THE MAYORALTY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 16 March 1911, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY

DEPUTATION TO MR. TISCH. A deputation of representative men of he town waited upon Mr. G. Tisch at the torough Council chambers yesterday aferuoon to ask him to consent to nomiuaion for a further term as Mayor, Mr E. Griffiths (President of the Taralaki Chamber of Commerce and the Municipal Progressive Association) acted j is spokesman. Mr Griffiths said the i utepayers were particularly grateful for | he work Mr Tisch had done in the past, ind conscious of the sacrifices it had enailed. They felt that he bad not only lischarged the duties appertaining to his iffice most thoroughly, but had had his whole heart in his work always.—(Applause). He had always sought the improvement of the borough. One of the latest works was the putting through of the loan for street and drainage improvements. They knew that one of the pet schemes of Mr Tisch was the inauguration of a tram system, a scheme which would confer great benefits on the town and its environs. Another scheme Mr Tisch had done much in furtherance of was a greater New Plymouth. They recognised and appreciated the fact that Mr Tisch was a man with broadened ideas and outlook, due to his having travelled all over the world. They would be sorry to lose such an asset.-—(Ap-plause). Mr Griffiths went on to enumerate what the Mayor had done in the way of beautifying the esplanade and other places, and the assistance he had rendered to swimming, etc. "He is a man we feel proud of, and we naturally jvisfc to keep hira in office,"—(Applause). The present was a somewhat critical period in the history of the town. They had near at hand the development of the oil measures, the development of the harbor and the opening of the country inland of Stratford, all factors that had a material bearing on the destiny of the town. As a matter of fact no other town in the Dominion had better prospects than New Plymouth. This made it all the more necessary that the municipal affairs should be directed by a man of Mr Tisch's ability and qualifications. If Mr Tisch would look around the room lie would see many busy and representative men, who were only a small proportion of those who had signed the requisition he would hand to him, and which, he explained, was hurriedly got up and taken round. He had also been requested by the Municipal Progressive Association (an organisation that had been established for the furtherance of some praiseworthy objects making for the improvement of the town) to ask Mr Tisch to consent to nomination for another term. On rising, Mr. Tisch was heartily eheered. He said he had to thank Mr Griffiths for his kind and encouraging words. To be met by such a representative deputation and presented with such a requisition after having served three years as mayor was a great honor indeed, and one which he fully appreciated. He had said on a previous occasion that he considered the office should be a rolling one, and that others should take their share of the work, Evidently, however, a large number of ratepayers thought otherwise. As he was not tied to business, ha did not, in the circumstances, know how he could offei opposition to the request. (Great ap plause.) He must therefore place him self in their hands. He proceeded to saj that during the three years he had beer Mayor lie had missed not one meeting o! the Council or a committee of which hj( was a member, excepting the Libran Committee. Besides which, lie was con nected, by virtue of his office, wjth man; other concerns, that made considerable inroads into his time and prevented him j from indulging in diversions such as! •bowls, etc. He was very pleased to j hear of the establishing of the Municipal Progressive Association, and hoped it would succeed in galvanising life into municipal affairs. He looked upon New Plymouth as a most important place, with a very big future. He referred to i its fine water front, its water supply system, and the electric lighting system, and went on to discuss the Greater New Plymouth scheme. He was sorry that the suburbs had not yet come into the borough, but he did not despair, and hoped that tills year not only Fitzrov but the other suburbs—Westown, Vogeitown, St. Aubyn, and Moturoa—would join forces. Their interests were identical, and mutual advantages must follow amalgamation, for the bringing about of which all their efforts should bp directed. New Plymouth was one of the finest places in New Zealand for a man to retire in, but they must offer the same facilities as towns like Wangauui and Auckland did. They must provide a tram service first of all. The Council was in possession of estimates of the cost of installing an overhead tram system and the approximate cost of electric light extension, and he hoped that they would carry them through this year. He was always for progress, and during his term of office had done everything he could towards improving the town and making it more attractive. The opening of the back country meant a good deal to the town, and he was alive to the necessity of working hand in hand with the country. He had, he said in conclusion, been in all parts of the world, but there was no place he liked more than New Plymouth, where he was content to end his days. (Applause.) If he were returned he would draw out a programme for the ensuing year. He had never solicited the "position of Mayor. Ratepayers had eoine to him and asked him to offer his service-* "Evidently I must fill the bill, and I thank you for it." (Prolonged applause.) Mr. Griffiths thanked liirn for his answer, which, he mentioned, had given : great relief to those present, who, at the speakers instance, expressed their gratification by ncclamation.