NEW COUNCIL IS INSTALLED

Southland Times, Issue 23512, 19 May 1938, Page 6

NEW COUNCIL IS INSTALLED

MAYOR’S LONG TERM OF OFFICE MINIMUM OF DELAY IN BUSINESS The Mayor (Mr John Miller) and the 12 councillors chosen -by the electors on May 11 were sworn in yesterday. The installation ceremony, which was conducted by the town clerk (Mr W. F. Sturman), took place in the council chambers at noon. The main business, after the installation ceremony, was the appointment of committees, and, in marked contrast to the statutory meeting three years ago when the making of the appointments was responsible for long and heated discussions, the Mayor’s nominations were confirmed with a minimum of delay. The councillors chose their own seats at the table, those who had been on the old council taking up their former positions. Following was the order—an order which will, incidentally, be followed for the next three years—from the left of the table: Crs J. R. Martin, L. A. Blackmore, G. C. Broughton, F. A. Webb, A. McCarthy, A. Scott, E. J. McLauchlan, A. Dix, J. R. Hanan, A. W. Jones, A. Wachner, J. Pickard. The town clerk said it gave him pleasure to announce Mr Miller had been re-elected Mayor. The Mayor then read and signed the following declaration: “I do hereby declare that I will faithfully and impartially, according to the best of my skill and judgment, execute the powers and authorities vested in me as Mayor of the City of Invercargill by virtue of the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act.” The town clerk then declared Mr Miller installed in office for a period of three years and stated that he had much pleasure in presenting him with the mayoral chain. The gold chain was then placed over Mr Miller’s shoulders. Each of the councillors signed a declaration similar to that for the mayoral office. MAYOR REQUESTS SUPPORT “And now you are fully installed as councillors of the city of Invercargill,” said the Mayor. “I would like to extend a welcome to you and to express the wish that during your deliberations in this chamber and in committees you will remember it is a case of service and not self. It means a certain amount of sacrifice when a man joins a local body. He must attend meetings and do his best to carry out the work with efficiency and harmony. “I hope,” the Mayor continued, “that I will get your support in carrying on the affairs of the city. I have been here a long time now and trust that if I offer an opinion you will at all times consider it. I have been entrusted to this position by the citizens of Invercargill, presumably because of my experience, and I hope that councillors will remember this and give the mayoral chair that appreciation which is'its due. You will find your duties here quite pleasant and I trust they will be of benefit to yourself.” Cr Hanan, on behalf of the other councillors, congratulated Mr Miller on being returned to office and Mrs Miller on “once again being first lady of the city.” By his re-election the length of the Mayor’s term of office would be unique in Invercargill, said Cr Hanan, and rare, probably unequalled, in New Zealand. Cr Hanan expressed the hope that there would be a “total avoidance of all personalities” at council meetings and that the business would be put through in as efficient and expeditious a manner as possible. He felt sure that in the difficult days to come—the “dangerous financial position of the gas works and the deplorable financial position of the trams” were among the difficulties to be met—the Mayor’s long experience and great knowledge of civic affairs would be of great assistance to the council. “It is now my duty and pleasure,” said the Mayor, “to voice my appreciation of the services of the last council. I don’t know whether some councillors were getting a bit threadworn towards the end of their term, but they had a trying time. I wish to thank those who gave me support during that time and aided me in carrying out the affairs of the city.” On the motion of the Mayor, a vote of appreciation of the services of former councillors was carried. The Mayor then moved that Cr Hanan be appointed Deputy-Mayor. This was seconded by Cr Jones and carried. COMMITTEES APPOINTED The following committees were appointed on the recommendation of the Mayor:— FINANCE.—Crs E. J. McLauchlan, A. Scott, J. R. Hanan and F. A. Webb (chairman). TRADING—Crs L. A. Blackmore, J. R. Martin, J. Pickard, A. Dix and J. R. Hanan (chairman).

RESERVES.—Crs G. C. Broughton, A. McCarthy, A. Wachner, L. A. Blackmore and E. J. McLauchlan (chairman).

WORKS.—Crs A. Dix, J. R. Martin, J. Pickard, G: C. Broughton and A. Scott (chairman). BATHS AND LIBRARY.—Crs A. McCarthy, A. W. Jones, A. Wachner, G. C. Broughton and F. A. Webb (chairman). HOUSE COMMITTEE.—Cr F. A. Webb, Messrs J. E. Cuthill and W. A. Stout.

TOWN PLANNING.—The Mayor and Crs E. J. McLauchlan, J. Pickard and L. A. Blackmore, representatives of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, the architects of Invercargill, the Invercargill Beautifying Society, and the surveyors of Invercargill and the city enginee. (Mr F. M. Corkill) and the superintendent of reserves (Mr B. P. Mansfield). The council’s representatives on various public bodies were appointed as follows: — Southland High Schools Board.—The Mayor. Southland Museum Board.—Cr A. McCarthy. Southland League—Crs J. R. Hanan, J. R. Martin, G. C. Broughton and A. Wachner. Southland League executive committee.—Cr J. Pickard. Invercargill Fire Board.—The Mayor and Mr W. G. Tait. Southland Employers’ .Association. — Cr A. Dix. Invercargill Chamber of Commerce. — Cr A. Wachner. FINANCIAL COMMITTEE , OF COUNCIL FOUR MEMBERS ONLY ARE APPOINTED ~ » When the Mayor (Mr John Miller) announced four members for the Finance Committee of the Invercargill City Council at the statutory meeting yesterday, Cr E. J. McLauchlan asked whether there should not be five members of the committee. The Mayor said there was no reason to appoint more than four members to the Finance Committee. » Cr McLauchlan: Has the motion been carried? The Mayor: It has. Cr McLauchlan: It may have to be rescinded. There was no more discussion and this was the only question raised during the appointment of the various committees. The following are the members of the Finance Committee: Crs McLauchlan, A. Scott, J. R. Hanan and F. A. Webb (chairman). NEW COMMITTEES IN DUNEDIN TWO LABOUR MEMBERS AS CHAIRMEN (Special to The Times) DUNEDIN, May 18. Following his installation as Mayor today, Mr A. H. Allen announced the personnel of the committees which will have charge of the affairs of the city for the ensuing three years. Though the new council of 12 comprises only three Labour members, two of these, Dr.D. G. McMillan, M.P., and Mr J. W. Munro, M. have been appointed chairmen of two of the committees, the remaining appointments being conferred on Citizens’ representatives. The full list of chairmen is as follows:— Works Committee. —Cr Wilson (Citizens). Water Committee.—Cr Sheppard (Citizens). Electric Power Committee. —Cr Cameron (Citizens). Tramway Committee. —Cr Gibson (Citizens). Gas Committee. —Cr McMillan (Labour). General Committee.—Cr Henderson (Citizens). Reserves Committee.—Cr Munro (Labour). Library Committee. —Cr Borrie (Citizens). Finance Committee.—Cr. Taverner (Citizens), a former Minister of Railways. The mayoral honorarium was fixed at £5OO a year.