The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1919. MR. BURGESS' RETIREMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1919. MR. BURGESS' RETIREMENT.

The retirement of Mr. Burgess from the office of Mayor of New Plymouth is a step that will cause general regret among the citizens. The borough has had many occupants of the mayoral chair, all of whom have given their best in the service of their fellow men, but no Mayor has ever before been called upon to preside over the destinies of the • town under circumstances of the greatest stress arising out of a war the like of which has never been. It was particularly fortunate that during such a critical period the borough had been able to secure as Mayor one of the leading merchants of the town, who brought to bear on municipal affairs not ouly ripe judgment, far-sighted and broad views, but matured business principles that have proved of the greatest benefit to the borough in its progress and advancement. Those who have seen the borough grow from comparatively small beginnings until it has become in every respect worthy of being the chief town of the province, can have some conception of the enormous increase in the administrative work of the municipality, and the industrial enterprises connected therewith. It is obvious that, apart from the exceptional calls on the Mayor's time and administrative abilities due to war matters, there has been an everincreasing demand on His Worship by reason of necessary works to equip and maintain the town with all modern requirements. The Jask of keeping a tight hold on expenditure must have been particularly trying, but Mr. Burgess proved equal to all emergencies, and guided the council with commendable wisdom. Since he first took office Mr. Burgess sacrificed himself entirely to the affairs of the municipality, and has never failed to give of his best in the trying times experienced during his mayoralty. It is no exaggeration to say that no previous occupant of the civic chair has ever been called upon to go through such a strenuous time as that which fell to the lot of Mr. Burgess, nor has there been one who has left such a splendid record of duty well and ably done. Moreover, he has the satisfaction ; of knowing that on quitting offiee he leaves the borough far better than he found it, and he may rest assured that the citizens thoroughly recognise this, and, though they may not be demonstrative in their expressions of gratitude, yet deep down in their hearts they fully appreciate all. that Mr. Burgess has done, with singleness of purpose, to advance the best interests of the borough. Of the great services rendered by Mrs. Burgss, as Mayoress, words fail to adequately express the debt of gratitude due to her. Throughout the war period the Mayoress devoted herself heart and soul to patriotic work, stimulating and enthusing the loyal band of workers who were animated by her splendid example, and worthily upholding the good name of New Plymouth. Mr. and Mrs. Burgess have earned the lasting esteem, not only of the citizens of the town, but of the whole of Taranaki, and far beyond. They carry with them into the haven of private life, after the strenuous and memorable term of offiee, the full appreciation of their exceptionally successful efforts and the profoundest good wishes of all who know them. Much as their retirement is deplored, the townspeople have every reason to rejoice at their good fortune in having at the head of the municipality a Mayor and Mayoress so pre-eminently fitted for the work that had to be done. The times demanded strong minds, great hearts, true, faith, and ready hands. It was these and other fitting qualities that the retiring Mayor and Mayoress placed at the litlTMfl aT* •" "i-"*-*- 1 jaomauinitv.

TRAMWAYS EXTENSION. On Monday evening the New Plymouth Borough Council decided to go to the ratepayers with a proposal to borrow the necessary money to extend the tramways to Westown. The couneil took the view that, high as the estimates were—just double pre-war —there was little chance of prices receding during the next few years, therefore nothing was to be gained by postponement of the extensions. What the future has in store no one can say with any degree of accuracy, but, judging from the steady advance in prices of practically everything during the past year, it may well be that we have reached a new standard of values, and that what we now regard aa excessive may come to he viewed as normal. If this is so, there is justification for the council's action, the only point to be considered being whether the likely results will be worth the expenditure involved. The extension, it is admitted, will involve an immediate substantial loss, which, however, will be a decreasing quantity, as has been the case with the present system, which has converted a cash loss on the working of £1122 in 1918 into a credit for the current year of some £B3O, a gratifying result considering the great increase in working expenses. The tramways pay the electric lighting department some £I2OO a year for current, so that, if this is taken into account, the cash loss on the extensions could be met Then there Would only be provision for depreciation and renewals to consider. This could be done, as suggested by the engineer, by installing the "one-man car" system, which would save about £2OOO a year, or by increasing the fares, as practically every other tramways system has had to do during the past year or two. Whilst it is desirable to see the tramways paying their own way and making due provision for depreciation, the fact of their general value and convenience to the town must not be lost sight of. Even if they cost the town a sixpenny rate we believe ratepayers, now that they have had experience of them, would regard the benefits as worth the outlay. Nor must the profits in connection with the sister service, the electric lighting department, bo overlooked when considering the tramways extensions. They are steadily increasing, and can easily make up any deficiency on the working of thi tramways. Judging from the engineer's figures, the proposal to increase the electric 'bus service is not very attractive, and the council rightly passed it over in favor of the larger and more permanent scheme. The estimate of £21,828 for barely two miles of additional track is certainly formidable, but that consideration Rhould not be allowed to deter ratepayers from examining the scheme on its merits and taking the widest view of the various features of the position.