MAYOR OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10898, 12 May 1921, Page 5

MAYOR OF WELLINGTON

MR WRIGHT INSTALLED IMPORTANT CITY MATTERS TO BE DEALT WITH. FAREWELL TO MR J. P. LUKE. Mr U. A. Wright, M.P., was duly installed as Mayor of Wellington at the Council Chambers at noon yesterday, in the presence of a large gathering of the general public. The retiring Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) occupied the chair until the swearing-in ceremony had been performed, when the new Mayor assumed his official seat at the head of the council. There were also seated on the dais the retiring Mayoress and the Mayoress-elect. The city councillors present were as follow:—Len. McKenzie, C. J. B. Norwood, W. J. Gaudin, W. H. Bennett, H. D. Bennett, M. M. F. Luckie, T. Forsyth, B. G. H.. Burn, J. Bums, W. J. Thompson, P. Fraser, C. H. Chapman, S. H. Underwood, and Mrs A. MoVicar. RETIRING MAYOR'S REMARKS. NEEDS OF THE CITY. Addressing the gathering, Mr Luke •aid he wished to take that opportunity of expressing his profound gratification that the citizens had chosen hie old friend, Mr Wright to be their Mayor. Mr Wright had shown himself in the past a man of much business ability, and he trusted he would worthily conduct the city’s affairs at tbs head of the City Council. The city would gain by the change in the Mayoral office at this particular time. He was pleased to see present Mrs Wright, who latterly had not been .Tory robust in health, and whom, he wss sura, would ably assist Mr Wright in his isw office. He also wished to congratulate the councillors upon their re-election. He appreciated the fact that the citizens had shown their confidence in the old council that the members had been so solidly re-elected. The new members would find their fellow-councillors good men to work with. Mr Wright hsd taken upon himself very important responsibilities, and the capacity and interest he had always shown in civic affairs justified the new trust that had been placed in him. Mr Luke went on to refer to various needs of the city and works which the incoming council would require to consider. His remarks on these subjects are reported elsewhere. In conclusion, in handing over the control of the city’s affairs to Sir Wright, he said he could not wish the interests of Wellington to he entrusted to any more faithful, more competent, or more capable man. BIG PROBLEMS'TO BE FACED. MR LUKE’S ‘‘RECORD REIGN.” Mr Wright, In reply, first returned «thanka for the kind remarks that had bean made about him. The councillors would agree with him 1 that Mr Luke had never borne any ill-will or malice against any one of them, and that the heat of relations had always existed between them. During their eight years of office, Mr and Mrs Lake had to face industrial storms, strife and and throughout these extraordinary difficulties they had carried out their duties faithfully and well. During the war, he understood, there was not a returning transport that had not been met by Mr add Mrs Luke; when the history of the war came to be written he hoped that the portion that would be devoted .to New Zealand would ssntjin a special chapter cou•acning tha work Mr and Mrs Luke had done lor ti» soldiers. They had just aompleted a record reign of which they might well be proud. Mr Luke had staled that he was that day attending his own funeral. He did not agree with this; he hoped that if the occasion was to be regarded as Mr Luke’s funeral there would shortly be a glorious rasorrection. If he had hie own way he would make Mr Luke High Commissioner fur New Zealand in London, with an appropriate title. It was impossible for anyone to emulate Mrs Inke’s record. She was possessed of a wonderful constitution, and she was a wonderful woman. He (Mr Wright) and hie wife could not expect to be able to perform as much work as the late Mayor and Mayoress. Hie hoped any shortcomings on his part, as compared with the work of nis predecessor, would be readily forgiven. He the councillors on the re •faction, and in so doing remarked that he cast no reflection on the unsuccessful candidates. Though there were big problems to be faced during his term of office, he felt confident the new council would stand “four square” to all the questions, financial end otherwise, that might present themselves. He confessed to a certain amount of diffidence in taking over the responsible position of Mayor, hut enlisted the support of the councillors and encouraged suggestions from them on any civic matters.

SUPPORT PROM COUNCIL. The senior councillor. Mr Len McKenzie, assured Mr Wright that the members would support him in every endeavour towards the advancement imH welfare of the city. On behalf of the councillors he wished Mr and Mrs Luke every success. He was sorry they were parting, and hoped they would be as energetic in the city's interests in the future as they had been in the past. Mr McKenzie regretted the fact that Mr Atkinson had severed his connection with the council after twelve Veens’ service, and also that . Messrs Bhorland and Glover, who had oarried out their duties faithfully and well, had left the council table. Mr luckie endorsed the remarks made by Mr McKenzie. COMMITTEES APPOINTED. The council then went into committse. The following committees were **?ramwayo.— The Mayor, Councillors H. D. Bennett, T. Forsyth. P Fraser, M.P., W. J. Gaudin, C. B. Norwood, W. J. Thompson. _ . . By-laws.—Councillors M. F. Luckie, W. H. Bennett, B. G. H. Burn, O. H. Chapman, J. M. Dale, T. Forsyth, 8. H. Underwood. Legislation.—Councillors H. D. Bennett, J. Borne, J. M. Dale, T. Forwth, P. Fraser, M. F. Luckie, C. B. Norwood. Milk.—Councillors C. B. Norwood, W. H. Bennett, B. G. H. Bum, P. Fraser, W. J. Gaudin, M. F. Luckie, L. IfcvCmsfe. Outlying districts. —Councillors L. McKenzie, B. G. H. Bum. J. Burns, <l. M. Dale. W. J. Gaudin, W. J. 'Thompson, S. H. Underwood. Health.—Councillors W. H. Bennett, U. D. Bennett, J. Burns, C. H. Chapman, W. J. Gaudin, Mrs A. MoVicar, B. H. Underwood. Reserves. —Councillors W. J. Thompson, B. G. H. Burn, C. H. Chanman, M. F. Luckie, L. McKenzie, Mrs A. MoVicar, S. H. Underwood. The Finance Committee will consist of the Mayor and the chairmen appointed by the other committee--