THE MAYORALTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20077, 6 April 1935, Page 8

THE MAYORALTY

MR SATTERTHWAITE TO STAND REPLY TO DEPUTATION In response to a representative deputation of citizens who waited on him yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) acceded to a request that he should again consent to nomination for the Mayoralty. On May 8 Mr Satterthwaite will complete his second term of office as Mayor of Timaru. The deputation was headed by Mr J. Hole, who said that they had come to endeavour to prevail on Mr and Mrs Satterthwaite to take on another term of office. During the term which he was serving, the Mayor had had to undertake some big tasks, but he had carried out his duties most satisfactorily, and Mr Hole said that he felt sure the deputation were voicing the feelings of a majority of people in Timaru when they asked him to carry on. In discharging his duties the Mayor had done honour to the town as he had done in the past. Acceptance of the office of Mayor involved a good deal of time and responsibility. It was no bed of roses, but someone had to do it, and the deputation felt that if they could get someone they could depend on, they would be well satisfied. Mr Hole said that they would like an answer immediately, but they realised that the Mayoress would probably like to be consulted, so they were prepared to await the Mayor’s decision. He thanked the Mayor for receiving the deputation. Dignity of Office Upheld Mr W. G. Irwin said that, when it was announced some time ago that the Mayor would not allow himself to be nominated for the Mayoralty this time, there was a feeling of disappointment throughout the town, but he thought that the Mayor had taken that step on account of health reasons. Mr Satterthwaite had conducted the business of the Council in a very fine way, and had upheld the dignity of the office in a manner which was a credit to himself and to the borough. He had had a strenuous time lately looking after his own business as well as that of the borough, and the speaker would not have been surprised if he had declined to accept nomination owing to pressure of work, and the mental and physical strain imposed on him by his duties as Mayor. If he allowed his nomination to go forward, however, he could be sure of strong support when the elections came round, and the deputation would do all they could to see that he again reached the Mayoral chair. The opinion that Mr Satterthwaite had had, during his double term of office, as strenuous a time as any previous Mayor of Timaru. was expressed by Mr I. J. Bradley. “What we Want to-day is a Mayor with plenty of ginger, and in Mr Satterthwaite we have a live man at the head of affairs. I, for one. will feel very disappointed if you turn us down.” said Mr Bradley. Mr S. G. McClelland said he had known Mr Satterthwaite for more than 20 years, and he had always been straight and to the point, and that was what they wanted in a Mayor. Work of Mayoress Praised Mr J. W. Holdgate, adding his request to that of other members of the deputation, said that Timaru had been well represented in the past and had had some splendid Mayors, not the least of whom was Mr Satterthwaite. the presept Mayor. Mr Holdgate paid warm tribute to the work of the Mayoress, and said she had filled the office with honour and dignity, for she was always a lady. The fact that, after the years of service Mr Satterthwaite had given, they were probably asking a good deal in requesting him to serve again for three years was mentioned by Mr A. Oborn, who added that the Mayor could be sure of being well supported at the poll. Mr Satterthwaite was a man of strong principles and did not seek popularity, for which he was to be admired. Mr Oborn expressed himself in agreement with the financial policy of the Council, which, he said, was going to put the borough in a very happy position. In indicating his willingness to accede to the deputation’s request, the Mayor said he considered he had been done a great honour in being asked to consent to further nomination for the Mayoralty. Last December he had decided to retire from office at the expiry of his present term, as he did not wish to hold a monopoly, and his health had not been very good. He was pleased to hear that it was the wish of the deputation that he and his wife should consent to nomination for a further term. He had learned that a deputation intended waiting upon him, so had discussed the matter with Mrs Satterthwaite and he wished to thank the speakers for their kind remarks in reference to the Mayoress. Mayoralty No Sinecure The office of Mayor was no sinecure, but that of Mayoress socially was even more strenuous. The Mayoress had carried out her duties without making distinctions, and he had done the same. The Mayor expressed appreciation of the references to the work of the Council, which he said was no mutual admiration society. Credit for the progress which had been made should go to the Council, for they had worked as a team, and that was the only way in which progress could be achieved. The Council had two more meetings to hold and he was proud to say that at the end of its term the Council would retire from office, and he would complete four years of office as Mayor, and during that time not one penny of debt had been added to the debt of the borough. They had worked within their income. The Mayor tfien announced that he and Mrs Satterthwaite would accede to the deputation’s request and would place themselves unreservedly in the hands of the ratepayers and would seek another term of office. “If we find favour with a majority of the electors we will do our best for Timaru as we have done in the past,” concluded the Mayor, whose decision was received with applause. On behalf of the deputation, Mr Hole thanked the Mayor for agreeing to accept nomination, and asked him to convey their best wishes to Mrs Satterthwaite for the good work she had done in the past.