M. W. Porter Appointed To Borough Council

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1945, Page 3

M. W. Porter Appointed To Borough Council

To fill the vacancy on the Whangarei Borough Council, caused by the resignation of Cr. R. J. N. Crosby, Mr M. W. Porter was appointed at a special meeting of the council last night. The Mayor (Mr W. Jones) called for nominations to fill the vacancy. The first nomination came from Cr. S. J. Snow, who proposed that Mr M. W: Porter be appointed, and .this was seconded by Cr. H. W. James. Then Cr. J. Henderson nominated Mr J. McCulloch, but, in reply to a question, Cr. Henderson said that he had not the authority to assure the council that Mr McCulloch would accept the appointment, while other councillors stated that they had been informed that Mr McCulloch would not act. Under these circumstances, no seconder was forthcoming, and Mr M. W. Porter was appointed to the council. No By-Election Permitted. The council had delayed the filling of the vacancy pending the result of representations to the Government that a by-election be permitted. This, in effect, was asking for the repeal of the War Emergency Regulations prohibiting the holding of by-elections for local authorities. No action had so far been taken by the Government, and unless the council had filled the vacancy before the end of the month, the council’s right would have lapsed and the appointment would have been made by the Government. To fill vacancies on the various committees of the council, the following were appointed:—Waterworks committee: Cr. McKinnon; electricity committee: Cr. Porter; library committee: Cr. Porter.