NEW ZEALAND HAS THREE TALL MAYORS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND HAS THREE TALL MAYORS

NEWSPAPER CALLED ON TO SETTLE ARGUMENT. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, April 3. Newspaper men are required to make peculiar inquiries from time to time. As often as not requests for specific information arise out of arguments which continue until one of those concerned suggests writing to the newspaper. The following is a case in point:— “Dear Sir, —We have been having a friendly argument as to the height of the Mayor of Wellington. Judging from photos appearing in the newspapers, he looks about Gft, but I am assured by someone who has seen Mr Troup that he is not more than sft 7in. Would you kindly let me know?”

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr G. A. Troup) stands Gft 2£in in his shoes and an inch less in his socks, but he is by no means the tallest Mayor in New Zealand. This was made clear on the occasion of the recent Municipal Association conference at Invercargill, when three mayors drifted together and someone chanced to remark. “What tall mayors they breed in N£w Zealand.” The three were: The Mayor of Wellington, Gft 2iin ; the Mayor of Auckland (Mr G. Baildon), Gft 3*Vin; and the Mayor of Westport (Mr J. H. Ilarkness), 6ft 4iin. The foregoing were boot, not barefoot, heights.