ITS LAST MEETING

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 13

ITS LAST MEETING

WIT ENLIVENS THE COUNCIL. BOROUGH of NEW PLYMOUTH. Monday night was the last on which the present borough council of New Plymouth will meet in ordinary session, and from the beginning of the first discussion on committee reports it was evident that the councillors themselves realised it. The more usually grave deliberations of the civic fathers _ were tinged with occasional flashes of wit that were, for the most part, sternly preceded by the warning “not for publication,” and there was probably a greater leaven of laughter in the discussion of the town’s municipal difficulties than there has been for several years. Cr. T. P. Anderson, whose retirement from the forthcoming election contest was announced some time ago, struck particularly good form and raised more than one responsive roar. His description of New Plymouth as “Goldsmith’s deserted village” brought groans gnd applause from his neighbours. He further informed the council that if anyone were to take exception to any clause in the supplementary report of the finance committee he would take it as'a personal affront and demand satisfaction, “With knobs on!” was another councillor’s retort to the lone councillor who .voted against his “party” when a minor division—a very minor division—was taken. On another such difference of opinion the single dissentient recorded his disapproval with a shrill falsetto negative that startled the Mayor. An anonymous councillor ventured the opinion that the new pig de-hairer it was proposed to purchase for the borough abattoirs was not for use on a municipal officer. Or. S. J. Smith prefaced some telling remarks on the condition of certain footpaths in the eastern end of the town with the proviso,. “Since everybody else is looking out for himself, I suppose I’d better too”—and brought snorts of highly indignant denial from his colleagues. “Now,” said Cr. Stainton when the Mayor proposed to close the meeting, “it only remains for us to ?ihg the Doxology.” Proceedings, however, took a sincerely grave turn when Cr. Anderson informed the council that it was the last occasion on which he would have the opportunity of meeting it as a fellow member. He considered it, he said, a great privilege to have been associated with the council for four years, and he had come to appreciate the great earnestness and energy the members put into their work. “The public,” he said, “should know more of the work the council does—the real work that is done at the committee table for which there are no plaudits or publicity. I feel it a great privilege to have been associated in some small measure with that part of the work. It is a real and serious work.” Cr. Anderson paid a tribute to the excellent spirit in which the council had faced its difficulties. “There has beep no ill-temper associated with it,” he said, z “though we have had our inevitable differences of opinion.” Cr. Anderson also remarked upon the excellence of the service the council had had from its staff, mentioning particularly the work of Mr. F. T. Bellringer. “Cr. Anderson has been a tower of strength to this council,” said the Mayor, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour. “The appreciation of all citizens is due to him for the work he has done and the time he has given to their interests. I greatly regret that he is not standing again,” Mr. Gilmour added. Mr. .Gilmour also referred to the assistance given him by Mr. Bellringer. He appreciated it deeply, he said. From the staff generally he had received nothing but courtesy and assistance that had made his term of office a pleasure. Cr. Stainton said that he wished to associate himself with the remarks made by the Mayor regarding the valuable service given by Cr; Anderson. He thanked him for co-operation and assistance given at all times and hoped that it would be possible for him to stand when the elections came round again. Mr. Bellringer returned thanks for the appreciative references made to his work and said that he knew the staff would be pleased that its work had met with the approval of the retiring council.