THE NEW MAYOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1919, Page 6

THE NEW MAYOR.

INSTALLATION CEREMONY. MR. J. CLARKE ENTERTAIN El). The installation of Mr. James Clarke took place at the Borough Council chamber yesterday morning in the presence of members of the Council, ex-mayors, Council officers, 'and several representative citizens. The official declaration of the result of the election was read by the town clerk (Mr. F. T. Bellringer), and the declaration to be mac. 1 '! by the Mayor was read by the DeputyMayor (Mr. W. A. Collis), and afterwards duly signed-, Mr. Collis congratulated Mr. Clarke o:i his installation to office. He had no ci. :bt that, as an old Councillor, lie would realise the responsibility of the position. Those responsibilities were never greater than at present. The Borough was launching out into big commercial undertakings, and the Mayor would have his hands full in looking after these. The new system of management adopted by the Council would, however, make the difficulties less, and Mr. Clarke was fortunate in having as manager a man like Mr. Bellringer to assist him in carrying out the undertakings to which the Borough was committed. Mr. Collis then vacated the chair and handed over the office to Mr- Clarke. ' Mr. Clarke briefly returned thanks and the formal proceedings concluded. Those present were then entertained by the Mayor at an enjoyable social gathering, when a number of toasts were drunk and speeches of a felicitous character made.

After, the loyal toast had been duly honored, the ex-Mayor (Mr- C. 11. Burgess), proposed the health of his Worship the Mayor. He agreed with what the Deputy-Mayor had said in regard to the present work of the Council, and that Mr. Clarke was taking up office at an important time in the history ot the Borough. He considered the Borough was fortunate in having the services of Mr. Clarke as Mayor, at least for the next .18 months, and he hoped he. would be in office for some time more than that. (Hear, hear!) He had been interested in municipal work for a number of years, and had been for some time a member of the Borough Council, where he thought all men who became mayor should get their experience. He was yet a young man, and would be able to go on in the work for a number of years, and by that means there would be something like a continuity of service and policy, and he would be able to see the things now initiated well under wayAs chairman of the Electric Light Committee he had given every earnest attention to that branch of' the Council's work, and it would have been almost u calamity if his connection with the scheme were cut; at the present juncture. While he was in office he was sure the borough would be well and carefully looked after, and when he went out of office the affairs of the borough would be in good form. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, musical honors and cheers accompanying

EVE OF BIG DEVELOPMENTS. Mr. Clarke, who was enthusiastic.illv applauded, after thanking the gathering for the manner in which they had honored the toast, said he knew the C ouncil work was very strenuous, and ! hat was one reason why he hid some fear about accepting nomination. He also felt that he had to follow a man who had made the position very difficult for any man to fill. Mr. Burgess had set a. very hiarh ideal to thV men of tin l town. He knew lie could never do as well, hut, he was prepared to do his best. While there might he differences of opinion between him and the Council, he thought they could aarce to differ. .Once a proposal was carried, however, he looked upon if: as (lie -duty of iill to assist in giving effect, to the decision. New Plymouth was now on the eve of hi fl developments, hotli in rcsard to Borough and Harbor Board works. Tie thought it the duty of the town to support the Harbor Board's development Work. When the harbor improvements were made the people of the district should insist upon getting their imports direct to the port. Mr. Clarke said he realised the importance of the office he bad taken, but said it was only a keen sense of duty that had led him to accept nomination. Though he had never aspired to the office, yet he did not think any councillor, who had sat for a number of years 011 the Council should decline to place his services at the disposal of the community unless there were very good reasons for doing so. If the people did not want him they hfid the right to say so. The Council would set the benefifs of the developments of the town. His pleasure, as far as his office was concerned, would be fn seeing the progress of the town. In concluding, Mr. Clarke thanked the Council staff for

;tiie assistance they had given to him as & councillor, and as chairman of the Light Committee, and said he was -sure they would give him' equally loyal support in his new office. (Applause). THE TOWN'S BRIGHT FUTURE. the health of the present Council was then proposed by Mr. J. B. Roy, who referred to the general progress of the town, and also to the fact "that several councillors who had served during, his term of office as mayor nad also attained to the mayoral office. The time had now been reached, however, when the town wanted still stronger councils in order to bring the town into the .position it should occupy. He believed in twenty years time New Plymouth would be one of the biggest towns of the Dominion. Crs. F. J. Hill and V. Griffiths responded in suitable terms. Among the ex-Mayors present were Messrs. E. Dockrill, R. Cock, and C. W. Browne, and these all spoke in complimentary terms of the work of the exMayor (Mr. Burgess), and expressed confidence in the new Mayor and the present Council to carry on successfully., the schemes which had b<sen recently initiated. When these works were completed it was believed the town would be brought to its proper position among the provincial towns of the Dominion, find some even expressed the belief that New Plymouth would one day reach the status of a city. * \ Mr. Burgess suitably acknowledged the Appreciative comments of the ex-1 Mayors regarding his work. The time had been a ffcrejnuous one, but the Councillors had attended to the business in <a splendid spirit. They had attended meetings most regularly, 'which had ooviated any necessity for deterrlu"! matters and enabled the business to be expedited. |

The Mayor then proposed the health of the 1 vessi, mid. in a eulogistic speech not only complimented the proprietors of the local newspapers for the manner in which their journals' were conducted out spoke of the high tone of the whole of the New Zealand Press. Mr. Clarke recognised the dependence of local bodies on the support of the Press, and said chat institution could do more even than the Council in putting schemes of imlii ovement before the ratepa-yers. The Dominion was greatly indebted for its progress to the power of the Press Mr. Burgess also supported tne toast i %nd "Passed thanks for the assistance I accorded him while in office. Tlic toast was replied to bv Messrs. , PD , n and T " C ' List ' both " of whom (acknowledged the appreciative terms in winch it had been proposed. They congratulated the Mayor upon his election ana assured him and the Council of their continued support in all matters that made for the progress of the town. M r. Clarke's long association with the Counpa' . cx Pcrience as*chairman of the Mcetnc Light and Tramways Committee had made him particularly the man upon whom the mantle of "office should have fallen. THJC MAYORESS. The final toast of the occasion was that of the Mayoress, which was proposed in fitting terms bv Mr T C List who referred to the lead which the' JUayores-s had to give in social matters, tic believed there was no woman mfvew Zealand who had so signa.llv served My town as Mrs. Burgess had served New Plymouth, and though the new Mayoress would not have such onerous duties as the ex-Mayoress had been called upon to discharge he was sure she wou.d. grace the office crcditablv, and that the people would continue to snnpon. her as they .had supported the ex- | Mayoress. He also urged that the people 01 the town should get behind the Council and make them feel that wprc p representative*. hm S lna fV vas drunk musical honors and cheers. Mr Clarke suitably replied, and Ra id the lime was not f llr distant when women would take „ much more p,-„m-'uent part m local politic, and Ihev Councils.*' 0 ' 1 S ' l ' l n,ajnrit - v th '" Mr- (.larke was f lie recipient of manv personal convulsions at the con(lwMon of ihp Junction.