The Mayor and his Friends.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3523, 10 April 1880, Page 2

The Mayor and his Friends.

A meeting of the friends and sup porters of the Mayor, L. Ehrenfried, Esquire, .was held at the Governor Bowen Hotel last evening. There were about 100 gentlemen present, amongst whom we noticed Messrs J & "Brown, R Comer, W. McCullough, S. Bawden, J. Marshall, J. Osborne, T. Lawless, J. H. Smith, J. Watson, Mcllhone, Gordon, Symington, J. S. Small, T. Eadford; A. Price, J. Wilson, D. Barty, D. E. Gellion, M. Hennelly, D. Cloonan, J. W. Walker, M. Mulligan, W. Carrick, L. Melfcose, E. Kennan, H. J. Lee, G. Denby, A. Aitken, T. S. Comes, Johns, A. Hume, J. Frater, G. N. Brassey and others.

Mr Robert Comer having been voted to the. chair, called on Mr Ebrenfried to explain the cause of his summoning them together.

The Mayor on coming forward was received with applause. He regretted tbat he had been obliged to trouble his friends by convening the meeting, but there were some occasions on which it was necessary to rally one's friends around one ito obtain their advice and support. The ! present occasion was such a one, and he would thank them sincerely for gathering in such numbers. Looking round him he saw many faces who had supported him on fo.'mer occasions. As they were all doubtless aware some difference of opinion had arisen between some of the councillors and himself, and as matters had taken a Berious turn he considered it necessary to lay the matter clearly before his friends, and ask their advice before taking the important step he had contemplated. He would state the case aa briefly as possible. Some 18 months ago he got some private asphalting done by Borough workmen, and foolishly he did not make a bargain beforehand. He was charged £21 for it. He pointed out to the Council that although the usual price was that asked him. it always covered the cost of filling in and water tables, neither of which had to be done in his case, and therefore he considered £10 10s quite sufficient for the work done. This was agreed to, and he gave a cheque for the amount, and obtained a receipt, which any one present might inspect if they thought fit. He was very glad that Mr Brassey was present, as that gentlemen was then a member of, the Council, and perfectly remembered the circumstances. Was he not therefore justified in thinking the account settled ?

After twelve months some Councillors saw fit to bring the matter up. He did not think it should have been brought up in the way it had, and he was quite taken by surprise, as it was made out he was getting off without paying as much as others had been charged. At the time he paid the account, he was not aware that any other asphalting had been done, and indeed the total amount of private work in three years only amounted to £50. Well he brought the matter up at the Borough Council meeting the other day, wishing the Council to exonerate him from wilfully endeavoring to evade payment. Bather a hasty discussion ensued and a resolution proposed by Cr Osborne. exonerating him (the speaker), was lost by a small majority. He looked at this as a slur cast on his office, and always being anxious to uphold the prestige of the Mayoral chair, as it had been upheld in the past, he told the Council that he thought nothing now remained for him but to send in his ressignation. Since the meeting however he had met several of his friends, and after talking with them, they advised him to lay the matter before a meeting of his supporters first, and he was now prepared to follow the advice of those present. ; Mr Bawden, one of the Councillors who had voted against the motion, wished to make a statement. He said when the asphalt account first came'before the Council, the Mayor was absent, and the matter was delayed till he was present. He believed that the Mayor looked on the bringing up of; the matter as a slap in the face, and thought a slur was thrown upon his office; At the meeting everyone gave an opinion, and Crs Speight and McGowan made full explanations, nevertheless in the heat of the debate many unpleasant remarks were made. He was satisfied with, the explanations, and desired to let the matter drop there and then. That was his opinion, and others thought much the same. He voted against Osborne's resolution simply because he considered it unnecessary, and he had seen every Councillor except Cr Wilkinson, and they all entertained the same opinion. He did not think that with the way he voted depended whether the Mayor should retain his seat or no. Such an idea never entered his head. He thought the Mayor should retain his position, and after this the Council would go on amicably*

-Mr Brown proposed, " That this meet* ing is of opinion that the Mayor should retain bis position at the Council Board." His reason for moving it was that there was no distinct issue between the Mayor and his Council, the matter in point being too trivial to put the burgesses to the trouble of a fresh election. It was not as if it was on the question of the raising or'expenditure of a £20,000 loan that the Mayor could not agree with the Council, but only on the question of a £10 note. If the Mayor did resign, and was reelected, the matter would be in no way ended, as the re-election would not entail the resignation of the members who had opposed him. The Mayor should remember that he was not elected by the Council, and was only responsible to the burgesses. He was of opinion that there had been faults on both sides. The Mayor was rather inclined to carrying things with a high hand, and would resent what a more humble man would pass over. From a little spark a very large conflagration had arisen". However, he believed that ! when the breeze had 'blown over thapr would get on well together,,and the lessen would be taken to heart by both sides. He might say he: believed account had. been settled fully and fairly, and the council should not' have brought the matter up months afterwards. „'.'.•'

Mr Wm. McCulloughl seconded- tW resolution. ■ After" the remarks of'Mr Brown, ; , and ; the explanation ;.of Mr Bawden, he did not thing it necessary to say anything further in support* of the motion. His opinion was that the Mayor should not resign, in fact there was nothing in the matter calling for resignation. His Worship no doubt made the threat in the heat ot his temper. A little less feeling should be shewn by both Council and Mayor, and then such sceffes would not occur. •

Mr Comer, the Chairman, said I'ttle remained for him to, do except to put the resolution, if there was no amendment. He did not blame the Mayor for refusing to pay an extortionate demand, and would likely have done the same himself under similar circumstances. His Worship was a jolly good fellow,, and if he behaved himself they might elect him Mayor next year. (Cheers.) The motion was put and carried. The Mayor thanked them for the emphatic manner they had shown their confidence, and promised to robin bis seat in the Council.

The meeting then adjourned