LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1050, 14 January 1913, Page 2

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

GRANTED TO CR. GREIG.

ASKED TO RETAIN HIS SEAT.

At last night’s meeting Cr Greig asked for leave of absence for the balance of his term as he would be leaving for the Old Country before the next meeting of the Council. He was asking for leave of absence in preference to resigning in order to save the cost of an election, there being only about three months of his term, to run.

The Mayor said he received Cr Greig’s application with mixed feelings of pleasure and regret. He was pleased that he was taking a trip and expressed the hope that he would find it beneficial and that he would have a pleasant voyage, but he regretted that he was leaving the Council table. During the time he had occupied a seat there he had done all in his power in the interests of the ratepayers as a whole and his wise counsel would be greatly missed. Cr Chrystall expressed regret that Cr Greig was leaving the table, where his good judgment and business ability would be much missed. He took the op* portunity of wishing him a pleasant voyage and safe return.

Cr Adams concurred with the previous speakers, and while wishing him a pleasant voyage, hoped that he would consent to leave a signed nomination paper behind in order that he could be again nominated at the general election of Councillors in April next.

A motion that three months* leave of absence be granted was carried.

Cr Greig thanked those present for carrying the resolution, and assured them that he appreciated very highly the kindly references to his work as a councillor during his term of office. Cr Stewart also asked if Cr Greig would allow himself to be nominated for the next election.

Asked this morning b} a repre- ( sentative of this paper if he would accede to the request made by . Councillors last night, that be should again allow himself to be • nominated for office, Cr Greig - said that although he had not yet . definitely decided, he thought it was hardly fair to himself to contest an election when so far away. Again, although he was satisfied it was the unanimous wish of those present at last night’s Council meeting that he should allow himself to be nominated, this did not necessarily express the opinion of the burgesses as a whole. There were a number of townspeople who aspire to the office ol councillor, who, if elected, were prepared and willing to undertake their fair share of the work of administration, and if he consented to nomination, and as elected, he would perhaps be keeping someone else out who would be prepared to take his share of the burden for the whole term, whereas it would be some four or five months before he (Cr Greig) could resume his responsibilities as representative of the burgesses. In a way he was sorry he could not continue in office as Councillor, as he was very interested in the work, which during his term he had found very pleasant indeed, and under ordinary circumstances he would have had po hesitation in allowing himself to be again nominated. I}e could not, however, accede tq the request of the Councillors unless he had some assurance that it was the general wish of the burgesses of Foxton,