A STORMY MEETING.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14583, 6 February 1913, Page 9

A STORMY MEETING.

TROUBLE OVER A ROAD

The proceedings at a meeting held in the North LinwOod Schoolroom last night were rather sultry. The meeting was one of ratepayers of tho Avonside riding in the Heathcote C and was called for the purpose of hearing the views of tho two candidates who arc offering their services to the riding on tho County Council. Tho by-eJUjction, which to.Hes place to-day, has'been caused by the resignation of Mr K. Carter, the riding's late representative. The addresses of the iwo candidates, Messrs E. Armstrong, jun., and H. F. Bickerton, occupied very little space of time, and thon the meeting plunged into a storm of discussion on various matters connected with the administration of the riding by the County Council. The principal cause of the querulousness of the meeting was the Council's attitude towards a thoroughfare called"'Onslow street.

Mr George Scott, chairman of the Heathcote County Council, presided, and there were also present Mr G. K. Burton, member for the .Bromley riding, and Mr It. Carter, late member for the Avonside riding. Mr Armstrong said he did not have an axe to. grind, but was simply stamping because he was interested in the well-being of the district. Mr Bickerton declared that instead of increasing the value of the roads the Council were simply frittering money away on maintenance. With regard to Onslow street he had no objection to its being dedicated, bnt when other works were required in the district ho objected to the spending of money on it. The Chairman said thirteen diffor°nt titles to sections on Onslow street had already been issued, which proved it to bo a dedicated road. So long »a ho was on the Council he -would advocate taking over all the roads in the county and forming each into small rating areas. Mr Carter opposed the spending of money by the Council on the road. Things were now fairly lively, but were going along without serious friction until a member of the audience got up and tried to read a letter which he stated Mr Burton had addressed to him. The Chairman refused to allow this person to read the letter on the ground that he was not a ratepayer. The person in question turned round and asked if anyone else would read the letter for him, but no one responded. He then tried to read the letter again, and being once more checked by the chairman, he angrily cried out, looking at the chairman and Mr Burton: 'I think you are a pair of cowardly curs. "fir Burton rose to bis feet and commenced to speak, bnt was stopped oy the chairman, who kept his temper throughout. Shortly afterwards the meeting closed, and the person who had. addressed the epithet to the chairman and Mr Burton made for Mr Burton ana Sashed him back against a table, there stepped between v*& two ajid peace wao restored.