MAYOR NOT PRESENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 114, 17 May 1927, Page 9

MAYOR NOT PRESENT.

HOWARD ELLIOTT ANNOYED.

REMARKS DRAW SHARP RETORT. INCIDENT AT STRATR)!;!). <F.,y Telegraph.—Special to " !Star."> STRATFORD, this day. The Mayor of Stratford, Mr. J. YV. McMillan, and the Rev. Howard Elliott, secretary of the Protestant Political Association, came to grips yesterday, and something in the nature of a storm has arisen. Mr. Elliott addressed a meeting here, and. both he and his; chairman, the Rev. Mr, McGregor, commented ort the absence of the Mayor from the chair. Mr. McGregor ' considered it the ' duty of the Mayor to preside op such an occasion.

Mr. Elliott attacked the Mayor hotly, remarking that lie would never have been asked to take the chair for him at any time had he >shown himself to be small, and apparently afraid to "associate with him (Mr. JElliqtjt). He was the. type of man whose absence they were all the better for.

Mr McMillan Iras now issued a reply, stating that it was at his discretion whether he should take the chair at any meeting. He nier&ly exercised his prerogative, and no reasonable person would cavil it his decision. "Mr. Elliott evidently took umbrage, and his lack- of courtesy was* shown in the personal remarks he made," said Mr McMillan. "Farther com merit is unnecessary. "•> 1 respect Mr. McGregor's opinion, but desire to say that I would not preside" at a meeting cqnducted by any man or woman whose opinions and methods 1 despised. I cannot understand anyone associating himself with people deliberately attacking other denominations or churches." Mr. McMillan is a Protestant. .