MAYORAL TERM, 7 MINUTES!

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13235, 10 January 1941, Page 6

MAYORAL TERM, 7 MINUTES!

GosCorel (N.S.W.), Dec. 21. After a storm over the State Government’s decision to postpone local body elections, the nine aldermen of Gosford Municipal Council resigned in a body. The meeting had been called to elect the Mayor, and Alderman R. R. Mortimer had held the position for just seven minutes when the aidermen resigned. “If you gentlemen are prepared to t)lay ducks and drakes with the Local Government conditions you are protesting against. I will not be a party to it,” declared the retiring Mayor. Aid. W. €. Grab a me. * “We are . not a lot of schoolboys, playing marbles,” he added. T am retiring now as a protest against you aldermen promising the position of Mayor to another aiderman.” “Domocnacy At Stake” The chair was then taken by the Deputy-Mayor (Alderman C. J. Staples), who said: “This deplorable action of the State Government in postponing the elections is cutting at the roots of democracy. “I believe that vital principles of democracy are at stake. I read that while German bombs were falling on London, they elected a Lord Mayor of London, and then held elections in every borough in England.” Alderman Mortimer was then installed as Mayor and held office from S.lO p.m. until 8.17 p.m., when the whole council resigned. Aid. Grahame is 78 and Ain. Mor- i timer 72. | A by-electiou will take place.