MAYOR THANKED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20096, 1 May 1935, Page 6

MAYOR THANKED

WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED

COMMITTEE’S TRIBUTE At the conclusion of the business of the meeting of the Timaru Unemployment Committee last night members paid a tribute to the chairman, the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) for the dignified and impartial manner in which he had occupied the chair, and a motion of thanks was accorded him. In moving the resolution, Mr P. B. Foote said that, as it was the last meeting of the committee, he could not let the opportunity pass of complimenting* the Mayor on his work as chairman. He had been fair and impartial to the unemployed, who had had a friend in him while he occupied the chair. Mr H. J. Mathers seconded the resolution, and endorsed Mr Foote's remarks. Mr J, McCort said he had watched Mr Satterthwaite as chairman consistently for a number of years, and he was satisfied that the Mayor had carried out his duties in a dignified and impartial manner. “There have been adverse criticisms of his work for the unemployed, but I think he has given them, every assistance, financially and otherwise.” said Mr McCort. who added that he did not think he was giving away any secrets when he said that both Mr and IJif Satterthwaite had alwa,’. teen ready to put their hands in their purses to help the unemployed. A Matter of Opinion Stating that he did not wish to appear discourteous, Mr G. T. Koller said ne could not associate himself with the remarks of Messrs Foote, Mathers and McCort. According to his lights, the chairman had done his best for the unemployed, but in his opinion, his (the chairman’s) light was but a farthing dip. Mr McCort: A matter ol opinion. Mr Koller: “Exactly.” He said he had no complaint to make of the chairman's treatment of him as a member of the committee. He recalled an occasion when the chairman and several members of the committee had left a meeting and another chairman had to be appointed. The Mayor: That is not correct, sir. Mr Koller said that if the statement were not correct, he was sorry that he had made it and was prepared to withdraw it if it could be proved that he was wrong. Mr Kojler said he did not intend to vote against the motion — that would be discourteous. He was prepared to thank Mr Satterthwaite for giving his services for he had acted according to his convictions. “But I regret that his convictions are what they are,” concluded Mr Koller. Mr Carr’s Tribute “I would not be sincere if I did not say that I have disagreed with him,” said the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P,, in supporting the resolution. On one or two occasions there had been differences of opinion and feeling had been aroused, but he agreed with the resolution in that Mr Satterthwaite had carried out his duties in a becoming manner and with impartiality, in so far as his views had enabled him to do so There had been times when he (the speaker) considered that the chairman had not acted in the interests of the unemployed, but that was a matter of judgment, and if the Mayor’s judgment had been wrong that was not his fault but his misfortune. Mr Carr said he wished to add his tribute to the others paid to the Mayor for the assiduity with which he had discharged his office. At that stage Mr Koller pointed out that he had not spoken against the motion, but had expressed himself as being not in accord with the remarks of Messrs Foote, Mathers and McCort. Mr McCort: A distinction without a difference Inter-Change of Opinions Other members who spoke in support of the resolution were the Rev. Father M. A. Murphy, S.M., the Rev. J. Milburn Stewart, Messi’s A. H, Moore, J. G. Leckie, M. Little and E. G. Cliffin. The resolution was carried unanimously by acclamation. “It may be my last term as chairman of this committee, although I hope it will not be,” said the Mayor, in expressing appreciation of the resolution. “I have always tried to do my duty as chairman impartially, and to the best of my ability with the object of assisting those whom we are here to help. Sometimes actions speak louder than words—l will leave it at that.” He pointed out that when members of the committee met as a body it was only by the interchange of opinions that anything definite could be arrived at. He thanked members for what they had done during the term, and said that there had been occasions when they had been absolutely unanimous, and at those times they had “pulled the job off.”