MAYOR WALKS OUT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXI, Issue 10922, 23 September 1932, Page 4

MAYOR WALKS OUT

FROM DOMAIN BOARD MEETING

There was a rather surprising development at the monthly meeting of the Cambridge Domain Board on Tuesday, when, following a discussion on administrative matters and the recent associations of the board with the Bowling Club over the tenure of the latter’s area, the Mayor (Mr C. H. Priestley) suddenly left the meeting (says the Waikato Independent) . Interviewed after the meeting the Mayor said: “Yes, I refuse to further associate with the present constituted board as there seems to be unreasonable antagonism towards me. As indicative of this some months ago the Auckland City Council called in at Cambridge on the way to Arapuni. I met them at morning tea at a local hotel and afterwards took them round the Domain. I was criticised for not asking permission of the Domain Board.

“At a later date,” continued Mr Priestley, “when His Excellency the Governor-General was to visit Cambridge, I received a letter from the secretary of the Domain Board informing me that the board would receive His Excellency at the main gates and would conduct him to me at the band rotunda in the Domain. This was the treatment I, as Mayor, .received from the board, and I refuse to be further associated with it.”

“In my official capacity as Mayor of the town I considered it is my duly to receive any distinguished visitors and to show them round the environments of the district without asking anyone’s permission.”

In a further statement Mr Priestley said the board received a letter from the Bowling Club advising that the question of the club’s annual contribution to the maintenance of the Domain would now be considered by a general meeting of the club. Following discussion on the communication he (Mr Priestley) referred to administrative matters. There appeared to be unusual hostility to his views, he said. He had pointed out to the board that he was only desitous of giving a fair deal to the bowlers and to all users of the Domain.

Mr Priestley stated at the meeting that he was the only elected representative of the ratepayers on the board. He was of opinion that the council could more economically administer the Domain. He was dissatisfied with the attitude of the present personnel of the board and there was nothing for him to do but tender his resignation. Mr Priestley thereupon left the meeting. Interviewed after the meeting the chairman (Mr S. Lewis) said he had no statement to make in the meantime.