DEPUTY MAYOR.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4832, 20 May 1925, Page 2

DEPUTY MAYOR.

PROCEEDINGS AT PAEROA.

CR. E. EDWARDS RE-ELECTED.

At Monday night’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council the question of electing a member to fill the position of Deputy-Mayor came up for consideration.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) said that a long established precedent had prevailed by which the councillor, polling the highest number of votes at the election was given the position. The practice was quite all right for the first council, but, in his judgment, to establish a precedent for all time wa*s quite wrong and not always in the best interests of the boi ough. The legal position and status of the deputy was that the council mirht appoint (it was not compelled to do so) ,a deputy-mayor. Such deputy could only act with the authority of the Mayor, and if he received the consent of the Mayor, or if the Mayor was incapable of discharging his duties of office. It was therefore made necessary that the deputy should be nominated by the Mayor, and he explained why it was generally recognised in most towns that the nomination of a deputy-mayor was the prerogative of the elected Mayor. Any other position, he contended, would be unworkable. He thought the council should give special consideration always to the Mayor’s nomination, and possibly should only reject it if his nominee was unfitted for tlie position. Ethically the deputy-mayor should, be the councillor best qualified to assist the Mayor, and a man of sound judgment and high ideals, and one who wais prepared to throw his heart and soul into the work and one on whom the Mayor could rely and work in amicable co-operation. The deputymayor was required to be loyal to his chief insofar as the interests of the public permitted. Such factors as these, said the Mayor, might not be the characteristics of the candidate who topped the poll, and, further, such a position could not always be regarded as an indication of a popular selection or vote. The precedent prevailing, in his opinion, made for block voting, which might possibly mean the exclusion of a very desirable councillor. So far as he could see, the precedent had nothing to commend'lt, unless it was to save the Mayor from possibly giving offence by making his own selection from among his colleagues. He stresesd the point that he had nothing personal against Or. Hare. He had supported his candidature for municipal honours, and was gratified to see him returned at the head of the poll. All the same, he had only a nodding acquaintance with Cr. Hare.

The burgesses at the election had given a big vote in favour of new blood on the council, continued the Mayor, and he proposed to recognise that fact; yet he hoped that his action if successful would serve to break the -old precedent and place the matter on a proper basis for the benefit of all succeeding councils. To do that he was prepared to take a somewhat unusual course.

The Mayor then formally proposei Cr E. A. Porritt for the position ol deputy-mayor.

Cr. H. J. Hare immediately (seconded the nomination, and in doing so said that he was not particularly coveting the onerous position for himself. He trusted that the Mayor had chosen wisely from among the councillors. At any rate, he had chosen a member according to his awn liking, and that, said Cr. Hare, was what counted most.

Cr. J. W. Silcock said that he quite agered with the breaking of the precedent, but he was of the opinion that the interests of the borough could oe best served by electing an older and me: e experienced councillor. He, therefore, had pleasure in nominating Cr. E. Edwards, who had ably filled the position in the past. The speaker said that, he had the highest regard for Cr. Porritt, but he thought that some consideration was also due to his nominee.

Cr. G. P. de Castro seconded the proposal, and said that his reason for doing so was because he considered that Cr. Edwards had had the experience and was particularly well fitted to carry out the duties for a further teim, with all due respects to the Mayor’s nominee,

Cr. F. E. Flatt congratulated the Mayor on the firm stand he had taken in breaking down the old custom. Without further discussion the resolutions were then put, and on the showing of hands the voting was ; For' Cr. Edwards : Crs. Brenan, Silcock, Flatt, and de Castro.

For Cr. Porritt: The Mayor, and Crs. Hare and Pinder.

His Worship then declared Cr Edwards duly elected.

Cr. Edwards briefly returned thanks for tlie honour accorded him. and said that as in the past he would use his host endeavours to loyally support His Worship and serve the interests of fhe public. He sincerely hoped that the fact of his having defeated the Mayor’s nominee would cause no ill-feeling. In conclusion he wished to thank the Mayor for the ready assistance and co-operation that had always been extended to him.