a man of high repute and experience, as well as considerable financial ability—it may be noted that municipal government everywhere now demands the services of men of the highest calibre. Municipal office is in fact of more importance than political. It is infinitely more necessary that the best men should be chosen for Mayoral dignity than for parliamentary. The personality of the Mayor is of more moment than that of a representative ; and a Mayor, if he be the wrong man, can do a great deal more harm; while, if he is the right man, he can do a great deal more good than a Member of Parliament can do. And as things are, with party feeling so acute, with autocratic methods under democratic pretence, the need for special qualifications for parliamentary office seem to be in inverse ratio to their need in the Mayoral chair. It is easy, therefore, to understand that the citizens of Wellington aro much exorcised about the coming election. They may be trusted to rally round the best man, judging from pasi experience ; and, above all, they may be relied upon to block any attempt to foist upon them a political agent. For it is more than ever desirable that party politicians should be given the cold shoulder. " Politics " is just what should be rigidly excluded from the Council Chamber. The city has been fortunate in its choice hitherto. In the retiring Mayor it has had a member of Parliament certainly, but in no sense a party politician. The proposal to elect Mr Duthie as Mr Aitken's successor commends itself to us, as in keeping with the wise selections of the past. For Mr Duthie has been tried and proved over and over again. His interest in the city is extensive, his record stainless, his ripe experience and shrewdness such as no other candidate whose name is mentioned possesses. Those who have the commercial interests of the city at heart, and who desire to sse safe financing carried out at a critical period, need no reminder on this head. The Mayoral chair is not a prize for adventurers to capture. It is a seat to be occupied by quite another type of citizen.