OLD REGIME

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1930, Page 7

OLD REGIME

SYDNEY’S NEW COUNCIL,

THE LORD MAYOR

SYDNEY. June 28

Sydney is now Iback to the old regime as far as the management of ius municipal affairs. No, that is hardly correct. The Council has returned, but it is to be hoped that 1 tie s ate of affairs which existed before it was abolished has , gone for ever.- It was certainly regarded as a very hopeful sign in that direction, when at the municipal elections last week the Labour Party was so signally defeated. This defeat came as a greater shock to Labour than to the electors, though it can hardly mean 'that the party has lost caste: in the city. The franchise was such that it gave property-holders a big say in the selection of aldermen., and

one that was large enough to counteract the ledger vote. The results of the poll are not taken as reflection the probable result of the State elections that will be held later in the year. Sydney’s new Lord Mayor (Aiderman E. S. Marks) will hold office only until Boeemtoer next, but he will be eligible then for re-election. He was pre-selected for the position by a caucus of,the Reform Party that is now in power, and he was not opposed when the Council met for the formal ©lection of the Chief Citizen. Alderman Marks is a member of the State Parliament, and has represented the big electorate of North Sydney—a Nationalist stronghold—since 1927, He has been selected to contest the seat again this year, A member of the Jewish faith, he ha# always been an extremely b UB y man. His main holljy has been a very keen interest in sport, He has been president of the New South Wales Sports Club for 25 years, and he still holds executive positions in swimming, surfing, athletics, football, cricket, hockey, rowing, and other branches of outdoor sport. He was chairman of the Australian and New Zealand Athletic Federation and had presided at Council meetings in Newkj&ealand before the Federation becanie defunct. • ' ■ Alderman Marks is one ofjythe few bachelors' who have occupied.: the position of Lord Mayor of Sydney. The last- was the Labour Lord -Mayor, Alderman Stokes. The Lady; Mayoress will be Miss Hilda Marks, a' woman who has taken a keen interest in charity movements in Sydney.' Of recent years Miss Marks hap • earned the title of a globe-trotter, ; for she has Bpent a great deal of her time travelling abroad. She will now have to settle down for a while, at least, for she will find that the, duties of the Lady Mayoress'in a great city like Sydney are mariy and arduous. Alderman Marks is in the wool-buying business, and is very well known in commercial circles throughout the Commonwealth. He is a man who believes in upholding the dignity of the ; Mayoral office, and has - stated very emphatically that to® will wear the robes, This is in" contrast to the Labour Lord Mayors in recent years.