BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9319, 31 December 1938, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

EiVJOVABLE SOCIAL FUNCTION DEPUTY-MAYOR'S RECORD TOASTS TO STAFF MEMBERS At the social gathering of the Waihi Borough Council held last week, following the review of the year's work by the Mayor. Mr W. M. Wallnutt, several toasts were honouron. The Mayor pointed out that the principal guest of the evening was the deputy-Mayor, Cr. C. F. Butcher, and it was a happy coincidence that it was the anniversary 01 his, Mr Butcher's birthday. CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE The Mayor, in proposing the toast of Cr. Butcher, tendered his congratulations and said that that gentleman had put up a record in the annals of the council. He had topped the poll not only at the municipal "lections but he had' also achieved this distinction in the Thames Hospital Board election. When a man has the confidence of the people, he, the speaker, did not think he would want anything more. The voice of the people was the thing that couutc-J, and it governed everything in the above connection. In the case of Mr Butcher, he had the confidence of the people in a remarkable manner. He was also one of the oldest residents in Waihi; there were only two older, Mrs W. Mollis and Mr Herbert Gordon, as far as he knew, added Mr Wallnutt. The speaker went on to say that Mr Butcher had put up splendid records, and he, the speaker, was in the position to state that Mr Butcher had the utmost confidence of thf Thames Hospital Board, and the board would regret exceedingly should Mr Butcher, through technical reasons, have to go out of office. The .Mayor, in closing, expressed the hopo that Mr Butcher would experience many happy birthdays in the years to come.

Mr Butcher, in returning thanks, said he had been 15 years on the council and he could say that he had never missed a meeting nor had lie missed attending a Works Committee since he was appointed a member. THE MAYOR'S TOAST Mr Butcher then proposed the toast of the Mayor and Mayoress. Mr Butcher, addressing the Mayor, said, "You have never on any occasion tried to gag me or influence my vote." Proceeding, the speaker said a mayor of the town had quite a lot to put lip with, and he had to deal with all classes of the people. Mr Wallnutt still bobbed up like a mushroom but nobody seemed to be able to unseat him. In concluding, the speaker wished the Mayor and Mayoress the best of health and the compliments of Lhe season.

HARD TASKMASTER

The Mayor expressed thanks on behalf of himself and Mrs Wallnutt for the manner in which they had drunk their toast, and the kindly remarks i that the mover had made with re- ! gard to himself. The public was a hard taskmaster and everybody knew I that. There was a large section of

I the community who were not aware of the manifold obligations of the , Mayor, and the many little difficulties ! that arose in the town which he was called upon to try and straighten out. The council, as a whole, had worked hard in the interests of the public and the town. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Cr. J. J. Callaghan, in proposing the toast of the chief executive officer, Mr E. C. Wcstbury, said he did so with very much pleasure. There was no gainsaying the responsibilities which the office of town clerk and treasurer carried with it; and these responsibilities had been performed efficiently and to the best of his ability. At times the officer in this position felt a little bit hurt at tho comments brought back to him. Ho. the speaker, thought that people should be a little more careful in their remarks as they often acted as a boomerang. As far as he was concerned, he had no compunction in saying that he had always found Mr Wcstbury obliging in giving information when it was asked for. One would hardly expect a responsible officer to give out information indis-

criminately. Tie wished Mr Westbury and his family a happy Christmas and (he best for (.he New Year,

MR WESTBURY RESPONDS Mr Westbury, in responding, said lie appreciated Uie mover's remarks very much l/idee.l. He felt that Mr (dllaghan's remarks were made sino rely and genuinely. He would take tlie opportunity of congratulating the deputy-Mayor on the occasion of his birthday, 'i:\C he wished to convey the hearty good, wishes of Mrs Westbury and tii;ti3Clf to Mr Butcher. This, proceeded the speaker, waj he twelfth occasion he had officiated at

similar pleasing little functions. There had been many changes in the personnel of the council since his appointment. There also had been considerable changes of officers duri):g the past twelve years. There had

I been three engineers, three gas managers and two abattoir managers, There was only one .staff employee with a longer service record th in | himself and thai was Mr G. Higgs. Touching on the progress made dur|i)ig die period he said (hat when ho came to VVaihi there were only two I pieces of tar sealing of less than half j a mile and now there were six and a [ half miles of tar-sealed roads, and ! two new bridges—the Coronation and Barry road structures. Also the Beach road was then only metalled in patches. They were progressing, and he hoped the Beach road would be tar sealed in the very near future. Proceeding, Mr Westbury said generally speaking the relationship be-

twcen the officers and the council had been good, and he thought they had the co-operation of the council, which they appreciated very much.

Mr Westbury concluded by quoting a few very line verses seasonable and appropriate to the occasion. BOROUGH FOREMAN Cr. Butcher, in proposing the toast of the borough foreman, said the Works Committee was satistied (hat Mr Bourke was the right man in the right place, and made special mention of (he line bridge structure in Barry | road, and concluded by paying a high tribute to that official's zeal and offi-1 ciency in carrying out his duties I generally.

Mr Bourke, in response, thanked the deputy-Mayor for his kind romarks. lie also said as the result of long experience with public bodies there was always to be found the irresponsible critic or "nark" as well as the critic of more understanding. Toasts of the traffic inspector, Mr J. Spence, the gas manager, Mr F, 0. I Edwards, and (he abattoir manager, Mr C. Higgs, were honoured, and I thus was brought to an end a very j pleasant and enjoyable social function.