NEW PLYMOUTH MAYORALTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1919, Page 1

NEW PLYMOUTH MAYORALTY.

RETIREMENT OF MR, BURGESS

Something in tho. nature of a jur* prise was caused at the outset of th« Borough Council meeting last night, when a letter was read from Mr. C. H. [lurgess intimating that' he . intended placing his resignation with the Co&n* cil at the next meeting to be hold on. September 15.

Or. Clarke expressed surprise at tha decision the Mayor had come to, and hoped he would be able to reconsider tha iratter and withdraw the letter.

Mr. Burgess stated that mi out of the question. He had gone into the matter very carefully and had oome to the conclusion that the step must bo !uken. He had intended to oats the resignation as from the next Council meet. !ng, but thought that if councillors deHired he would be prepared to stay an- ; other month, he would then, by October 20th., have served four yean in office. He had accepted the present term of office very much against his own judgment, and he now felt he had no alteruative but to resign, and he put the letter in so as to give the Council due notice of his intention. . TherV wire v'ariouo reasons for the stop, which ha said it was not necessary to go into. Cr. Clarke said he hoped the Mayor would remain in office till the end of the year. They had. some big things on hand and needed the benefit of hie knowledge and experience of the work. Mr. Burgees said the only big thing in hand at the present time was the liydro-eleotric scheme, and he thought the preliminary arrangements In connection with that should be completed by October 20th. The roads and stmt works were practically settled no*, tie recognised that there were big thing before the Council, and that the next thfM or four years would see interesting de« velopments, but he reminded CooefllaN that he had had four years' lerriee during a most difficult period. Crs. Collis and Short both ccgret at the "bomb-shell" the Mayor bad dropped in the Council, and hoped lie might delay the resignation as long cs possible. > Ultimately, Mr. BurgeßS agreed to substitute October 20th., for the date named in his letter.