THE NEW MAYOR

Southland Times, Issue 18931, 3 May 1923, Page 5

THE NEW MAYOR

THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY. MR LILLICRAPS RETIRING SPEECH. The ceremony of installing the Mayor of Invercargill (Mr Andrew Bain) tn office took place in the Council Chambers at noon yesterday. The retiring Mayor (Mr J. F. Lillicrap) was in the chair until Mr Bain had signed the usual declaration, prior to taking office, when he took his seat and presided over the meeting. AH the Councillors were present with the exception of Councillor Geddes who is at present absent from Invercargill In the course of his remarks the retiring Mayor (Mr Lillicrap),said he had intended to go into the financial position of lhe Borough but after further consideration he had come to the conclusion that no good purpose would be served if he did so. His main reason for not doing so was that it would be rather a difficult matter to convey to the ratepayers the actual position of the Borough in the figures that he was able to place before them. The only satisfactory way to get a proper knowledge of Borough affairs was by a study of the balance-sheets and other statements prepared from time to time and if a Ratepayers’ Association were in existence one of its functions might' be to place before its members and the ratepayers generally this knowledge. For instance if such an association deputed certain of its members to deal with the financial aspect of the various trading departments of the town it would certainly assist the ratepayers in securing a fair and clear understanding of how they stood. Mr Lillicrap proceeded to deal with the voting figures for past elections as showing the changes in public opinion and then briefly urged the advantages of the beautifying of Tay Street. Referring to the trading departments he argued that the setting up of big reserve funds was injudicious and that profits should be utilised for the reduction of the charges made to consumers. In conclusion he mentioned the good relations that had always existed between members of the Council and thanked his colleagues for their assistance to him in carrying out his duties.

The new Mayor (Mr Bain) signed the statutory declaration and spoke briefly after which on his motion a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor was carried with acclamation and orders were given for it to be recorded on the minutes. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. The Town Council at its meeting yesterday appointed the following committees : Finance.—Councillors Mac abater (chairman), Broad, Farr ant, Ritchie and Meek. Gas,' Water and Trams—Councillors Glass, (chairman), Broad Miller and Boyes. Works.—The Mayor (chairman), Councillors Miller, Sheehan, Webb, Geddes and Brodrick. Reserves.—Councillors* Farrant (chairman), Sheehan, Geddes, Ritchie, and Brodrick. The same associate members as last year—Messrs Derbie, Wilson, Stevens and Edie—were appointed. Library.—Councillors Boyes ( chairm'in), Macalister, Meed and Webb. The present associate members were reappointed.—Messrs Pearce, Stout Quinn, Jones and Pollard. Special Milk Committee.—Councillors Farrant, Glass, Miller and Meek.

The meeting day’s of the various committees were decided upon as follows: Finance—Alternate Tuesdays at 4 p.m.; Gas, Water and Trams—Thursday at 4 p.m.; Works—Friday at 7.30 p.m.; Reserves at 2.30 p.m. on the second Monday in each month.

The Council decided to continue holding its ordinary meetings, on alternate Tuesdays as at present.