WAIMATE THE MAYORALTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21019, 23 April 1938, Page 4

WAIMATE THE MAYORALTY

Mr G. Dash to Seek Re-election Assurance to Deputation Acceding to the request of a large deputation which waited upon him yesterday at Waimate and presented a petition signed by all the members of the Waimate Borough Council and about 200 ratepayers, Mr George Dash. Mayor of Waimate, who intimated some time ago that he would not be seeking reelection, will contest the Waimate Mayoralty as well as his seat on the South Canterbury Electric Power Board. The petition, which was presented to Mr Dash by Mr J. B. Sinclair on behalf of the deputation, expressed the appreciation and general thanks of the public for the work that Mr Dash had done for South Canterbury in general and the Waimate Borough in particular over a long period, and more particularly during the last 15 years during which period Mr Dash had been Mayor of Waimate. His wide knowledge of public affairs and local body administration had been invaluable to the community, it was stated, and the petitioners sincerely regretted his decision to retire and not seek-re-election for the Mayoralty. Mr Dash was therefore urged to reconsider his decision and again offer his services to the borough in the capacity of Mayor. There were seven speakers, who eulogised the work done by Mr Dash and urged him to reconsider his decision to retire. Mr Dash’s Reply

Replying to the representation of the deputation, Mr Dash said that in deciding to relinquish either the Mayoralty or his seat on the South Canterbury Power Board, he had considered the matter carefully, and had reached the conclusion that the Borough of Waimate could easily do without him, while he felt that there was urgent need for his presence on the Power Board. Having been Mayor for 15 years, he felt that it would be in the best interests of all that there should be a change, and consequently he had announced that he would not again seek the position. Since he had arrived at that decision, it had been made abundantly clear that public opinion in Waimate did not approve of the decision. The deputation had made it documentally clear, by the petition which had just been presented to him, that this was the position, the contents of the petition being backed up by the sentiments expressed by members of the deputation. He thanked all for this marked expression of confidence and approval; it was a compliment' which he greatly appreciated. There was no more pleasant public task than being Mayor of Waimate, and when he reached his decision he was well aware of the deprivation which it would entail. Power Board Problems Before replying to the request made he desired to take a glance at the problems of the Power Board and their immense importance to South Canterbury. The agreement with the Timaru Borough for the purchase of bulk power had expired and Timaru was seeking a new agreement, which would result in the Eoard receiving £lOOO less revenue. The Board’:, outside employees were seeking a new award, and the claims submitted would call for an additional expenditure of £1790 per annum. A new award had been made for the clerical staff, which would involve an additional expenditure of several hundreds of pounds per annum. For the extension of the Board's lines it would be necessary to borrow money every year, but since the interest rate is fixed by the Government at 3id per cent, the Board would be unable to secure the money required. The latest offer was from the Government Advances Corporation, but ! this proposition was hopeless since repayment would be required to be j made on a ten years' amortisation. I This made the annual payment so high that the guarantees required from new consumers would be impossible. Added to these problems was the loss of such profits as the Board should rightly show as a result of three quarters of the Board’s trading year, the sum of £2OOO having been lost.

The skill and experience required to draft a set of estimates, which under the circumstances would allow of a balanced budget without an increase in the price charged for electricity to the consumer, could be imagined. Increase of price had already been mooted by men who had voted against the speaker’s motion to secure an engineer-manager. He believed the consumers of electricity in South Canterbury should see that new blood was sent to the Board, and if increased charges are not desired, he would give the advice that wherever new candidates for the Board are contesting the seats of members who voted against the speaker’s motion, such candidates should be supported. “So much representation has been made to me, so much pressure has been brought to bear upon me throughout South Canterbury, that I have decided to stick to the Power Board task as long as I am physically capable in the coming three years.” Will Conserve his Strength Mr Dash said that he w?,~ making such arrangements concerning his business as would permit him also to accede to the petition asking him to retain the Mayoralty. He said it was not really necessary that the chair at all political meetings should be occupied by the Mayor; it was not really necessary that functions held on the Mayor’s busy day should be presided over by him. He might find it necessary to skip some such meetings and gatherings, which had always been very pleasurable to him. By this he

would rve his --- -qth for matters which were of greatest importance, and h? promised that in what he undertook he would give a 100 per cent service. Mr Dash concluded: “Waimate is very dear to me, and its people in town and country are my valued friends. If the same co-operation, the same civic spirit, is shown in the future as has been so evident in past years, we shall do much to make our town and district desirable above all others. You

may look at what has been accomplished. I look to what has been planned, thought out, visioned, but is yet to be brought to fruition. These plans are many and some of them are daring, but much that seems impossible is brought about when the waggon is hitched to a star. I thank you for your great compliment and your fellowship, and accede to your request.” ARNO YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUB At the second annual meeting of the Arno Young Farmers' Club the election of officers resulted: Advisory president, Mr I. Ross; vice-presidents, Messrs H. Meredith and Chas. Olorenshaw (chairman), L. McLauchlan; secretary. R. Lindsay; treasurer,. M. Olorenshaw; auditor, F. Trott. The first and third Wednesday of each month were decided upon as meeting nights. It was left to the president, chairman and secretary to draw up a programme for the year to be presented for approval at the next meeting. It was decided to ask Mr A. Grant to give a lecture on the club's opening night.