TAKAPUNA "FIREWORKS."

Auckland Star, Issue 17, 21 January 1932, Page 21

TAKAPUNA "FIREWORKS."

The verbal fireworks that all too often illuminate the meetings of the! Takapuna Borough Council have cer- ] taiiily quickened the interest of borough ratepayers in municipal matters, but "it is a moot point whether the full "galleries" of spectators are the result of a desiro for enlightenment upon affairs municipal, or merely a "hankering for tho aforesaid fireworks. One thing is definite, however, and that is that lTttle or no harmony exists in the ranks of those who have been elected to administer tho affairs of Takapuna. Consequently, to-day's position calls to my mind a little incident that tickled Takapuna folk at the time of the municipal elections of 1925. At that time Mr. J. Guiniven, the present Mayor, was seeking a seat at the council table for the first time. On the day of the poll, two well-known public men met outside tho main booth, and quite naturally the topic of conversation was the local elections. One of the twain was a member of the council that had just gone out of office. Citizen No. 2 remarked that lie had cast a vote in support of Mr. Guiniven, who at that time was an unknown quantity in the district, and he gave the retiring councillor a hint that he should do the same. Asked whether any specific reason existed why tho candidate under discussion should receive such a consideration, Citizen No. 2 replied: "Well, you cannot have harmony and John Guiniven in the same room, and there was far too much harmony on the last council." At that particular election Mr. Guiniven was not among the chosen nine, but he was elected two years later. After four years as councillor and nine months as Mayor, the citizens of Takapuna probably agree with the above statement of | the elector in 1925. CIVIS. |