FOUR RETIREMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 6

FOUR RETIREMENTS

WEST COAST MAYORS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS MR. KITCHINGHAM INCLUDED “Exit the Mayors,” commented a member of the Westland Provincial Patriotic Council at the meeting at Greymouth last night, when the Mayors of four boroughs on the West Coast all announced that it was their intention not to seek an extension of their mayoral terms at the local body elections in November next.

This mass resignation announcement was commenced by the Mayor of Greymouth, Mr F. A. Kitchingham, during a discussion on the future constitution of patriotic welfare committees. It had been pointed, out that there might be a change ip personnel on the committees and Mr Kitchingham agreed, stating that he, for one, would not take a seat on the committee during the next local body term, as he did not intend to seek reelection as Mayor of Greymouth-. Mr Elcock’s Decision The Mayor of Hokitika, Mr A. R. Elcock, followed Mr Kitchingham in stating that he, also, would not be a candidate at the next mayoral election in the Hokitika Borough. Mr E. W. Kennedy, Mayor of Runanga, who had made a similar announcement at this week’s meeting of the Runanga Borough Council, indicated that he was in the same position as the two previous speakers. “And here is another one,” said the Mayor of Ross, Mr K. O’. May, in also indicating that he did not intend to seek re-election. Terms Extended It was the first public indication that has been given by the Mayor of Greymouth, Mr Kitchingham, that he intends to retire.. He has held the position since May, 1938, throughout the strenuous period of the war. Normally, his current term would have expired in May next, but under the provisions of the legislation passed in the closing stages of the last Parliamentary session, the terms of all local body members have been extended until after the next election, to be held in November instead of May.