MR ROGERS AGAIN INSTALLED AS MAYOR OF CITY

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1947, Page 4

MR ROGERS AGAIN INSTALLED AS MAYOR OF CITY

In the presence of the out-going City Council, assembled for the last time, and councillors newly elected on the provisional count, the Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., was installed as Mayor of Wanganui tor the seventh time at a ceremony in the City Council Chambers yesterday. The installation was carried out by the retiring De-puty-Mayor. Or. J. F. Broad, alter the returning officer <Mr. C. R. White) had read the official declaration of the poll taken last Wednesday. MAYORAL OATH. The ceremony was brief and simple. After being congratulated by Cr. Board, Mr. Rogers took the oath of of J flee, in which he promised to -fairly and impartially, according to the best of his skill and judgment, exercise the powers and authorities vested in him by virture of the Municipal Corporations Act.” Cr. Broad then shook hands with the Mayor, and with the assistance of the town clerk, vested him in the Mayoral robes and chain of office. Those present included Mr. A. C. Seivewright, Citizens' Association candidate for tlie Mayoralty, and Crs. T. N. Dickson, W. S. N. Rennie, A. J. Pritchard, R. E. Jack, W. G. Price, J. C Batt, R. P. Andrews, and G. P. Hawkins, apologies having been received from Crs. D. W. Earle and A. R. Donaldson., Of these, Crs. Pritchard, Earle, and Donaldson are retiring. The others have been elected. Newly-elected councillors present were Messrs. R. N. Wilson, H. Delves, N. M. Izard, H. R. Gilberd, and J. A. McFarland. They will not take office, however, till after the official declaration of the poll for the City Council. Congratulating the Mayor. Cr. Broad said that the citizens had again decided by democratic vote that Mr. Rogers should preside over the affairs of the citv for a further period of three 'years. "Mr, Rogers has reason for pride in his achievement which is. evidence that it is not merely a question of tlie policy which he expounded during the campaign, but also the personal esteem in which he is held by citizens,” Cr. Broad added. ONEROUS DUTIES.

"As one who has served as a councillor for the past nine and a-half years, I can speak with some authority on the multifarious nature of the duties, many of them highly onerous, which a mqyor is called upon to perform. Personally, I could not feel envious of anyone acting in such a capacity. , , a , "It is appropriate that I should also extend warm congratulations to the Mayor’s opponent, Mr. Seivewright, who fought a hard fight cleanly and h’as emerged from the conflict with honours thick upon him. The recent municipal and local body campaign in Wanganui reached new heights insofar as the absolute lack of personalities and recriminations between partv opponents was concerned. I can think of no single instance where anything of this nature occurred and the situation reflects the greatest credit upon all the candidates for office. After all, it is a question of policy that should be the subject of debate as between parties and Individuals, and the personal elemerA has no place in a local body campaign and should never be countenanced,” Cr. Broad saidThanking Cr. Broad for installing him, the Mayor recalled that 20 years had elapsed since he first took office He was then untried and had to go through a testing'period, but though the vears had taught him some bitter lessons, in the main they, had been happy years, full of activity. "Perhaps there was more activity than results, but I hope the results have fleen good. The people have showed me their loyalty and I have received farm co-operation and sympathy from councillors.” said the Mayor. There had been differences of opinon, but. little acrimony, and he was sure that these differences had been left behind at the council table, the Mayor added before thanking the electors for again returning him to office He felt strengthened by the confidence placed in him and would bring to this office all the zeal and enthusiasm of which he was capable. NO POLICY FORECAST.

The Mayor said he would not give any forecast of policy. The issues were made quite clear and were put to the electors. He believed, however, that the period ahead would contain much work for the council. The tasks confronting them were unspectacular, but if citizens could peep behind the scenes they would get some conception of the time devoted by councillors to civic affairs. "I do bring to the task a deep sense of responsibility and I hope that I will always be worthy of the confidence placed in me,” the Mayor added. There were at least two important questions Which would occupy the council. He honed the incoming council would make a drive to improve the water supply because it did cause concern in dry weather. Many citizens also felt that their streets and footpaths should he imoroved and this was another question which he hoped would receive attention. Mr. '’?ivewright said that on many occasions since the elections he had congratulated Mr. Rogers on being returned and had expressed appreciation of the way he had conducted the campaign. “I will do so again, and I wish him all success and prosperity. I am sura that he will carry out his nuties with the same excellence shown in the past,” Mr. Seivewright added.