A COUNCILLOR'S CHALLENGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 152, 28 June 1901, Page 2

A COUNCILLOR'S CHALLENGE.

SCENE IN THE CITY COUNCIL

MR GLOVER'S TiII.KATENIiD lU_-

SIC NATION

Cr. Albert E. Clover. made a dramatic announcement at the City Council meeting last evening, when he handed in his resignation as a member for the South Ward, and challenged Cr. ,1. 11. Hannan to do the same and contest the seat with him. Mr Clover, producing his written resignation of his neat, said it was with the greatest regret that he rose reluctantly to justify himself and justify the constituents he had the honour to represent. Aspersions had been east on his character by a member of the Council, a gentleman who was one of those most ready to east on members of the Council all kinds of unseemly epithets, both ungentlemanly and unkind, lie (Mr (Hover) was attending a meeting of delegates of the local bodies interested relative to the harbour ferry service, and Cr. Hannan was the gentleman who there accused him of violating his principles and the trust placed in him by his constituents. He challenged Mr Hannan, and if he had the manhood or common sense to accept the challenge he (Mr Hannan) would resign his seat. The last election would show whether he (Mr Clover) would subordinate his public position to his own private and mercenary ends, and would give an unqualified answer to that charge. One of the members of the Council had cast aspersions on his character, and he now handed in his

resignation. Cr. Dignan, Acting-Mayor, ordered Mr Glover to sit down.

Cr. Glover said: No, sir, I will not sit down. I will obey the chair with pleasure, but I will not sit down till I have vindicated my character. I am not a man to stand a stigma on my character.

On being asked what the nature of the accusation was Cr. Glover said that he was one of the four delegates appointed by the Council to attend a conference with reference to the ferry service. Cr. IJosser at that conference proposed Cr. Kidd and him (Cr. (Hover) as members of the sub-com-mittee. Cr. Hannan did not like this, and remarked that nothing would be done against the interests of the ferry service while Cr. Glover was on the committee.

Cr. Hannan smiled, whereupon Cr. Glover, pointing to him, said: "Ah, a man may smile, but in that smile there may be treachery, to quote Mr Gladstone."

Cr. Hannan: T won't sit here and be accused of treachery by any Councillor.

Cr. Glover called on Cr. Rosser to prove what he had said. His character was at stake.

Cr. Hannan denied making the remark attributed to him by Cr. Glover.

Cr. Glover: It was a charge of a prospective crime for a pecuniary object. I leave the matter in the hands of the Council. Here is my resignation. If you (addressing Cr. Hannan) are prepared to resign and contest the South Ward with me I will hand in my resignation now, and will see if. there has been dereliction of duty on my part.

The Acting-Mayor said he did not think there was any necessity for this.

Cr. Glover said there was; his character was at stake.

Cr. Hannan said he would explain. The matter had evidently rankled in "this man's" mind for some time.

Cr. Glover: I am as good a gentleman as you, though you call me "this man."

Cr. Hannan said, in answer to Cr. Glover's challenge, that he was quite satisfied with the ward, he represented. He had named three gentlemen, with himself, to represent the Council at the ferry service conference. The meeting was held, and Cr. Kosser did what he (Mr Hannan) took to be a gross insult to himself as the principal mover in the matter. He named Messrs Kidd and Glover to go on the sub-committee to consider the bylaws. There was no need for a subcommittee, and that sub-committee was only appointed on the casting vote of the chairman/ When the subcommitte was appointed, Mr Glover got up and regretted that Mr Alison's name had been left off it. He (Cr. Hannan) then said across the table just as a joke, "Oh, it's all right; you'll look after the interests." He had no idea at. all of meaning- what Mr Glover had imputed to him. It was just a storm in a teapot.

Cr. A. Rosser explained the position in regard to the sub-committee. Mr Hannan had protested against a subcommittee being formed, and when he (Mr Rosser) moved that the two members on the committee from the City Council be Messrs Kidd and Glover, then Mr Hannan said he had offered him a gross insult in not nominating him, and as good as said he was the man who sent the delegates there. He refused to be under the fatherhood of Mr Hannan; it was the City Council who sent them there. Cr. Glover had as good a right to be on the sub-committee as Cr. Hannan. Mr Hannan said in a sarcastic way that no doubt the Ferry Co.'s interests would be looked after by Mr Glover. If Mr Glover had the' same feeling as he (Cr. Rosser) had for Cr. Hannan, he would have treated him with contempt. If Cr. Glover would take his advice, he would withdraw his resignation, because he would never get Or. Hannan to resign; he could bet his bottom dollar on that.

The Acting-Mayor said they had had enough of this matter, and the Council th-n proceeded to other business.

Just as a lover had dropped on his knees and begun popping the question, a pet poodle, who thought the proceedings rather strange, made a dash for him. With remarkable nerve for a woman, the girl reached over, seized the dog by the throat, and at the same time calmly uttered: "Go on, George dear. I'm listening to what you are saying."