A MAYOR'S GRIEVANCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 109, 31 January 1908, Page 7

A MAYOR'S GRIEVANCE.

OBSTRUCTIVE COUNCIL. A PAI-MERSTON NORTH; CHALLENGE. (BZ T3I.EOIIArit—Sr'KCIAI COU" ESPONDENT.J Palmerston North, , January 30. The Mayor,' Mr. R. Essex, . addressed a large audience this evening. He explained that he ibad --ino 'redressf but' tb fcall ; ' a --.public meeting, in view ,of. recent complications, in tho Borough- Council. He had met with a great denl of unpleasantness in- the Council. His policy had been not to sit down and let things slide. It took a good deal to put hjm in, and it/would take a good deal to put him out. Had lie been more-strict ho would have had more support. Ho believed, in conciliation rath ir than fighting:' A RIVAL IN THE COUNCIL. ; Mr. Essex referred to sovoral little troubles existing from an' early stage.' Ono troublo arose'when the engineer had carried out instructions from Councillor Haydon, contrary to the speaker's instructions. Ho quoted several .instances where Councillor Haydon in past had tried to "run tho Council." There was no doubt that a large section of tho .Council had pledged them-' selves to oppose any movemont. tno speaker introduced in the interests of the Borough. One attempt >' was made to spend £20,000 moro than tho income. Ho was obliged to use unlimited tact in various Borough works. Regarding the' Hokowhitu works, he advocated a, loan, but' tho proposal was received with derision in tho Council. But when tho proposal was put boforo tho ratepayers it was carried, and not only that, but assistance was procured from tho Government, mainly through the assistance of the member for the district, ' Mr. W.' T. Wood. (Applauso.) Ho could not conceivo how it wa3 possiblo that any member of tho Counoil could sit at tho tablo and argue upon subjects and works which they did not know anything about, as they did not take tho trouble to go round and find out for themselves. Ho did not favour the present engineer, and thought a change would bo desirable. The members of tho Council were fully aware of what was going on, and'there was no reason why thoy should not havo supported him, and. if they had, tho protection works would bo much more advanced. "AN ABSOLUTE LIE." Ono of tho charges against him was that ho interfered between the engineer and tho foreman. This was an absolute lie. Ho bad never had any work dono that was not previously authorised by' tho Council. 110 had been charged-with being quarrelsome," but ho denied the accusation. During nino months past, to tho end of December, £36,029 had beon spent on borough works, and certainly tho expenditure of this amount required some personal supervision on tho part of tho Mayor. Ho pointed out wastes of public money in tho past, and advocated tho purchaso of a steam waggon for metal carting. Referring to tho deadlock in tho Council and to " Sub-Committee No. 2," ho considered, tho procedure was irregular. Councillor Hay- 1 don wanted this sub-committeo of two or three men to control tho borouph and its finances. The. whole desiro was jealous motives, and to belittle him in tho eyes of ratepayers. Councillors ignored summonses to attend a meeting. This No. 2 Committeo was now in existence, and tho Mayor pointed out that it was ono of th omost extraordinary for a local body to bo in. when this committeo refused to assist tho General Committeo of tlio_ Council. Ho gavo an instanco whero Councillor Haydon, in spito of tho fact that tho Public Works Committee— \Vjiich consists of the wholo Council—wero to meet at 2.15 p,m. on Monday, called a:-4neet-ing of No. 2 Committeo for two o'clock on tho same day, and asked tho engineer to' attend. Tho whole tiling was spito.

THE REAL EXECUTIVE. Two members of No. 2 Committee constituted a quorum, and theso two members had full control of tho engineer, and wcro tho Exeeutivo of the Council. This committee mot onco a week, and drovo round town in a cab at a cost of £1 per day. He challenged Councillor Haydon to resign his seat, and next election ho would liavo much pleasure in contesting his seat with him. Tho control of tho finances of tho borough had passed out of his hands, and ho proceeded to explain tho position of tho borough up to tho prcsont. During tho past .twelve months, ten miles of sowers had been laid, and during tho previous threo years lift-eon miles were laid. Councillors who wore not prepared to carry out their duties should resign ,and he would not havo been human had ho not resented tho insults heaped upon him. IJo contended it was wrong for councillors to spite workmen and their families by not coming forward to sign cheques for wages. Referring to tho gas question, ho said that wihin a very short timo tho Council would own the gas works, or would get gas at a much reduced rate, say, ss, Gd. per thousand.