I cannot open my speech to this Resolution without some slight reference to the great war which is now devastating Europe. The effects of the war on our Municipal activities have, I.am happy to say, been so far small, but the depletion of the Council's Staff, owing to military service, has been extensive: it has taken away another Head of Department a much valued one, and more than a hundred of the Municipal Staff: we have lost two of these on the field of honour: one of whom was the excellent chief clerk of the Electricity Department, T am sure that you will all join me in my public expression on this occasion of our deepest sympathy with their relatives.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.