NO POOR MAN’S JOB

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 April 1932, Page 5

NO POOR MAN’S JOB

LONDON’S LORD MAYOR. Is he rich enough to be Lord Mayor of London? This is a question that the Court of Aidermen have always to answer before the appointment of a new Lord Mayor, and it is done at a private inquiry into his financial standing (states the “Sunday Dispatch”). For although the City of London allows its Lord Mayor £lO,OOO from its own purse he is rarely forced to spend less than £15,000 of his own money. Recently Aiderman Sir Maurice Jenks took office as Lord Mayor, for the coming year, and with it he assumed the heavy financial responsibilities attached to the luxury of the office. The whole of the Lord Mayor’s pageant and banquet costs have to be met by the Lord Mayor and his two Sheriffs. Every official luncheon, dinner and entertainment given by the Lord Mayor has to be paid for by him.

He has to find his own horses, pay his servants and coachmen, provide their expensive livery and also his own gorgeous robes. His hand is always in his pocket. Then there is charity. The first donation is that to the East End dinner to the poor on the night of the banquet. The Sheriffs, who are actually in training for the Lord Mayoralty, usually subscribe half each of what the Lord Mayor sends. It is essential that all three should act in harmony.

Everyone in contact with the Lord Mayor expects to be generously treated.

The Lord Mayoi* can count upon at least three public functions in every two days, and he has to make a speech, with few exceptions, at each. He works hard and his public luncheons and dinners mainly consist of watching other people eat. With a strenuous year before him he dare not take more than the lightest of repasts.

To be Lord Mayor of London is a glorious experience. The year in the civic chair gives wonderful opportunities for service to the nation and those chances are always taken. At the end of the year there is usually a baronetcy awaiting the Lord Mayor. Sometimes a peerage is the reward.