AUDIENCE MAKES MERRY

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1928, Page 8

AUDIENCE MAKES MERRY

CITY COUNCIL CRITICS.

POINT CHEVALIER MEETING.

LIVELY

EVEXIXG SPEXT.

ADDRESS BY MR. MURRAY.

City ratepayers numbering about 400 J carried a resolution at Point Chevalier last evening endorsing the action of Mr.' VY. H. Murray, a member of the Auckland City Council, in criticising the council's activities and expressing the hope that "further wasteful expenditure" would be prevented; also- deprecating the council's unsympathetic attitude toward Mr. Murray's criticism, and protesting against the municipal bus control, the fares being unduly high and changes to trams at the various termini unneccssarv.

In the Point Chevalier Hall, where the meeting was held, the Point Chevalier Ratepayers' Association, which was formed some months apo, had a crowded audience. All available seating accommodation was used and numbers were unable to get in, although empty fruit cases were placed wherever the floor space permitted. The speakers were Mr. 11. G. R. Mason, M.P., Mr. W. H. Murray and Mr. IL P. Taylor, president of the City "West Ratepayers' eiation.

Bus Transport. Mr. Mason dealt with the transport position. "We have buses operated by a council that docs not believe in them,' he said. "It has lieen engaged for months past 111 showing that buses art. of little use. If it bad the idea of mak ing them pay it would have put them under the control of men who. as private owners, had made a success of bus enter prise." (Hear, hear and applause.)

Continuing, Mr. Mason said that the arrangements for housing the city hu: fleet meant "dead work," in going to the termini of a morning and returning after the last niaht trip. Tie also criticised the "feeder" system, which he described as the policv of the City Council and the Public Works Department, though it involved an unfair interpretation of the Act.

Mr. Murray addressed the meeting in to his criticism of the administration of city works. He said that hi had been led to make his investigations as a l'esult of being appointed a member of a special committee of the City Council. His remarks referred especially to matters during tlie Christmas recess and to the last meeting of the council. I went along to that meeting quite rtn innocent lamb,' lie said, amid laughtei. Some time, after the meeting started papers were handed around and

I was given a copy. I looked somewhat amazed and protested when I was asked to reply to the attacks that it made upon my doings in the recess." Another "Mussolini." ■ Continuing, he said that he asked the Mayor for an opportunity of replying at the next meeting, but the Mayor said "Xo." (Laughter.) The Mayor said that he must reply then, or for ever hold his peace. -(Renewed laughter.) The thought went througii his mind that another Mussolini had risen in the Empire. (Continued laughter and applause.)

The speaker then showed his "imprint of identification." as a city councillor, bj turning the lapel of his coat to the audience. "*T should have shown you that at the beginning," he .-aid, "because I have been Challenged that wherever 1 go on your property nobody knows me. and I have to get a special permit." (Loud laughter.)

A Voice: Take out a season ticket

Mr. Murray, continuing, said the copy he was handed at the council meeting was a report from the chairman of the Water, Tramways and Electricity Committee.

A Voice: Pooh-bah! Another Voice: The man who gets things done. Third Voice: Who is he! (Loud laughter).

A Woman's Voice: That's Mr. Murrav

"He's the man for us," came a voice from tTie rear of the hall, and there was another outburst, with applause and cheers.

Mr. Murray: I don't wish to he ridiculous or funny, but I have seen the humorous side of this particular document, as well as of many others presented by the Auckland City Council.

The audience \\ as obviously itself. A woman, with a chubby three" year-old girl asleep in her arms, shook with subdued laughter as she sat precariously on a creaking fruit-case and leaned against the end of a seat. Challenge to Speaker. Mr. Murray then referred to his personal investigations at the Xihotupu auxiliary dam, and said that the foundations of the dam were not all that ! could be desired. j A \oice: Not true. Mr. Murray: If it is not true I will make some charitable institution a present of £50. ( Applause.) "I will take that,"-said a voice in the back comer.

After further reference to the matters contained m the report, Mr. Murray said b ? could only characterise it as a "lot oi piffle.

A Woman's Voice: Oh! Mr. Murray: My activities during the recess must have been watched most carefully. When I went to Epsom tram depot one day I was told that I should SE'KSar" derk '<"■»

On another occasion, he said, he applied to the town clerk for certain Km r to a £? n v ? *? SC thC Mayor bad to!d him to D et his information ia that way,

but 'he was told that tlie chairman of the Water, Tramways and Electricity Committee must be asked first. S A Voice: What about Mussolini (Laughter.) Another Voice: Did you have your permit? (Loud laughter.) Mr. Murray: I stand in a minority of one on the City Council. In describing the conditions lie M found at the Grafton bitumen depot and the Stone Jug quarry, Mr. Murray was given a quieter hearing, but there was renewed laughter when he mentioned kerbs and pitchers. '"Most likely a number of yon heard something about them by now,' he said. Shouts of "Yes" and '""No" followed this query; and, when the speaker to s challenged because he said that- tit spawls at the Stone Jug quarry coaH have been crushed there was a tion from the back, "Toss up for itaccompanied by a further outburst, viti applause and cries of "Hear, hear." When ilr. Murray concluded the aD ®" ence enjoyed a further round of merriment during the remarks of Mr. Taylor. A resolution was linally carried supporting Mr. Murray in the action be W taken. .—-