MAYOR OF HAWERA RESIGNS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 144, 10 August 1911, Page 6

MAYOR OF HAWERA RESIGNS.

A QUESTION OF POLICY. Some surprise was occasioned in town this morning, says yesterday’s Hawera “Star,” whan a rumour gained currency that the Mayor (Mr E. Barton) had, on Monday night, tendered his resignation at the committee meeting of the Hawera Borough

Jouneil. The sti>Li'tnont was eou.l? mod Ity Air .Barton when interview'd by a “Star” reporter. Asked lor > reason For bis resignation, the Alayor .-.••■id that lu> had taki'.’i tar stop demine of his having tailed to receive cI:o support of the domicil in a matter of policy, lint as Ihe proceedings wore in commitlec he did not ioel justified at present in giving any hirtoer information. From other sources we gatlior that ;iie difference of minion arose on a question of the constitution o! committees. At the Peginning of the new Council’s term of office it v: as p opaned ■to divide tin committee work among the councilor;, go that each member should he on one committee and no more, tlnee to deal with one subject, three with another, and the third should deal with other work, ihe reason •Cor••this. suggestion was t! at tliei'e should he nc overlapping, m.u: I 'that a commiC-'w* would he sure of getting tiie nee; as aiy attendance, instead of having to postpone meeiIngs or to wait till the conclusion or ether meetings for members whose attendance was required. Incottvenit:;Cv >■■(' this kind lia-d often I men ex- , vtuwd This proposal was not accepted, and it was decided to have a general committee cf the whole Council, and an executive committee of three. In the opinion of some councillors this method has not worked ;■ itirfaetorily, and it is understood that a proposal was. made in the general committee meeting last evening to recommend ,the abolition of the general committee and the substitution of a system something like that proposed at the outset. ’ ' The Mayor opposed tins, but tHo majority of lire Council .approved, and the Alayor thereupon wrote out bis resignation and left the chamber. There will not he a fresh election of a now .Mayor. The Council will appoint one of their own number, and there will then be a vacancy at the Council table to be tilled by an election. A. councillor, conversing with' a “Star” reporter, said he did not think for one moment I bare was any pm - sonal feeling towards tlio Alayor; it was merely a difference of opinion. Ho paid a warm tribute to. the Alayor tor the great amount of work lie bad put in at the Council. The councillor considered that no Alayor had devoted so much of his personal time to the < H ■ e as Air Barton had done, 1