ONSLOW BOROUGH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1909, Page 3

ONSLOW BOROUGH.

♦ MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. MR. HARKXESS WILL NOT CONTEST THE MAYORALTY. The Onflow Borough Council met last evening. The Mayor (Mr. J. G. Harkncss) presided, and there were also present Councillors Lynneberg, Watson, Aplin, and Plimmer. A special resolution passed on 26th March increasing the number of councillors from six to eight was confirmed. Threo councillors will represent each ward of the borough. The clerk was instructed to take proceedings for the recovery of all outstanding rates. VALEDICTORY. The Mayor referred to the business of the year, the defeat of the loan proposals, and some matters of a persona' character. Uo expressed his indebtedness to tlie councillors for the assistance they had given, him. Coming to the loan proposals he regretted that, at all events, home of the proposals were not carried. Some influences had been at work which could not be combafcted, the voting was not large, and he could only presume that the opponents of the scheme had polled their full strength while others did not take the trouble to record their votes. The one difficulty in connection with the waterworks loan defeat was that the council was committed to the purchase of the catchment area. The ratepayers did not see the difficulties, and he was afraid they would regret the attitude they had > displayed. Under the circumstances ho did not know whether he should offer himself for re-election. If no progress was to be made in the borough he did not know whether it was worth while devoting any more attention to borough affairs. He had come to the conclusion that it was rot. Councillor Lynneberg regretted that Mr. Harkness would not congest Ihe Mayoralty. A man of business knowledge was required' as Mayor. In his opinion it would be a good thing to have a Mayoral contest. Councillor Aplin, also expressed regret at- the announcement the May Jihad made. The Mayor thanked the councillors for what they had said, but stated that he did not feel disposed to make any further reference to the subject.