First Edition. MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3, 8 May 1913, Page 6

First Edition. MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

•SPEECHES AT THE LOCAL CEREMONY. The formal ceremony of the installation of Mr \V. P. Kirkwood as Mayor of Stratford, and Messrs N. J. King,, J. Masters, F. Arden, R. Dingle, J Boon, R. McK. Morison, J. W. Fredric,, and J. B. Richards &s Oouiicillors took place in the Borough Chambers this morning. On former occasions the public have taken som© interest in this little function, but this year no “ode to the conqueror” was presented, and the chairs prepared for visitors remained vacant. Or J. H. Thompson was unavoidably absent. THE MAYOR’S ADDRESS. Having duly read and signed the declaration, Sis Worship the Mayor briefly welcomed the new Councillors, —Messrs Richards, Fredric, and Arden, and said he had no doubt but that at the end of the Councillors’ term of office the electors would feel justified in their choice. Councillor Richards, he knew a« a very energetic man, and one full of ideas; Councillor Fredric was a level-headed business man, and he felt sure that

the bringing to bear of this Coun- * cillar’s business capacities on the affairs of the Borough would do good; in Councillor Arden, they had a most popular citizen. Mr Kirkwood .went on to say that he had not included Councillor Masters’ name among the new Councillors, for that Councillor’s municipal Carreer was too well known to dilate upon. He was very pleased tp have Mr Masters on the Council, and thought the position was rather unique that they should have two ex-mayors occupying seats on the Council. It seemed to him. to show ■(hat there was not that lack of interest in municipal aifairs that some people might think existed. Speaking of the future, Mr Kirkwood said that during the year they would have a great deal of work before them; though there would be no loan money to be spent, they would have to do their best with the revenue at their disposal, and would have to go very carefully. It appeared to him that Stratford had got to that stage when it© revenue was pot sufficient to do work of permanent nature; loan money was really required. However, he was not quarrelling with the ratepayers in their treatment of the loan proposals, though there appeared to him to be very little possibility for some years of carrying a loan for any large * amount. In such works as duplicating the water pipe line, he

was not prepared to go to any expense without first obtaining a mandate from the electors as to whether they favored the expenditure or not. His Worship concluded that he hopec during the year Councillors would bo prepared to abide by the majority rule ; the Council would not go very far unless they were fully prepared to accept this. (Applause). Short speeches of congratulation were then made by all the Councillors. Councillor King referred to the very pleasant time they had had during their past year’s service on* the Council. He trusted that the year would be a, very prosperous one for the whole of the Borough, and that the business would be transacted as it had been done in the past. He welcomed the new Councillors, and said that he felt sure that they, one and all, were actuated by a desire to do their level best for the good of the Borough as a whole.

Councillor Masters spoke in similar strains, and stated his willingness at all times to abide by the decision of the majority. It had been evident, he said, that for some years parochialism had been present on the Council, which parochial spirit he thought it was the desire of all level-headed men to crush. It was not in the best interests of the town that there should be any party feeling. Let every man work for the benefit of the Borough as a whole, because progress and parochialism were directly opposed to one another 1 The town must suffer when silch a spirit was abroad, and it did suffer. (Applause). Councillor R. McK. Morison, in extending congratulations to His Worship on his return unopposed to the office of Mayor, referred especially to the unanimity of the people of Stratford in desiring that Mr Kirkwood should again be their chifef citizen. No doubt this year they would have to go slow, but slow and steady might win the race in the long run. Referring to the subject of parochialism, Mr Morifion said he did not think that spirit ever emanated from the Council table.

A voice: Oh get out! Councillor Morison: It had been abroad that that spirit existed among them, but those in the know knew otherwise. The south end had not been neglected to the extent that soinb would appear to make out, and he knew that in the future they could and would work amicably. Councillor Boon and Councillor Dingle also Spoke words of welcome and of congratulation. The latter, in replying to Councillor Masters’ remarks, said- that he was sorry that there should be any feeling out north, south, east or west. Though there might have been a little feeling on this question in the past, he was firmly of the opinion that at this stage they should drop all that, and try and Work together for the general good. ' (Applause). Councilor Eichards spoke feelingly on his thoughts as a new Councillor “I feel,” he said, “somewhat like a child digging his feet into deep water, and not knowing the depth or what

is before.” Continuing, the Councillor said that he trusted they would be able to work together in the spirit of amity. Touching on the sentiments expressed by Councillor Masters, he drew the attention of Councillors to the motto of the Borough—“Kia PiPiri,” which, he understood, meant, “Shoulder to Shoulder.” Before he came to Stratford he was told that there was a spirit in Stratford which bound the people together for the good of the Borough, working as a wedge. Councillor Morison; So there is. Councillor King: So there used to be. *

Councillor Richards went on to say that that reputation still lived, at least in the minds of the people abroad, and he trusted that they as councillors would continue to justify that reputation. Bearing in mind the achievements of previous members of the Stratford Borough' Council, it gave him much pleasure to have the opportunity of following in their footsteps. (Applause.) Councillors Arden and Fredric spoke in similar strain. In reply, His Worship thanked the councillors for their expressions of good-will. The word parochialism, ho thought was not used in its right 'sense in the way it was used by councillors. He did not think that on any occasion there should be any other feeling but that they were one body, and that the Council represented the whole. Ho felt that the spirit mentioned by them would die out, if it was not dead now'. It w r as only in heated moments that this spirit crept in, and all they had to do was to guard against it in the future.- (Applause.)