PUKEKOHE'S COUNCIL

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 104, 3 May 1923, Page 4

PUKEKOHE'S COUNCIL

HIGH WORDS BY THE MATOE, MEETING EXDS IN DISORM. The tenure of the new Pnkekoli Borough Council is likely to he a stormy one, if the opening meeting last flight can be taken as a criterion. The Mayor, Mr. J. Rbutly presided, and .councilors present were Messrs. P. H. Basely, R. Wilkinson, J. McArthur, G. Parvin, j. Stembridge, M. Cronin, W. S, Kiiratll, and D. R. Hamilton. The Mayor opened the fousinesj ty hotly attacking some of the new woncillors. He said lie could not welcome some of them because they had circulated lies, and had put their In big black type on circulars which Iβ declared with heat, contained lies as black as the type. He added some Jefinite opinions about the person who I'd been responsible for the wording of fls circular, and went on to say that he Vi opposed to any expert investigation of the borough power house, and wouldoppose it with his last breath, "What™ needed, said the Mayor, was s secoii engineer to assist the present engineer. Matters proceeded smoothly for » time, till Councillor Basely referred to the state of the electrical and waterworks undertakings of the borough, liedaring that both projects iad Mcd absolutely to give the results the ratepayers had expected, and had the right to expect. He moved. "That a special meeting be called for Monday evening to discuss the following:—(a) to'retail and instruct Mr. Brown, of Brown and Fosdick, and Mr. Laird, of Leird Br»» to make independent reports on tie borough undertakings, such reports » be handed to the council within 14 S«J« of their respective investigations; W (by That this council retains and n* structs such consulting engineer as » may select, to report on the borougi waterworks, such report to he ma" within 14 days of his investigation.

This resolution was carried. . Councillor McArthur then wisneflto know to whom the Mayor had referral in his opening speech. He considered that the Mayor's remarks lad D™ l quite uncalled for. j The Mayor hastily assured MT. ■"*" Arthur that it was no one in his par? on the council that he had meant, aM shortly afterwards became embroiled with Mr. Parvin. whom he several til"" ordered to sit down. Mr. Parvin w» persistent in his determination to (fet» hearing, and while he was still on w> feet the Mayor left the chair and t» meeting broke up in disorder.