NEW COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 22012, 11 May 1933, Page 8

NEW COUNCIL

MEMBERS INSTALLED CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAYOR POSITION OF ASSOCIATE MEMBERS A statutory meeting of the Invercargill City Council was held yesterday morning, when the Mayor and council were formally installed into office by the Town Clerk (Mr W. F. Sturman). The Mayor, Mr John Miller, was the first to sign the declaration and to be invested with the chair of office by the Town Clerk, who offered his congratulations and declared him duly elected Mayor for the ensuing term of two years. “I thank the Town Clerk for the part he has taken in the ceremony,” said his Worship after the Mayoral chain had been placed round his neck. “Someone must do this part when there is no retiring Mayor.” The names of the successful councillors were then read out and each one present signed the declaration. Councillor A. W. Jones was the only absentee, he having sent an apology for his inability to be present owing to an engagement in Wellington. “Well, gentlemen,” said his Worship when the last had signed, “I wish to congratulate you on your success at the elections. Some of you have been here before, some have not; but I trust we shall have a good time together and get on with the duties assigned to us, looking after the interests of the city as a whole. I have been here since 1919 with one break of two years. I hope I shall at all times advise you to the best of my ability, and I also hope that' we shall have harmony in our midst and that each of us will try to do his best for the city. “I suppose I am now the oldest member in the assembly, and I have no doubt that in spite of this you will render me every assistance I may require. I repeat that I trust we have a very happy time together. Committees will be appointed at the first meeting of the council, which will be held next Tuesday.” Mayor Congratulated. Councillor C. J. Brodrick said he was pleased to be able to congratulate Mr Miller at having been placed at the head of the poll in the recent election. He said he had been associated with the Mayor during the whole term of his service at the council table, which was over ten years, with the exception of one break. They had never had a disagreement or a dispute. Pleasantries might have been exchanged, but they were always taken in good part. “I am sure Mr Miller well deserves the honour of being returned for the third time Mayor of this city and I am sure that he is proud of the honour done him,” said Councillor Brodrick. “I think we have novz a fine council. Most members have served before. I believe only two have not. I am certain we shall get along splendidly. I wish to congratulate those councillors who were returned and to express regret to those of the old council who stood for reclection and who were unsuccessful. Each did his duty as best he could for the city. I wish also to congratulate Councillor Reed on his achievement in topping the poll. He has been knocking at the door for some time, and it was certain that he must win in the end. A runner or a racehorse cannot go on winning always. It would be no good for sport if he did. I again congratulate Councillor Reed and wish him success with any honours accompanying it. There is one other matter to which I wish to refer, one which has not yet been mentioned, that is, the associate members of committees. They have done very good work. I can speak particularly of the Reserves Committee, but it applies to all, I am certain. Once again I express the conviction that we are going to have a pleasant session.” Councillor G. J. Reed said he wished to endorse Councillor Brodrick’s remarks. He also wished to move a resolution of thanks to the retiring members of the last council. Their services deserved some recognition, for all had done very good work. “I am perfectly certain,” he concluded, “that we shall get on quite well. So far as my position on the poll is concerned I can only say that it is an honour to come near such a popular councillor as Mr Brodrick.” Councillor H. Ritchie seconded the motion of appreciation and reciprocated the welcome extended to members of the council by the Mayor. Councillors R. N. Todd, J. A. Doig, C. B. Tapley, J. H. Tattersfield, L. F. Webb, B. W. Hewat and W. C. Denham also spoke, returning thanks for the welcome, congratulating the Mayor, and expressing the hope that the council’s deliberations w’ould be both pleasant to members and useful to the city. Cr, Tattersfield went a litttle further, for he said he looked forward to good times owing to the absence of that element which in the old council had not made for good government and harmonious working. " The Mayor expressed his thanks for the congratulations extended him and thanked the people who had sent him back. Before putting Councillor Reed s motion of appreciation of retiring councillors, he said he desired to add his own personal thanks to those who had helped him to carry on the council’s business in the past two years. The motion was carried unanimously. The Vote of Associates. “I wish to move,” said the Mayor, “that a letter of appreciation be sent to associate members. Councillor Brodrick has referred to their good work on committees. I have in the past expressed my objection to associate members and I have always held an objection. A good number of. years ago the matter was discussed with the then Mayor who agreed that sometimes associate members were not necessary. He thought that I might move that their services be dispensed with, but I thought that he, as Mayor, should move in the matter, not a councillor. I feel that sometimes on financial matters coming before the different committees associates should not. vote. I remember after one election it being suggested that associates were only there in an advisory capacity. That seems to have been the reason for their appointment in the first instance. They have tendered good advice and have served the city well, but the question of voting is another matter. However, it will be for the the council to decide whether to have associate members or not. I have written to each, of the present associate members asking him if he wishes to continue to serve on the committee. It will be for the council to decide whether they will be retained. There is, however, one committee where associates are necessary. That is the Library Committee. Councillors are not, so far as I am aware, versed in literature as a rule. That at any rate has been hay experience. The house committee of the library has done very good work advising in the stocking of the library. I move a vote of thanks to those who have acted as associate members of committees.”

In seconding the motion Councillor Brodrick said that some time ago he held views similar to the Mayor on associate members voting, but with the

present safeguards and the present personnel of associates he saw* no need for dispensing with their right to vote.

Councillor O’Byrne submitted that associates should not get a vote. If they wanted to vote on civic affairs they should go before the people and face the acid test. Councillor Ritchie said that so far as he remembered associates did not have a vote when he was on the council previously. The Mayor said they had always voted. Councillor Denham mentioned that there were no associates on the Finance Committee.

“Well, gentlemen, I had no intention of provoking a discussion on the point at this meeting,” said the Mayor. “I’ll put the motion expressing appreciation of the services of associate members.” The motion was carried and the statutory meeting terminated.