MAYOR’S DIGNIFIED REPLY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 64, 18 March 1915, Page 6

MAYOR’S DIGNIFIED REPLY.

[xo The Editor Stratford Post.] Sir,—The fulminations of your correspondent hiding unde r the nom-de-plume of ■'“North Broadway” are, as you say, in last night’s sub-leader, only likely to provoke the wide smile of amusement, and do not require any serious consideration. My only object in this communication is to reply to your correspondent’s desire to have the old Council ■ including myself retired. If better men are offering, this suggestion would undoubtedly be to the advantage of the town, and if your correspondent can induce bettei substitutes for the present members of the Council he will be doing a good ' service to the ratepayers. Unfortu-

nately, it is difficult to induce townsmen to give their services for tho carrying out of public duties, such duties often entailing neglect of private business, and no encouragement is given to aspirants for public by such unfair criticism as indulged in by your anonymous correspondent. For my own part, to retire from the office of Mayor would not entail any hardship whatever, as my time and activities .at the services of the burgesses could with advantage to myself be employed ,n other directions. However, 1 desire to state that I view with great regret the announced intentions of/ several councillors- not to seek - re-election; their loss to the Council would be realised when the work requiring experience is taken in hand. Like every other business, ■ the Council’s business is best carried out by those with initiative, who have served an apprenticeship: good men who have not served an apprenticeship should be welcomed tp the Council, but men of ability who have given,their services as councillors should in the interests of the town he

induced if possible to continue. The blight on the town are not the men who willingly give their services; on the contrary the blight comes from such men as your correspondent, who while giving nothing in services, are satisfied to make grossly exaggerated statements to which they are ashamed to append their names. T am, sir, W. P. KIRKWOOD, Mayor.