EASTBOURNE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 6

EASTBOURNE.

THE NEW MAYOR'S POLICY. Tho installation of the new Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. W. J. Organ) took place yesterday. Past and present councillors mttended to tho number of about a dozen. Tho retiring Mayor (Mr. Jl. W. Shortt) congratulated Mr. Organ upon I'iis election unopposed, and -remarked that his experience in tbo council (for the past three Vears as senior councillor) had given him u full acquaintance with the needs of the borough. Mr.' Shortt also expresed his 'confidence in Mr. Organ's ability to carry oil the'development and'progress of Eastbourne. Tho now councillors, the retiring Mayor stated in conclusion, would bo a valuable addition to the council.

After returning thanks, extending a welcome to new councillors, and .congratulating those with whom lie had previously bervod, Mr. Organ, dealt in soma detail with matters of policy, explaining that owing to his teturn unopposed he had not to far had occasion to do so. Oiw of the lirst duties of tho catancil would be to review fully the finance of the borough and then map out its programme for the entiling year. All woiiJd' agree that many ivories called for attention, but the borough must cut its coat according to its cloth. [The borough had now acquired the whole "of its foreshore frontage, but! a portion, had to bo paid for. Another item of I'.vpenditiure would be the borough's contribution towards 'the/rat of the Hutt I'oad. Ho had a suspicion that they would not be called iipou to pay this uniount during tho coming year, but it could not bo left out of consideration. A balance still had to be paid in respect of llie park acquiral by the borough. The {Hospital and Charitable Aid levy for 1 lie year, Mr. Organ mentioned, had inteased by, roughly. 2*. (id. per head of the borough population, us compared with 'the previous year. In liis.opinion, -ratepayers had not yet realised that although Hhe Jlospital and Charitable Aid Board '■was a' taxing body, the borough council, 'jus a. local body, had no representation ■upon tile board. might thus )x> called upon to pay more in.any year,. Although "the rates had not been raised. JLater on, no doubt, the council would have Vometbing to say on this matter. Surface ilrainago of the borough was n matter ■which called urgently lor attention. In jliis opinion- it would ba wise to get a rcIjjort from some competent engineer on a ttiurfaee drainago system, which could be 'carried far enough, in the''meantime,' to overt such damage as had recently . occurred, leaving the baliince of the work "to '—bc ' carried tout when tho council was able to do it. Other necessary works mentioned by tho ,3tayor were Toad and footpath improve'meiits, removal of sand-drifts, tree;planting, improvement of the reserve, and the provision of bathing'sheds. In regard to administration he urged that immediate steps should bo taken, to get in outstanding rates, and that some improvement, should be effected in the system of street-lighting in the borough, .•which matter at present was entirely unsatisfactory. The by-laws should bo revised during the coming year, and he proposed to introduce standing orders which would make it, possible to reduce • the time spent in transacting business at meetings-to-reasonable limits. Concluding, Mr. Organ moved that the council Tecard its hearty thanks io the retiring Mayor Oil'. Shortt). anil to the retiring councillors, Messrs. ami .Wills.

This was agreed to. 111 - . Short, the retiring councillors, and wwral members of the present council' spoke in reply.. Mr. Shortt mentioned that a meeting Was to be held at Willis's jl.oonis on the following night' for tlio purpose of forming a beautifying society in Eastbourne. Tt was agreed that the council should meet, as heretofore, on the second Friday in each mouth,, at Eastbourne. The first mcciiuc.' cf the new council will be held next Friday. Committees were constituted as follow: —Finance: Comieillorsßntton, Hareourt, pilcher, and Marsden. Buildings: Councillors Foley, rjc.ss. and Marsdon. Byjaws: Councillor;: I'ilcher, Kelly anil Preston. Public Works: Councillors Button, Foley, Hareourt, and J!oss. The Mayor, ox officio, is a member of all committees. Mention was made of. a notice of motion, by Mr. Hareourt, -which will como up for consideration at the next meetin", til the effect that,the council take immediate steps to undertake a comprehensive scheme of surface drainage, that the engineer •!« asked to report on tho subject? and that if the necessary works cannot be paid for out of revenue, steps be taken to raise a loan.