BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1640, 12 May 1925, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL

FIRST MEETING OF NEW PERSONNEL.,.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITTEES

. The first meeting of the'Te Awamutu Borough Council since the biannual election, was held last evening, when there were present:—His Worship the Mayor (Mr L. Gr. Armstrong), i and Crs. G. Spinley, C. G. Downes, W. Jeffery, J. C. Monteflore, J. W, McCarroll, F. H. Vile, B. • McGechie and W. J. North.

The returning officer, Mr D. Bochfett, announced the result of the recent call for nominations. No contest had resulted and he had declared- the following elected as Councillors:— Cecil G. Downes, William Jeffery, John C. Monteflore, John W. McCarroll, Benjamin McGechie, William James North, George Spinley and Frederick H. Vile.

Mr Leonard G. Armstrong had been elected unopposed as Mayor of Te Awamutu.

Further, Mr Bockett announced that Messrs Geo. Spinley and C. G. Downes had been elected unopposed as representatives of Te Awamutu Borough on the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board.

The Mayor and each Councillor present made the statutory declaration and were then installed in office.

Mr Armstrong said few present could appreciate the feeding of gratification he had when he was re-elected unopposed for his fourth term of office as Mayor.. He was glad to see so many of the former Councillors to cooperate again with him in conducting the Borough's affairs. He welcomed Mr Vile to the Council table. That gentleman.brought with him a knowledge of the town's requirements acquired by a residence in Te Awamutu of several years, while he had had past experience as a Borough Councillor. He hoped the affairs of the Borough would continue to progress and prosper during the present Council's term of office. Cr. Bygrave had set a high standard by his conscientious attention to detail, and if Cr. Vile did as well the Bor6ugh would be well served. , The Mayor then announced the personnel of the new committees as follows reworks.—'Crs. Spinley, Monteflore, North and McGechie. Finance. —Crs. Downes, Spinley and Monteflore. General.—Crs. McOarroll, Vile and Jeffery. - •'.',' The Mayor explained that the General Committee would be expected to combine in their obligations tration of the swimming baths, municipal band, fire brigade, cemetery and parks. This, no dloubt, would? b> looked upon as a fairly big undertaking for a committee of Councillors, but he had given the subject a great deal of consideration and he thought the best interests of each institution and the Borough generally would be served if the General Committee undertook the responsibilities.

Cr. Downes referred to the retiring Councillor, Mr Chas. Bygrave. stating he had given a great deal of valuable time and thought to the affairs of the townspeople* over a period of years, latterly as a Councillor. He would like to see an appreciation of Mr Bygrave's services placed on record, and moved accordingly. Cr. Spinley, seconding,.said that exCouncillor Bygrave had probably only retired owing to advancing years. He had been a very valuable Councillor, for he was practical and conscienti-. ous, besides being fearless ■ and straightforward at all times. Cr. McGechie supplemented these remarks and said it was fitting that Mr Bygrave's many worthy services should be placed on record. The motion was put and carried unanimously. Cr. Spinley then rose and congratulated the- Mayor on the fine honour accorded him by the burgeAses in again electing him as Mayor without a contest for the. fourth successive term. (Applause). The present Councillors would probably not have sought election were it not that they had suchj a fine leader' as Mr Armstrong. Referring to the committees as announced by the Mayor, he (the speaker) would say that a very wise selection seemed to have been made. He hoped all would accept. The Mayor acknowledged the compliment. '

Cr. Downes then said there was but one other office unfilled, and that was the Deputy-Mayor. He had much pleasure in nominating Cr. Spinley for the office again. That gentleman was the hardest-worked Councillor of the eight, and now he was to take up duty on two committees. He was wellknown for his work as chairman of the Works Committee, and now he was going to collaborate on the Finance Committee. If any Councillor had earned the position of DeputyMayor it was Cr. Spinley. (Hear, hear). The Mayor seconded, saying the motion was a step in the right direction and thanked Cr. Downes for moving it so ably. ( The motion was carried amid applause. f\ Cr. Spinley fittingly responded, saying that the position was almost a sinecure, but he appreciated the honour. With such a conscientious Mayor as Mr Armstrong he was confident the Deputy would not be called upon often.