RETIRING CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 14

RETIRING CITY COUNCIL.

VALEDICTORY RESOLUTIONS. TRIBUTE TO MR J. S. DOUGLAS. SERVICES OF CRS HAYWARD AND LARNACH EULOGISED. At the final meeting of the outgoing City Council last evening, opportunity was taken to pay very high tributes to the work which Crs Douglas, Hayward, and Larnach haVc performed in the interests of the city. As soon as the formal business had been concluded Cr J. J. Clark moved a resolution expressing the deepest appreciation of the services rendered to the.city by Mr J. S. Douglas over a long period of vears The resolution, said the mover, was a stereotyped one, but. he could assure Mr Douglas that the ‘feelings entertained in regard to him by all the councillors present were anything but stereotyped. They all regretted exceedingly the circum stances that compelled his retirement from the Council Chambers, for a time, at least, and they, all sincerely hoped that his absence would; be only a temporary one. In moving the resolution, he was glad of the opportunity of expressing his own .personal pleasure at having been privileged to sit under Mr Douglas in his capac.ty of Deputy Mayor—a position which he had occupied off and on for the past two years/ and almost continuously for the past six months. He had always given every councillor a fair hearing, and had conducted the business of the council in an admirable manner at all times. He could assure Mr Douglas that he was voicing the sentiments of the other"councillors when he .expressed the sincere hope that his health would improve sufficiently to allow him to take his seat at the council table again at the earliest opportunity.— (Applause.) Cr F. W. Mitchell seconded the motion, Pa »! j - further tribute to the work of Mr Douglas in municipal affairs. He referred particularly to the flood olief operations, with which Mr Douglas was still actively associated. From the commencement c. this work he had devoted endless time and effort to it, and had never spared himself as long as there was something that he could do to help. (Applause.) The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Douglas, in reply, said he apprecifw much the kindJ y sentiments that had been expressed in regard to himeelt. He could look back over his long association with the council witli feelings th « greatest pleasure. He could almost say that he had derived a lifetime of pleasure from his work. It was a matter of regret to him that lid would be absent from the council for the next two years, but he would bo none the less interested in everything that was going Qm He was leaving the council with the happy conviction that every one of the men with whom he had worked was bis friend. He congratulated Cr Black upon his success in the mayoralty elcct on, and expressed regret that the connml v, as losing the valuable services of Crs uf o Hayward. He did not now what Cr Larnach’s intentions were ‘ pr , ' ,ut ko sincerely hoped that it would not-be »ong before Cr Hayjvard took hi s place at tlie council Cr Scott moved that a fitting record s iould be made of the services rendered to the council by both councillors and . , Klack , seconded the motion. In doing so, ho said it was a great pity that both Cr Hayward and Cr Douglas had not allowed themselves to be nominated for seats on the City Council as well as for the mayoralty. His association with them f u *if e L D i i Profital,!e and P ]eas ant, and he relt that the.couneil was losing two “jolly good fellows." * The motion was carried. : Cr Hayward, in reply, said he was leavmg the council with the happiest recollections °f his association with that body, it had been a great education to go into municipal affairs as it had been his privilege to do, and he assured the ipeeting that at a later date lie would again offer hiraso.f for the work. He knew of no better occupation- for those who could spare the time than service on the City Council. It gave him a great deal of satisfaction to be .able to say that never had he left the Council Chamber .with any malice in his heart, and he carried none away with him now. He paid a high tribute to the work of the. town clerk (Mr G. A. Lewiu) and his assistant (Mr. R. A. Johnstou), and congratulated the council on the ‘exceptionally fine staff it had in all departments. Cr Larnach said that although he was a defeated candidate he knew in his own conscience that he had served the city well. He had not finished with municipal affairs yet, as he was determined to offer himself to the electors again in twp years’ time. At all events, he still had one leg in public life with bis seat on the Harbour Board, and he was confident that he would yet do a lot of work for the city. In conclusion, he acknowledged a great obligation to the Town Hall staff for constant and valuable assistance over a long period of years.