Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 5 February 1910, page 5


LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ELECTIONS.

SOUTH BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL

ALDERMAN SAVAGE ELECTED

MAYOR.

QUIET AND DECOROUS

PROCEEDINGS.

Members of the South Brisbane City Council met yesterday for the pur-pose of electing a mayor for the ensuing year. It was understood prior, to the meeting that aldermen had practically come to a determination upon the mat-ter, and they had made up their minds there would be nothing in the proceed-ings which would make them comparable in the slightest with the recent happen-ings in the parent council on the north side of the river. There were very few ratepayers present in the commodious building which houses the local governing body of South Brisbane,

those who did attend including Messrs. Jas. Allan and T. W. Bouchard, MM.L.A., A. C. Wylie, J. M. Davidson. A. J. Lamont. C. A. Clarke, A. Uleoq, Hon. A. J. Thynne, M.L.C., and Dr. Clatworthy.

There was a full attendance of the

council. namely, Aldermen Schofield (retiring Mayor), Davies, Neylan, Burke, Dowrie, M'Cullough, Gilles-pie, Stephens, Savage, Allen, Ross, and Blocksidge. The town clerk took the chair, and as returning officer

announced the re-election of Aldermen

Burke, Allen, and Schofield, and the elec-tion of Alderman Win. Ross. The election of Mayor was announced as the business, and the method of pro cedure explained. Seven votes were neces sary to secure election.

Alderman Neylan, rising hastily during the chairman's remarks, nominated Alder-man Dowrie. A considerable amount of work had been undertaken during the year, he said, and it required someone to keep a check on the finances. Alder-man Neylan, Davies, and M'Cullough voted for Alderman Downie's nomination. Alderman Schofield nominated Alderman Savage, and said he did so for many reasons. As retiring Mayor he was pleased to nominate his successor.

Nine hands were held up for the nomi nation of Alderman Savage, and amidst cries of " make it unanimous," the otherfollowed, Alderman Savage being there-upon declared duly elected. Alderman Schofield conducted the Mayor elect to his

chair, where he was received with ap-

plause.

Alderman Savage thanked aldermen very sincerely for the honour they had done him. When he entered the council two years before he had entertained no aspira-tions to the chair, and he knew that who-ever took it undertook a deal of work. In the past the post had been occupied by many men whom he would find it hard to emulate. The one thing he would ask was that members would assist him, though perhaps that was an unnecessary request to make. With their assistance and the loyal support of the officers he hoped to carry out his duties in such a manner as would be satisfactory. (Hear, hear.) He took it as a great honour to be elected Mayor, as he was a native of South Brisbane, and his wife was also a native of South Brisbane, and they had lived all their lives on that side of the river. He hoped to see their city go forward, until it would become the premier city of the State. (Applause.)

Alderman Schofield congratulated Alderman Savage, and said he would tender every every assistance within his power. Ile thought he could offer the same on behalf

of his brother aldermen.

Alderman Neylan, as the proposer of Alderman Downe, also congratulated the new Mayor, and assured him of every assistance. He was of opinion that a strong man was needed in the chair, and he hoped the new Mayor would take the

1st opportunity of seeing that the finances were kept within measurable dis-tance ot the rates, because he knew all aldermen were against increasing the rates -(hear, hear)-and they would therefore have a hard task. He was glad to see a native in the chair.

Alderman Allen, as a representative of No.l 3, expressed pleasure at Alderman Savage's election. He had watched that gentleman's 'career in other bodies and thought him fully qualified.

.Alderman Gillespie said there was no One more pleased than him, for he and Alderman Savage had been schoolmates and lifelong chums.

Alderman Burke, adding his congratulations , said the reason he could not vote for his colleague Alderman Dowiae had been that he thought the Mayorship should go round, and it was not Alderman Dowrie's turn. The trouble in North Brisbane would have been avoided had the chair there gone round.

Alderman Blocksidge Do not refer to

that.

Aldermen Burke : I will refer to it if I wish to do so. I say if a man is not fit to be a Mayor he is not fit to be an alderman, and therefore the responsibility of unfitness would rest with the rate-

payers who elected him. Alderman Blocksidge congratulated the Mayor on attaining the position so early in his municipal life. He (Alderman Blocksidge) could look back on 20 years in the council, and he had been only once in the chair. If Alderman Burke was right, and a man should not be twice eligible, then the new Mayor had better make the best use of his time. He regretted some remarks that had been made by Alderman M'CuIlough, because when it was that gentleman's turn he had been elected Mayor in his absence.

Alderman M'CuIlough : Was that the

sole reason?

Alderman Blocksidge said there had been the further reason of Alderman M'Cullough's fitness, and they had all recognised it was his ward's turn. He (Alderman Blocksidge) would vote very strongly for the turn of No. 2 next year, and if there was no one else he would perhaps be himself a candidate. He thought Alderman Savage would fill the position as well as any other man who had been there, and he congratulated him. He would give him every assistance. All that was necessary was to have a council pulling together, and they would be backed up by the people outside. If they got at cross purposes they could not expect to get support. He trust-ed the term of the new Mayor and Mayoress would be a very happy one.

Alderman Stephens warmly congratu-lated the new Mayor.

Alderman Downe said he had not sought nomination, and his defeat would cause no ill feeling with him.

Alderman Ross added congratulations.

Alderman M'Cullough said there had been a deal said about the rotation of wards, but they all knew his ideas on that. He would have been sorrv to think that was the only reason he had been elected. He hoped the day was not distant when the ward boundaries

would be removed, and the principle

adopted of electing the best man, irre-spective of whether he had been Mayor the previous year or two years. All men elected to a council were not fitted to hold the chair-they had not to go far to get instances of that. He favoured the idea of aldermen nominating candidates for the Mayorship, and then letting the ratepayers elect the Mayor.

Aldennan Davies also congratulated the new Mayor, remarking that he had initiated the system of each ward getting a

ALDERMAN Q. F. J. HEWITT,

the new Mayor of Windsor.

»-Poulsen photo.

turn, because prior to that one end of the borough had monopolised the post.

[ The official proceedings having termin-

ated, the aldermen and a number of the visitors retired ito the committee room, where the health of the new Mayor and Mayoress was cordially honoured, and congratulatory and complimentary speeches made by those present.