Mayor And Council Asked To Resign

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30215, 21 August 1963, Page 17

Mayor And Council Asked To Resign

(Neu) Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 19. A motion that the Mavor and members of the Henderson Borough Council resign “in view of the lack of confidence shown in them by a large number of residents” was defeated by 4 votes to 3 at a meeting of the council tonight.

The motion, proposed by Mr B. L. Duncan and seconded by Mr P. S. Findlay, was after a lively debate on a petition signed by 1765 electors calling on the Mayor and councillors to resign. It expressed no confidence in their ability to manage the borough finances. More than 40 persons crowded into the small council chamber to hear the 25minute debate. Mr J. McDonald, a councillor, said representatives of the Henderson United Ratepayers’ Association, the Henderson Progressive Association, and the Domain Block Residents and Ratepayers’ Association, had asked him to present the petition. Mr McDonald said the 1765

names on the petition had been checked against the electors’ roll for 1962. It contained more than three-fifths of the total electors (2552) on the roll. Moving the motion. Mr Duncan said tihart because the council had lost faith with tile public it should resign and go back to the people to see if it could regain their con fidence The Mayor (Mr F. G. W Wilsher): As far as I am concerned, I am not resigning Mr McDonald said residents had quite obviously lost confidence in the council. Mr Wilsher: Speaking for myself, I am not going to resign. The people elected me and I intend to stay here. I experienced ail this in 1967 precisely the same big petition organised by some of the same people. When we have accomplished all we intend to do all this nonsense and humbug will pass over.