Interviews with the business heads-No. 3 Councillor A.R. Willmott

INTERVIEWS, WITH THE BUSINESS HEADS --- No. 3 Councillor A.R. Willmott
By: A.H.

“What sort of a fellow is Willmott?” was asked out of town recently. The answer was; “Oh, Roy is all right, a fine chap, clean, frank, polite, shrewd, ready, clever speaker, excellent sportsman, social qualities, well balanced, ‘a good mixer,’ a popular figure in Town Council and politics, in games and church, in the court house and on the street, plenty of common sense and an uncommon sense of humour. I intend to interview him and write him up soon.”

It is easier to write up Roy Willmott than to interview him. Lawyers are like rabbits. The best way to catch them is to put salt on their tails. And A.R. Willmott is a lawyer. “People here,” he objected, “are only too quick to pounce n any young fellow who has too much to say.” So we tried a pinch of sald.” Well, then, “ we suggested with an unconcerned air, “don’t say too much.” That did it. Whenever you tell a lawyer not to say too much, then is the time for him to bubble over with conversation. You see, it gives him a case to refute.

“A propos” of interviews, the present writer is seriously puzzled with a remark which is spoken by everyone without exception whom he interviews for The Cobourg World. The remark in question sounds like this: “Why not interview one of the older Cobourg houses? The older residents usually resent a newcomer and outsider like myself being paraded in the limelight. They get jealous you know.” No, one did not know. How in the world could one know? To have been born in Cobourg is in itself a distinction so happy that one would not even have suspected local jealousy towards those who having committed the deadly sin of being born elsewhere, repented in time and in a spirit of penitence brought along to Cobourg, among the other troubles in their old kit bags, a few dollars, and a smattering of horse sense.

Arthur Roy Willmott did not succeed in being born in Cobourg, but with a lucky premonition that “to get on in Cobourg, you must have Cobourg blood in you,” he early saw to it that his father and grandfather were educated in Cobourg and made graduates of the old Victoria College. This bit of fore-thought stamps him with the blue-blood of Cobourg’s apostolic succession, and A.R. Willmott, at least need not fear the jealousy incidental here to “the fierce light that beats upon” --- popularity and ability.

His grandfather, Rev. J.C. Willmott, was a Methodist preacher. The Councillor’s father, the late, Professor A.P. Willmott, was a graduate in Arts and Science, of Victoria and Ph.D. of Harvard. Occupying the chair of Chemistry and Mineralogy at McMaster University from 1892 to 1900, he became subsequently a field geologist and mines manager to the Lake Superior Corporation at Sault Ste. Marie, a position which he filled with distinction for 10 years. His early death in 1914 deprived Ontario for a brilliant mineralogist, whose theoretical knowledge and practical resourcefulness helped to lay the foundations of Provincial mining operations.

Councillor A.R. Willmott is also a graduate in Arts of Victoria College, where he rose to be editor in chief of “Varsity.” Abandoning the pen for the sword, he served overseas as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and on the field won the distinction of being mentioned in despatches. On the wall of his office hangs a little memento of the fact. To-

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Brilliant Cobuorg Lawyer States His Creed
Unity and Co-operation
(continued from page 1)
Day he exercises an extensive legal practice in which business acumen and personal brilliance are carrying him forward by leaps and bounds.

The Councillor is an incurable believer in the future of Cobourg “I’m glad I came to Cobourg,” he claims with a flash of optimism in the gesture of the hands, “and I expect to live here permanently.” But wild horses will not drag out of him an expression of opinion on Cobourg’s retail trade.” I am only in the position of a consumer,” and he shrugs his shoulders. “I have a definite feeling that the good will is there. A lot of people who are buying out of town, could, I am sure, and would with very little persuasion change the venue of their shopping.” Not another word on that score. He likes to talk about sport, especially Badminton and Tennis, “which keep him fit.” He enjoys his membership of the Cobourg Rotary and his place on the Public Library Board. He confesses that his chief distinction on the Board of Trade is to have his dues paid up,” and his main religious hobby teaching in the Sunday School and attending the Official Board only “when there’s a row on, in order to save the preacher’s hide.” Politics of course, he would discuss till doomsday, were it pot that this interviewer suffers from constitutional malaise in the presence of a Liberal-Conservative!

Seizing an unguarded moment, we popped the eternal question. “What’s the matter with Cobourg?” The query fetched a twinkle to the Councillor’s eye. “The only item,” he side-stopped in true juristic fashion, “the only item of my creed,--and some people will think that in saying this I am saying what I have no right to say, -- is this, Unity and Co-operation in everything of a public nature, I mean, pulling together, putting our heads together and honestly lending a hand all round to get things done for the good of the Town. Often time and trouble at meeting are completely wasted through too much criticism of the other fellow instead of facing facts as they are and carrying out good suggestions, no matter from whom they come, for actual improvement and progress.”

“You are not sorry, then, that you are a Councillor?”

“No, I am happy to do what I can in the public service. I went on to the Council simply because I thought there might be something in which I could lend help. I didn’t want to be criticizing from the side lines. It is easy to pass judgments on those who are doing their best in the game, but it is better for one to come forward himself and render, some practical assistance. Of course, do what’s right, and you’’ make enemies! That seems to be an unfortunate rule of public life, but we must go on all the same, doing what’s right.”

The subject of the sketch would seem to have squared the (?) of doing what’s right without making enemies. In 1925 at his first attempt, he ran a good second to Col. Boggs at the poll. IN 1926, he romped home an easy winner. Had there been an election this year, the odds would have been heavily in his favour. All Cobourg acknowledges him to be an A.1. Councillor and an ideal Chairman of Finance.

Roy Willmott is emphatically of opinion that the present Council deserves credit as a faithful, hard working board. In this, sensible citizens will fully concur. It is questionable whether routine business was ever done more thoroughly or more economically than it is today. It the public meetings are colorful and dramatic, it is not due to any neglect of humdrum but essential affairs in the committees. It rather signifies that the civic representatives are not dead-heads or dumb Doras but keen, lively sparkplugs. “People do not like us,” says Roy, “to be too impersonal or coldly scientific. People want to be bale to approach a real live Councillor and ask for this or that favour as citizens. A Town Manager or Commissioner might become too precisely bureaucratic. To that extent the human element is an advantage. Rigid, scientific officialism might avoid some of our mistakes, but as a rule citizens would much rather talk to a human Councillor like ourselves than go before an official board every time they want something.” This very intelligent utterance, re-stating the broad meaning of democratic government, sheds now light upon Council reports, and in that light should be studied the fire works and melodrama of the public meetings.

Lawyer Willmott is a big bit of alright. He knows his stuff. His ambition is no bag of hot-air. It is supported with pep and wit. He should go far. If his health holds out, -- and thanks to Tennis, Badminton and the Council plate, there is no reason why it shouldn’t—he will in all likelihood be Mayor of Cobourg at an uncommonly early age, and a little later sit, but mostly stand and speak, in one of the Houses as –bother it!—Liberal-Conservative member for Northumberland County. He carries about with him an air of succeeding that is mighty provoking to the opposition.