THE MAYORALTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1020, 19 March 1912, Page 3

THE MAYORALTY.

REQUISITION TO MAYOR

TO AGAIN ACCEPT NOMINATION. A meeting was held in the Borough Council Chambers last night, for the purpose of presenting a petition to G. H. Stiles Esq., Mayor, asking him to reconsider his decision not to stand again as Mayor of the borough. Apologies were tendered for the absence of Dr. Adams and Mr J. K. Hornblow. Mr P. Henuessy, chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, presided and presented the following petition from the ratepayers of Foxton: — 12th March, 1912. To G. H. Stiles Esq., Mayor, Foxton. “We the undersigned burgesses of Foxton desire lo tender to you our thanks for your long and valuable services as a member of the Borough Council. We particularly desire to convey to you our appreciation of the tact, dignity and sound administrative ability which has characterised your occupancy of the honourable position of Chief Magistrate of the Borough. We fully realise that the demands of the office upon your lime must have necessitated a considerable amount of self-sacrifice, but venture to ask that you will again allow yourself to be nominated for the position, in which case you are assured of our support and confidence. —Crs. G. Coley, H. Greig, J. Chiystall, A. J. Gibbs, A. Speirs, W. S. Stewart, G. J. Adams, H. W. Richmond, W. S. Carter, Alf Fraser town clerk. Mr P. Hennessy, chairman Foxton Harbour Board, Rev, G. Young- . Woodward, Rev. T. Coatswortla, Marion F. H. Stewart, Agnes M. Nye, C.B. Witchell, E. T. Adams, L, V. Boyes, G. Symons, M. A. Speirs, C. Robinson, H. Claris, M. H. Walker. F. E. Jeuks, J. K. Hornblow, C. H. Collins juu., A. Ross, Alf. W. Pearson, C. L. Mandl, H. Witchell, W. Petrie, Thos. Henderson. W. Bock, H. Coley, A. N. Osborne, R. T. Betty, W. Bullard, A. King, T. Rimmer, E. Healey, R. M. Parkes, A. L. Easton, A. J. Kellow, R. H. Barber.”

In a few well chosen remarks Mr Hennessy expressed the hope that Mr Stiles would again place his services at the disposal of the ratepayers. He said he well knew the tax it was upon a business man, and none knew except those who, like himself, had occupied the position, the sacrifices one was compelled to make in order to carry out the duties of the office, and he was sure that no one had more ably discharged those duties than the present Mayor, Mr Greig, seconded the remarks made by Mr Hennessy, and said while they could not argue with Mr Stiles or dictate to him as to whether he should or should not again be a candidate for the office, they could exercise the privilege of asking him to reconsider his decision, and to compliment him upon the very efficent manner in which he had discharged his duties in the past. Messrs H. Richmond, A. Fraser and A. Speirs also spoke on similar lines.

In reply Mr Stiles said it would be difficult for him to express his feelings in answer to the kindly remarks that had been made by Mr Hennessy and the other speakers. It was needless for him to say that he appreciated to the fullest extent the honour conferred on him by receiving such a large requisition and more particularly by the confidence it implied. It any doubt had existed in his mind as to how his past services had been appreciated, any such doubt would have been removed by this meeting. In announcing his intention not to contest the office of Mayor, it had been purely for health and business reasons, and not that he desired to be requisitioned, or that he thought he did not still retain the confidence of the public, as he believed he would still receive the same amount ol support as when he was first elected.

He could look back with pleasure and a certain amount of pride to work accomplished and more particularly to the Municipal Hall. They all knew it was paying well, and incidentally he would mention a rumour that had reached his ears that local opposition to our pictures might come shortly. While he admitted the right of anyone to compete with them, he wished to make this point clearly understood ; This enterprise belonged to, and was in the best interests of the ratepayers and public. All revenues received was spent on the Borough or went to reduce the rates, and therefore, any competition that came would be in direct opposition to the whole of the citizens, and he wanted them all to be imbued with the spirit ot patriotism and impress upon all the necessity ol standing by their own enterprise. Several people had also mentioned to him the advisability of running a skating rink during the winter months, and he proposed at the meeting of the Council to recommend that this matter should be done at the earliest date. In regard to their request to hold office for another year, he would ask for a few days to consider same, having regard to the new circumstances that had arisen. If he saw his way to accede to their request, he would advocate no large works for the coming year. He purposed that they should occupy their time with local requirements in improving the roads, and making better footways and more particularly extending the usefulness Of the gasworks, and he believed if

this course were pursued that at the end of the year the Borough would be in a very sound financial position, and well able to grapple with the big scheme, viz., water and drainage. He wished to again thank them for their promised support, and during the next few days would let them know bis decision,