Councillor resigns over colleague’s court case

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 3

Councillor resigns over colleague’s court case

(from Out Own Reporter)

NELSON, Feb. 5.

The conviction and fining of a Nelson City councillor in the Nelson Magistrate’s Court earlier this week today led to the resignation of another councillor “in protest against a series of happenings which should never have got under way.”

Mr A. G. Paterson tendered his resignation at the council chambers this morning.

Last Tuesday, Mr J. C. F. Baldwin, a city councillor and a principal of the land agency firm of Baldwin and Brown, was convicted and fined $5O for having spoken, in July last year, on a matter before the council in which he had a pecuniary interest. Although Mr Baldwin pleaded guilty to the charge, it was stated during the hearing that he had only the best interests of Nelson at heart when he spoke to his own motion that the council carry out certain work which would ensure that the manufacturing firm of Lane, Walker, Rudkin would set up a factory in Nelson. Mr Paterson is associated with Mr Baldwin as the administrative manager of the land-agency firm. He said today that as far as he was concerned the resignation would take effect immediately.

“I will attend no further committee or council meetings,” he said. “I have not resigned in heat, but only after lengthy thought following the conclusion of Councillor Baldwin’s court case,” said Mr Paterson in an interview with “The Press.”

"Generally speaking, I do not favour resigning from organisations, but in this case I think it is the only thing to do. It would be expected of me, that as a friend and associate of Mr Baldwin, I would naturally speak in his favour. But just speaking in his favour didn’t seem to me to be enough. I thought I should take some stronger action which would show unequivocally where I stand.”

His resignation was, in fact, a protest against the system which allowed a series of happenings which led to Mr Baldwin’s appearance in court ever to have got under , way, said Mr Paterson. “The Mayor and every i councillor knew precisely what Councillor Baldwin’s motives were in the Lane, Walker, Rudkin affair. That they were happy about these motives is illustrated by the fact that they voted unanimously alongside him,” he said. BACKGROUND “Shortly after I was elected to the council, I asked a representative of this company why it had never opened a factory in Nelson. He explained that many years ago the company made an approach to the Nelson City Council, but received so little help and encouragement that they by-passed Nelson. Subsequently they opened in Greymouth, Hokitika, Reefton, Westport, and Blenheim. “Immmediately prior to their approach last year they had opened a new factory in Waimate, and they expressed delight in the tremendous help they had received from the town’s authorities,” said Mr Paterson. “In the mood

engendered by this experience, they came to Nelson, and within a short time they had selected, out of the people consulted, Mr Baldwin as the man most likely to be able to fulfil their needs.

“Negotiations stretched over very many weeks. The company wanted to lease premises as it is not their policy to buy. They finally decided that premises in Bolt Road were ideal for their purpose, but the obtaining of a lease in their favour looked rather hopeless because the building was in fact leased to the Marine Department, and it had absolutely no desire to vacate,” said Mr Paterson. “The member of Parliament for Nelson (Mr S. A. Whitehead) was called in by Mr Baldwin to help with negotiations, which eventually went as far as the Minister of Marine. After weeks of frustration, a solution to everyone’s problems was found. And the man who kept the operation driving ahead throughout these difficulties was Mr Baldwin.” “A TRAVESTY” “The net gain to Nelson is a pilot scheme by Lane. Walker, Rudkin which, if it prospers, will blossom into an export-producing factory. It seems a travesty of justice that the reward to Mr Baldwin is a court conviction plus a fine and loss of his seat on the Nelson City Council,” said Mr Paterson. “As the administrative manager of his real estate company and as a fellow councillor, I have been in the ideal position to observe Mr Baldwin’s efforts as a councillor. He has, in . fact, eaten heavily into his private business time at the expense of his company, and others on his staff have had to carry the extra work load,” he said.

As an example of the work Mr Baldwin had done, Mr Paterson quoted the twoweek long preparation of a case for relief for the flood damage of last year, which was presented to the Prime Minister. “In my estimation, no

councillor in recent times has had a more thorough grip of the city’s finances than Mr Baldwin. Looking back on my experiences with the council, I cannot say that it has been a period of unalloyed satisfaction,” said Mr Paterson. “Indeed, I have been in trouble more than I have been out of it. It seems to me that the ideal formula for being a happy, successful, and popular councillor, is to see all, hear all and say nothing.”

With Mr Paterson’s resignation, a by-election is now certain, because there will be two vacancies on the council, and a third, if Cr Baldwin does not appeal against his court penalty within the next six days. The loss of Messrs Baldwin and Paterson will be sorely felt by the council. Both are recognised as “goahead” councillors, and members of many committees. Cr Baldwin is the chairman of the finance committee, among others; and Cr Paterson has been the chairman of the traffic and staff committees, and a member of the finance, programme, works and electricity, and gas committees.