HASTINGS MAYORAL HONORARIUM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 108, 21 April 1911, Page 1

HASTINGS MAYORAL HONORARIUM.

MR. MILLER VOTED £l6O.

The question of the Mayor’s honorarium came up for consideration at last night’s meeting of the Hastings Borough Council. When the ordinary business had concluded, Cr. Mackersey said he had a matter to bring forward in which the Mayor was concerned, and he would move that Cr. Styles should assume the chair.

Cr. Styles then took the chair, the Mayor retiring from the room. • Continuing, Cr. Mackersey said that Mr. Miller had had a strenuous time during his term of office, and as an appreciation oi his work he wished to move that he be granted an honorarium, of an increased amount. The usual sum was £lOO, and he had much pleasure in proposing that Mr. Miller be granted an honorarium of £l3O. Cr. Mason seconded, and said that Mr. Miller had been most liberal in his hospitality to visitors to the town. He considered that an "honorarium of £l5O was totally inadequate for the Mayor of a town of the size and importance of Hastings.

Cr. (.'lapham agreed that Mr. Miller had given considerable time and attention to the affairs of the borough. Unfortunately Councillors were not always able to devote the same time to their positions as duties < f Mayor demanded. He si; ’• >c-< d .‘hr n< t : -n.

Cr. Hr.rt aid t’- C the inauguration of the various loan works had made Mr. Miller’s task a heavier one than usually fell to the holders of the office, and he had been put to considerable expense in entertaining visitors to the town. He was sure Mr. Miller had spent fully £2OO in this direction. Cr. McCormick thought that the least they could do in the way of showing appreciation was to vote Mr. Miller £l5O. He had carried out the functions of Mayor with credit to himself and honour to the town, and he trusted that his successor would do the same.

Cr.‘Donovan said the Mayor had been put to enormous expense during the past year in the way of entertaining, and with the vote of £l5O he would still be out of pocket. Mr. Miller had worked hard for the progress of the town and in a few years he would be able to look back with pride on the different schemes which he had initiated.

Cr. Styles said Mr. Miller had endeavoured to fulfil all obligations to the ratepayers. The year just ended had been the most strenuous of any Council in the history of Hastings. During their term of office the Council had had many individual differences, but on the present occasion these were all placed on one side, and he was sure they would all agree with him when he said that Mr. Miller had met all the demands appertaining to the position of Mayor. The ratepayers might find fault with what had been done in the past, bat it should be remembered that the brunt of the work had to be borne by the one who initiated the scheme, although his successor might be able to improve on the works as they progressed. He hoped that when Mr. Miller went out of office his efforts for the progress and advancement of the town would be long remembered. Cr. Gar nett said it would be superfluous for him to add to what had been said, the ratepayers might be inclined to think that he was preparing the wav for himself. Crs. : No ! No ’ The motion was then put and carried unanimously. . The Mayor in returning thanks, said that he was sure if he did not have the of his Coiynei) the vote would not have