MAYORAL INSTALLATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 May 1938, Page 7

MAYORAL INSTALLATION

CEREMONY AT GREYMOUTH. CONOR AT TJL AT 0R Y SP EEC lIE S. Goodwill formed the keynote, without exception, of numerous speeches made in the Municipal Chambers, Greymouth, last evening, the occasion being the official installation of the new Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham). There was a. representative gathering or citizens, an apology for absence being received from Mr. .1. O’Brien, M.P,. Members of tho Borough Council took their seats, comprising Messrs. 11. Herring (Deputy-Mayor), .1. B. Kent. !<’. F. Boustridge, G. R. Harker, A. H. Paterson, R. J. Williams, C. NeviUe, J. Saunders, and J. Anderson, and each expressed willingness to co-operate with the Mayor in the work of the Council.

Mr. AV. Meldrum, retiring Mayor, said that he performed that evening the last official function of his term as Mayor of Greymouth. His duty, after welcoming and congratulating (.he new Mayor and Mayoress, was to hand over the- robes of office to the Town Clerk (Mr. F. H. Denton), who would instal the new Mayor into office. Before doing that, said Mr. Meldrum, he wished to offer very hearty congratulations to Mr. Kitchingham on his taking up the duties of Mayor, and io Mrs. Kitchingham, who, as Mayoress. would be his helpmate during bisterm of office. The Mayor was the first citizen of the town, while, he acted as Mayor. It was a. position of groat importance, and one that had been filled by many eminent citizens, whose photography were on the walls of the Chamber. They acted as an inspiration to both Mayor and Councillors, while carrying out tho various duties of their office. He .was sure those present would agree with, him that, in Mr. Kitchingham, they had a Mayor who would fill all duties oi office with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the ratepayers of Greymouth. He was sure, also, that Mrs. Kitchingham would till the hill Hi performing the many duties attached to her position as Mayoress. He also wished to congratulate the Councillors on their election. 1 hey had a hard time ahead of them, and in the course of the next three years there would bo some very heavy work to attend to. The spending of the big loan sanctioned for carrying out drainage and sewerage works would oc- . copy a. great deal of their time, and at the same time there were other works coming on. including the extension of the aerodrome, where a. great deal of work would be done. He was sure they felt confident that all tho work done would be carried on well hv rhe Mayor and Councillors.

Mr Meldrum then doffed the Mayoral robes and chain, and retired. ‘‘lt gives me great pleasure to welcome Mr. Kitchingham to the Mayoral chair," said the Town Clerk, ns he handed the robes and chain to the new Mayor. “1 trust that his term of office will be successful, and that he will have a happy time."

NEW MAYOR’S SPEECH. Mr. Kitchinglmm said that he wished to thank Mr. Meldrum for the very kindly words in which he had welcomed the speaker and his, wife to the positions of Mayor and Mayoress oi Greymouth. Mr. Meldrum had had a strenuous time as Mayor, owing to various economic causes, which ii was unnecessary to detail that evening. There had been almost an economic revolution during the early stages of his ministry, and he had had an arduous time generally. The thanks of the community were due to Mr. and Mrs. Meldrum for the way in which they had performed the duties of office, Mr. Kiichiiigham said he trusted that his wife and himself might iultil the expectations mentioned by Air. Meldrum. On this occasion, he continued, lie thought it was open to him io make 'ft few remarks dealing with ihe Borough generally. He was quite assured of the active co-operation ol (he Council. He bad known every iiiember of the Council lor a consideiable time; he knew their calibre, and something of their temperament and abilities, ami he felt sure they all would actively co-operale . with him, according to their own lights, to aee that the best possible work was done for the town. The council, of course, was something which a. number ol ratepayers ami electors generally liked to "pick at" during its term of oilice, and the Council would probably bo “picked at." quite a. lot. during the next three years. He would like, to lake the opportunity to say something to the. citizens generally, and to ask for their active co-operation. , Dealing with one specific, matter. Mr. Meldrum had referred to the extension of the sewerage system. Air. Kitcliingham said that he wished ratepavers generally to know that i certain amount of money was being set aside to enable property owners to connect their premises with the sewerage. He appealed, to the people who were able to connect up. to make their own plans right away, it they wanted financial assistance. The Borough Engineer would co-operate, in ensuring that the plans would be laid out. to the best advantage, they did not. -want people to wait until toe newer was right at. their front door , arrangements should be made by them in advance. Some people would no doubt have to alter their houses internally, quite a lot. Money would not be found by the Council for that, purnose, but certain financial assistance would he available. People should set in early. They could then start their- repayments, and thus there would bo a. fund out of which considerably more people could be financed, than if they waited until the last moment. There were certain.

duties or CITIZENSHIP 10 which he could refer briefly, continued the Mayor. Councils in the past had been actuated by the wish to bettor the. town, and they brought in many minor improvements, but there always seemed to be a. passive opposition, and the Councils had not. had the active co-operation of the people. H° instanced the case of garages on tne street line. Difficulty w r as created when houses were built without provision being made for garages co he erected v.’ell hack from the. street, Ii fl garage were put on the street line, the whole street, was spoiled. No one would dream of putting a. wood shed on the street line, but many garages were no more ornamental. Citizens should plan their houses so that they would not come into conflict with the Council, nnd have to ask the' Council to stretch points, The Council had

enough worries of its own. Another matter came under the view of the Inspector of Nuisances. There did not seem to be any reason why property holders should let dangerous hedges and grow over the street line, to the possible danger of people’s eyes. There should be a sense of good citizenship, to prevent such nuisances. Women had complained constantly of damage sustained to garments, by reason of such overgrowing hedges. There was another thing, which was a very vexed question some years ago, although he thought it was not quite so bad now. That was the matter of tradespeople

who drove over lawns laid out at the sides of liio st reels. Any driver should have brains enough to keep off hlwns which had been laid down by private owners at. considerable expense. The Council, was entitled ot ask that drivers should have a sense of citizenship. Those were one or two of the things which could be mentioned. So far as the Council itself was concerned, its problems varied in nature from time to time. Years ago, it was just a case of-trying to tidy the town up. Later, the Borough works had to he expanded in all directions. with shorter hours and more leisure for people, and especially in view oi the plans for improving the health of the people, the Council must undoubtedly plan for more and more playgrounds. They wanted more players in the carious sports, and fewer spectators. That was a high ideal. The demands for more playgrounds would have to be faced up to, and other matters in the way of town-planning would also have io he faced up to. A new cemetery, not, a. further extension, was required, and possibly the removal of the abattoirs would have to be considered, not during I he- - term of this Council, but. within some limited time. It would all involve, a great deal of research. investigation, and planning. Hu hoped Hint, as a. result of these investigations, the town would, in the course of years, become

A MUCH FINER PLACE than it was to-day. At the same, time, ji. was surprising the number of people who came to Greymouth and said. “What a. beautiful town you have got!" It was beautiful—if they did not look at it too closely. It had a beautiful setting, and had lots oi. advantages, but it. was not so beautiful as it appeared on tho surface. He was looking; forward to the help of the Councillors, io see that the town was made as beautiful in fact, as it. appeared to the casual observer. He felt that they had a very live Council. They had lost eno very young member, bin. had a

comparatively young man in Cr. Anderson, who was about the youngest of tho Council now. He was a "live wire." One could not help feeling regret that Mr. A. H. McKane was missing from'the Council table. He had had < long experience in Cobden, prior to his term on. the. Borough Council. Mr. Blanchficld had also been a

•■live wire.” and his presence would also be missed. Because they were missing this term, however, it did not mean that they had permanently left the Council. "1 sincerely trust,” said the Mayor, "that the term of file Connciy may show solid advance in every direction, and that, when tire time comes for me personally to retire from this office, 1 can say that, rhe town is boiler thfui it is to-day."

OTHER SPEECH ES. (T. Herring said he felt I hat Iho Mayor had a good team with him. They were not all Bradmans, but salisfactory results could be achieved by a team comprised of one Bradman and a lot of ordinary players. Cr. Herring said that Im would 00-oporai.e with their leader, for the betterment of Greymouth. They hoped to justify the eonfidi-tice placed in them. He wished Gjeymouth till success. and hoped that, under their jurisdiction. it would progress. Cr. Botir.l ridge said that, in Mr. 1< ileliingham’s case, the Mayoral bon our was particularly well deserved, because of (lie lengthy period ho had served on the Council, and for Ihe great amottril. of energy and hard work he had put in while :i member. To Mr and Mrs. Kitchinglmm, lie extended ihe heartiest congratulations. As a Councillor, he could promise the Mayor his utmost co-operation for the advancement. of Greymouth.

Cr. Harker said he had worked with the Mayor, and knew his thoroughness in every question that was brought, up. He was, perhaps, not so spectacular as some Councillors might be. but his work' was thorough, and he saw every question through lo the finish. Quiet workers sometimes did far more work than those who were seen more in the newspapers. The Councillors knew they had a hard task to perform, and a lot of leeway lo make up, but they could only hope to do their best. Cr. Neville said that the Mayor really deserved his position, and he knew that Mr. Kitchingham’s name would be linked with those of past Mayors who had done so much for the good of the town, 'flic Councillors would get an impartial and fair hearing, just as they had received from Mr. Meldrum. The thanks of the people were due to ex-Councillors, and to those who had offered their services at the election. They could not all be “first past the post.”

Cr. Williams, in adding his congratulations to the Alayor and Mrs. Kitcliingliam, said that he was pleased that a Greymouth boy occupied Hie Mayoral chair. He knew that Air. Kitcliingham would carry out his duties to the satisfaction of Hie ratepayers. He was sure that Mr. Kitchingham’s parents would be delighted that their son had reached the highest position the-town could offer him. lie would have a good woman backing him up on all occasions.

Cr. Kent congratulated t lie Mayor and (hose Councillors who had been successful at the elections lie knew what a good worker Mr. Kitchingham was, and had no doubt, that he would tarry out the traditions of his office in their entirety, and to the advantage of the citizens. They had much work before them in the Council, and Mr. Kitchingham was the proper person to be Mayor. He had worked with Mr. Kitchingham, and knew his ability. Cr. Paterson said that Mr. and Mrs. Kitchingham "were both Quite qualified to fulfil the high honour bestowed upon them. They all knew that Mr. Kitchingham was painstaking, careful, and very conscientious. He was sure Mr. Kitchingham would devote himself in his duties to the citizens with the same conscientious spirit, as he did in his private business. He had not always agreed with Mr. Kitchingham, but. they had always been the best of friends.

Cr. Saunflers, as one of. the newcomers to the Council, said he felt that Mr. Kitchingham had earned the honour of attaining the office of Mayor. The Councillors had taken the oath to do all they could for the town legally, and that, he thought, also implied

morally. The citizens, now knew a good deal about the difficulties facing the Council, and he felt certain that they would co-operate. He hoped that, at the end of three years, it would be seen that the Council had done something for the good of the town. Cr. Anderson said he could truthfully say that he sat. at the Council table at the wish of the democratic section of the. community. On their behalf, he extended to the Mayor and Mrs. Kitchingham best wishes and heartiest congratulations, He brought to the Council table a. wish to bring Greymouth into line with other towns of similar size. He intended to work for the progress of the town, but he was antagonistic towards sectional internnrnehial ideas, and political

strife in the Council. Mr. ,T. W. Greensla.de, as an ex-j Mavor, also offered congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Kitchingham. The new Mayor was starting off with dignity and modesty, and the speaker felt sure that he would fill the bill with credit to himself and the community. It could be said definitely that, over the past 20 years, the town had made substantial advancement, although it was recognised that it was not yet all should lie. They could expect further advancement, under the present Mayor and Council. Mr P. .1. McLean (Harbour Board and Chamber of Commerce) also offered congratulations to .Mr and Mrs Kitchingham. He had been associated with Mr Kitchingham in public and business life for years, and had every confidence in him as Mayor of Greymouth. He was a West. Coaster himself, said Mr McLean, and he liked to see West (toast hoys taking an interest in the town. Mr A. 11. McKane said it gave him great, pleasure to congratulate Mr and Mrs Kitchingham. As a defeated candidate for the Mayoralty, it. was his sincere wish that. Mr Kitchingham would have a most happy three years. In saying that, he knew that Mr Kitchingham had a big job, and would say to him. ■•There are live spendthrifts re-elected. Watch them!'’ (Laughter), He felt quite sure that j the town would lx* in safe keeping with Mr Kitchingham and the Conn- | cillors working with him. Air A. M. Carroll, as one of the Council who did not seek re-election, congratulated the Mayor and Mayoress. Ho said that he had been a member of tin* Council for a number of years with Mr Kitchingham. and realised the latter’s ability for the posit.ion of Mayor. He congratulated the re-elected Councillors, and the * new members. It was in the interests of the town to have some now blood on the Council, especially younger blood with different ideas. Air Carroll also praised Mr and Mrs Meldrum, for tho manner they had carried out their duties.

Mr P. Planchfield, junr.. offered his heartiest, congratulations io Mr and Mrs Kitcliingham. and the Councillors. and thanked the speakers for the kindly references that had been made to him- He was not in the least, disappointed over his defeat for the Mayoralty. When one came up smiling. cue could always go barrier into the fray next time. He could see a successful period for rhe Alayor and Council, and they had an excellent staff to assist them. Perhaps, some day, he would be back with them, to put bis shoulder to the wheel, for the betterment of Greymouth. Mr Meldrum expressed sincere thank's to the speakers who had referred lo the work done during the past three years by Airs Meldrum and himself.

The Mayor expressed appreciation i.-T Mr Carroll's valuable services to the Council and the community. During the time the speaker was asso:aied with him, Loth on the side of j riid-. nl limince ami in carrying out tin- work of thf Borough. Mr Carroll had been mi invaluable Councillor. 'l'he community was the loser by reascu of his decision mu. to seek reelection. The Mayor said he was pleased to hear Air AlcKane's remark, to ihe effect that the new Councillors, after three months, would wonder wh\ they sought election, as they would have so many worries anil troubles to think about. Mr Kili-h-Ingham said Hint there had been Councillors in the past who thought, their duties were confined to attending one finance meeting and one open meeting per month. He wanted to disillusion the new Councillors, and he could fell them that it. would be a whole-lime job. If they did the job properly, they would be thinking of it. during their waking and sleeping hours! He returned thanks for the kind wishes extended to Mrs Kitchingham and himself. A hard goal had been set for them to reach. All he could say was that he had had a certain amount of experience in Council management, in the past, and he trusted that experience would enable him to discharge his duties as Alayor of the town. He knew that he would have the co-operation not only of the Council, but also of the officers and staff of (he Borough, from the highest to the lowest. He trusted that neither his wife nor himself would fail in carrying out. those duties which wore expected of them.

RUNANGA CEREMONY. A spec:?.! meeting of the Runanga Borough Council was held, last, evening, for the purpose of swearing in the new Council. Present, were the Mayor (Mr. R. McTaggart) and Councillors F. Oakley, E. Kennedy, Y. Rutherford and ,1. McTigue. After the formalities haft been completed, the Mayor said he was sorry that the two other Councillors, Messrs. G. Eng-1 li.-.-h and W. Pendlebury, were not present, as there were several matters of future policy which he would have liked the fail Council to discuss. However. ho wished to extend his congratulations to the Councillors on being returned to the Council, in particular, Cr. Oakley, who by lopping the poll, had become Deputy Mayor, a posit ion he richly deserved for his I long and useful service to the Bor- 1 ongh. Ho hoped the new Council would work together well, with the common objective the benefit of the town. Although at. times there would he differences of opinion at. the Council table, he was sure that they would have no effect on the personal relations of the Councillors. Cr. Oakley thanked the Mayor for liis remarks, and assured the Council of his continued endeavours in the interest of the Borough. He was pleased to see the old faces back at the table again, and was sure they would work well together. Cr. Kennedy said he was glad to be hack again even if only because of the water supply scheme, in which he had taken a great deal of interest. Cr. Rutherford said that although he had not polled high at the election, he was pleased to be again elected

in tlie Council, and he would do all in his power to advance the welfare of Hie (own. Cr. AfeTigup said that during the hist term a. great deal of work had been accomplished, and he was sure the town would progress during the present. Council, and would compare favourably with any town of similar .‘•izr. locally. 11. was decided that the monthly meetings bo held on the first Tuesday in each mouth. it was unanimously agreed that the ■'heli? Council comprise the Works and Finance Committee'.-, DT'XEDEV COAIATTTTEF:’> DUNEDIN. Muy IS After his installation :u- Mayor today, Mr A. f-T. Allen announced the personnel of the commit tees- which will have charge of Ihe affairs of the city for the next, throe year.--. Though the new- council of 12 comprises only three Labour members, two of flic-??. Dr. D. G. McMillan. M.P., and Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., have been appointed chairmen of two of Hie committees, the remaining appointments being conferred on Citizens’ candidates.

The full list of chairmen is as fol-lows:-—Works committee, Cr. Wilson (C.i: water committee. Cr. Shepperd ((!.); electric power committee. Cr. Cameron (C.t; tramway committee, Cr. Gibson tC.i: gas committee. Cr. McMillan (L.): general committee, Cr. Henderson (C.i; reserves committee, Cr. Munro <L.); library committee. Cr. Borrio (C.); finance committee.. <’r. Tavernor (C.i, a tormer Alinistcr of 11'/.- Crown. The Mayoral honorarium was fixed at. £5OO a year.

Al ’ CK LA N D COU N C If,. AUCKLAND, May L< Although the Labour Party ••eprosentativrs on the Auckland City Council three years ago chose all the committee chairmen from their own ranks, the new council bus expressed willingness to. allow Labour councillors to occupy the chair on three of the council committees. This offer, accorcing to information gathered to-day, was declined on behalf of tlm part), and in every case non-Labour chairmen have been chosen. Three years ago, when the Laboui r, a’’ty entered the council will a majority of 15’ out of ,21 seats, it was stated bv Cr. B. Martin, who was at the same time appointed DeputyMavor. that. they, were on the council definitely as members and representatives of a. political party and that so long as (hey were, there they would represent that, political party. This, was followed by the appointment of Labour members as chairmen of all the committees.