THE LAST MEETING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4046, 11 May 1938, Page 7

THE LAST MEETING

COUNCILLORS FAREWELLED. THE MAYOR’S TRIBUTE. 7 The five councillors who are not seeking ro-election at the municipal elections to-day made their adieu at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening, at the close of routine business. His Worship the Mayor, Mr G. I Spinley, sa/d that he was sorry so I few of the present council were seeking re-election. The past three years had, he thought, been very happy ones; the Councillors had done good work, and had something to show for their efforts. The new Council to be elected to-day, wou’d no doubt take a little time to settle down to the routine of Council work, and he would like to have the assistance of the three councillors who had offered themselves for re-election, as they would be more than useful by the full knowledge gained in their recent term. He hoped that at the end of the next three years the Council would be able to look back and see that as much progress had been made as in the three years just ended. For one thing the new Council would have more money to spend. Continuing, Mr Spinley sa d that he was particularly sorry that Cr Rainey was not offering his services again. He had served for years, and rendered very valuable service. Speaking generally, he would say that if there had been differences at the Council table these differences were not taken outside; work had been done in good faith for the town and its people. He personally had tired to serve all the people. Some of theni had opposed him at the elections, but that made no difference in his conduct of public affairs, though he was glad a majority of them had since come and assured him of support. He was proud tc have had that co-operation. He knew that council work was a big tie on business men, and that it made personal enemies. He had been in public life in Te Awamutu practically thirty years—first on the School Committee, then on the Chamber of Commerce and the Town Board; countless othei activities in various organisations; and more recently as Mayor. Perhaps he had given too much time to public affairs, but he had no regrets. Mr Spinley concluded with an expression of thanks to the staff for their loyalty, and remarked that the councillors not seeking re-election would probably not be severe critics of the incoming administration, for they would know the problems t 0 be faced. All the councillors congratulated the Mayor upon his re-election unopposed, and wished him success in the new term. They gave their reasons for not seeking re-election—from advancing age and deafness to lack of time available and the necessity for a sense of humour. Cr Montefiore said that he had been twitted with altering his decision to retire. But the fact was that at the eleventh hour the Mayor had come to him with the information that up to then only one councillor had been re-nominated, and so he had agreed to offer his services again. It was a reluctant decision, but, having been duly nominated, he was very keen to gain re-election. If successful, he would consistently support the Mayor.