WILL NOT RESIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 5

WILL NOT RESIGN.

GLEN EDEN'S DECISION. ANOTHER TOWN BOARD BATTLE. MEETING ENDS QUIETLY. Another round of the battle between Messrs. J. H. Hayes and J. M. West and the rest of the Glen Eden Town Board members, comprising Messrs. W. H. Shepherd (chairman), W. E. Martin, W. F. Rosier, H. A. Routley, and G. H. Ambler, was staged last night in the tiny room where meetings of the board are held. Over fifty ratepayers and a number of children who would have been better off under the blankets crammed into the small room, the majority standing up for three hours to listen-in to the weekly argument on the question of the dismissal of two returned soldiers who formerly worked for the board. While last night's proceedings were somewhat lively, they were not as riotous as was the case a fortnight ago. There was a reason for this. A tall poliecman was standing in the doorway last night. When the clerk read the reply sent by the chairman to the secretary of the Auckland Local Bodies Labourers' Association explaining why the two workmen had been dismissed, Mr. Hayes rose and moved that the letter should not be approved. "The chariman says that the two men engaged to take tlie place of those dismissed by the board were not in employment at the time they were engaged, but that is not so," said Mr. Hayes. "I understand that one man left another job to work for the board." Mr. Shepherd: That's not so. Mr. West seconded the motion, which was lost by five votes to two. Mr. Hayes then moved that the man employed as acting foreman should be paid off immediately, and that his place be taken by an unemployed married man. Alleging that it was a "cut and dried" job for one man to be kept on week after week when others were only employed for a week at a time, Mr. Hayes demanded an explanation from Mr. Shepherd. After Mr. West had seconded the motion, the chairman explained that the reason why the man referred to had been kept on while others had been paid off was due to Messrs. Hayes and West leaving a recent meeting of the board, while at the other two meetings the proceedings terminated suddenly. "For three meetings we have never been able to get on with the matter of selection of a foreman," said the chairman. "The man who is still on does not receive foreman's wages. He only gets casual wages."

"Don't Talk Like That." Mr. Hayes: Mr. West and myself left the meeting to show our disapproval. At the next meeting it was your fault. You were not competent to be chairman— Mr. Shepherd: Now, then, don't talk like that. An argument then developed whether business was transacted at the meeting after Messrs. Hayes and West left, Mr. Hayes contending that at a subsequent meeting the applications for the position of foreman were opened when he and Mr. West were absent. When he asked the chairman what was done at the meeting Mr. Shepherd told him that nothing was done, and that the meeting collapsed. Mr. Shepherd: So it did. It was abandoned because we found out that the business done was not quite legal, as we had not gTven the required notice. Mr. Hayes: It was an unsatisfactory business, anyway. Mr. Shepherd (with a smile) Xo doubt about that. Mr. Hayes: You're a nice collection. (Laughter.) There was another argument over a notice of motion which Mr. Hayes had put in some time ago. The clerk then announced that there were sixteen applicants for the foreman's position. Mr. Hayes moved that consideration of these should be deferred until the new board was elected in six weeks' time. This motion was defeated, the board deciding to deal with the applications in committee after the ordinary business. Not to Resign. "I know the voting of this board by heart now—it is always five to two," said Mr. Hayes, "but still I will now move that the whole board should resign. So much public dissatisfaction exists over the doings of this board that I think we should resign. We started with fraudulent accounts, and we finish up with something detrimental —" Mr. Shepherd: I object to that statement. Mr. Hayes: I think the wisest course for us is to resign and get out of the whole business. If anyone stays he must have some ulterior motive for doing so. Mr. Ambler: I would resign, and am in favour of Mr. Haves' motion, but what is going to happen? Everything will come to a standstill, no wages can be paid, and there aij only three more meetings before the new board is elected. "It is ridiculous," said Mr. Shepherd. "Of course we cannot get anything done here when two men talk all night. About the only inducement is the abuse, and I'm heartily sick of it. I was elected by the ratepayers for the full term, and I'm going to stay until the new board is elected." (Applause.) By a vote of five to one the motion to resign was defeated, Mr. West declining to record his vote. Shortly afterwards the meeting concluded quietly.