THE NEW MAYOR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 48, 18 August 1911, Page 4

THE NEW MAYOR

COUNCILLOR BROWNE ELECTED*. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night for the purpose of electing a Mayor in succession to the late Mr. («. Tisch. There were present: Councillors G. W. Browne (Deputy-Mayor), (i. W. Hartnell, .I'. Buttimore. T. Buxton, W. Ambury, H. Stocker, Jas. Clarke, J. T. Mannix, and Jas. C. Morey, jun. The Deputy-Mayor presided and, after referring to the sad event which had caused the summoning of the meeting, said that f.s he understood that the Council intended to deal with himself he asked leave to retire from the chamber until a selection of a Mayor for the balance of the term had been made.

On the motion of Crs. Morey and Stocker, Cr. Clarke, the next senior councillor, was voted to the chair, and Cr. Browne retired. The town clerk read Section 26 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, setting out the procedure to be adopted fcy tk« Council in electing a Mayor to act for the remainder of the Mayoral term. The chairman said that he much regretted the fact that the responsibility rested on the Council instead of on the ratepayers, to fill the vacancy. According to his reading of the Act the Council had it in its power to elect either one of its own members or to go outside for a Mayor. He asked for nominations.

No one spoke for a couple of minutes or more.

Then Cr. Ambury rose and said that undoubtedly action in thia m&ttei should devolve on the senior councillors. He was one of the youngest members, but, as they all knew, they had met and considered several matters in connection with the appointment. There seemed to be only one way out of the serious difficulty in which the Council found itself. Jt was unfortunate, and unfair, that the necessity for making this appointment fell on the Council at all, arid lie considered steps should l>e taken to amend the law so that the responsibility would be shouldered by the ratepayers and not by the Council. It was unfortunate that several of the members new councillors, who had scarcely got into the working of the municipal arrangements, and he referred ttf the unreasonableness of the new couitQllorg being called upon to elect the'•'Chief Magistrate of the town. After another pause the chairman again asked if any councillor had anything to say, and, receiving no reply, said that as no one appeared to have anyone to nominate he would take the opportunity himself to propose that Cr. Browne, the Deputy-Mayor, should be asked to accept office for the balance of the term.

Cr. Mannix said that the Council found itself in a verv difficult position, but after what had been done at this in«itiii},' and in other places he could we nothing else for it but for the chairman to <lo what had been. done. As th« chairman had said, owing to no other nomination being received lie had had to nominate the Deputy-Mayor, and under these circumstances ho would second the motion.

The chairman, having again called for nominations without response, said he would declare Cr. Browne to be duly elected. Proceeding, he said that although all tho councillors might not be in agreement with what Cr. Browne might do, or what he had dope in the past, he hoped councillors would all put their shoulders to the wheel and accord the new Mayor their heartiest support. The Mayor-elect was sent for, anil upon re-entering the chamber the chairman said that the wish of the Council was that lie should accept the position of Mayor for the balance of the term. That was the Council's decision, but they had yet to learn if Cr. Browne would accept, the position. Would he? The Mayor-elect: Yes.

Cr. Clarke: Then I have very <*rca.t pleasure in removing myself from" this chair.

Uio now Mayor then assumed bis seat, and thanked the councillors for the honor conferred. He recognised that the position carried with it a heavv responsibility, and tlmt to do the position justice the duties would occupy practically the whole of a man's time. He would do his best in the interests of the town, and by keeping in close touch with the municipal finances would endeavor to see that the ratcpiiycis would get twenty shillings' worth foi every pound spent. He promised to devote particular attention to those progressive schemes advanced by the late •Mayor, and would do all that Inv in his power to further the Greater New Plymouth scheme and (lie project; to provide the. town with n n adequate tramw»» system. (Applause.) ' His Worship then made the usual declaration, and took liis seat.