BOROUGH COUNCIL ADJOURNS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6599, 14 May 1925, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL ADJOURNS

MARK OF RESPECT TO LATE PREMIER The ordinary meeting of the Borough Council was called for last evening, but after references had been made to the late Mr Massey and the funeral arrangements the meeting was adjourned till to-morrow night. Those present were: His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Coulter) and Crs. Hamilton, Woordoffe, McMahon, Manners, Ada Gordon, Hedge, Sellars, and the Town Clerk (Mr Wild). The Mayor,, immediately the minutes had been confirmed, said he wished to refer to the great loss the coun-s, try had sustained through the death of the late Prime Minister. It was not his intention to speak at length on the late Mr Massey’s great service to the country, and his excellent qualities. They all felt the same about the passing of a man who had done so much for his country. He had already despatched a telegram to Mrs Massey expressing the sympathy of the Council and the burgesses of Te Aroha, and he would now move that suitable letters, to be framed by the Town Clerk and himself, be sent to Sir Francis Bell and Mrs Massey extheir regret at the death of the late Mr Massey and their appreciation of his services to New Zealand and the Empire. The motion was seconded by Cr. Hamilton.

Cr. Ada Gordon said she would like, on behalf of the women of Te Aroha, to express her sympathy with Mrs Massey. The motion was carried in silence while all stood.

The Mayor explained that he had expected to receive some instructions from Wellington as to what was to be done throughout New Zealand on Thursday, and knowing that some instructions would be given he had been obliged, in order to get an announcement in Tuesday’s News, to anticipate the Government’s wishes. He had caused to be inserted in the local paper an advertisement, requesting that all business premises be closed on Thursday. There had been some difference of opinion on the question of whether he had acted rightly, but he had since received a telegram from Sir Francis Bell requesting him to do just what he had done. In view of that telegram he could leave the position ’as it was. He wished to mention that a service would be held at the Presbyterian Church, Te Aroha, at 1.30 on Thursday, to which the Council was invited. As they knew, Mr Massey was_ a Presbyterian. He would move that the Council accept the invitation. This was seconded by Cr. Manners and carried. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Gordon, the Council then adjourned till 7.30 on Friday evening as a mark of respect to the late Mr Massey.