CITY MAYORALTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15550, 6 March 1914, Page 8

CITY MAYORALTY.

DEPUTATION TO MR. PARR.

ASKED TO STAND AGAIN.

INTENTION OF RETIRING.

PROMISE OF RECONSIDERATION,

A request that he should allow himself to bo nominated for a fourth term of office as Mayor of Auckland, was made to Mr. C. J. Parr last evening by a deputation, comprising 16 members of the City Council. Having explained that he had intended to retire from the .office, Mr. Parr asked for a few days in which he could give further consideration to the matter.

The deputation was headed by the deputy-Mayor (Mr. John Court). Ho and others urged upon Mr. Parr that he should remain in office for another year, in order that a number of extensive and important works which he had initiated might be completed, and others of some magnitude, which were contemplated, might be fairly initiated within his Mayoralty. These circumstances should, it was suggested, persuade him to waive his desire to retire from the office. Another suggestion was made that as the Mayor elected next year would hold office for two years, Mr. Panshould remain in office until the conclusiorr of the present system of annual election. References to the energy and the ability devoted by Mr. Parr to all branches of his civic duties were unanimously applauded by the deputation.

Mr. Parr assured the deputation that the past six months had been the most strenuous in his life, and he would havo been glad to have got out of harness and taken a rest. Though he had not previously indicated his decision, it had been his intention, until the deputation met him, to retire at the end of the present term. Mr. Parr explained that his business interests required attention and during the past three years he had seen very little of his family. His duties as Mayor during three years had involved a considsrable personal sacrifice. Mr. Parr said he did not regret his term of office. It was gratifying that good solid work had ' I been done by the council, and its reward was *he knowledge that Auckland was rapidly moving ahead. Thu question having been reopened by the request of the deputation, Mr. Parr said he was not prepared to give an answer immediately. He would like to discuss it with others who were interested in the way he should use his time during the next year. He agreed that an extremely important programme lay before the council for the coming year. If discreetly managed, the Greater Auckland movement' would, in his opinion be ' advanced a considerable stage. There was the question of the old markets and the new markets requiring careful handling, attention must be given to Myers Park, and the expenditure of £100,000 upon streets, together with the Parnell and Archhili programmes of works, would need supervision. Last, but not least, was the scheme for the Jermyn Street outlet and the improvement of Beach Road. These matters would all require prudent and careful management, or a loss might fall upon the ratepayers. A formal request having been made by practically the whole council, Mr. Parr said he would give it his careful attention. Should he decide to stand again, it would be necessary for him to rearrange certain outside matters which he had decided to undertake-this year. He would announce his decision through the press, and whatever it might be, he assured the deputation, he would appreciate as a very high compliment the request made by the men who had worked with him, and had treated him with unfailing courtesy and kindness, that he should remain in office to finish the work he had undertaken.