“A CAMP DIVIDED”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 232, 25 June 1921, Page 8

“A CAMP DIVIDED”

PETONE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR “A LONE HAND” "I have been directed by His Worship the Mayor to convene a special emergency meeting of the Petone Borough Council to be held at 5.36 p.m. to-day for the purpose of enabling the council to decide what, aotion, if any, is to be taken in respect to the public meeting to be held this evening in connection with the present gasworks trouble.’’ The foregoing notice was responsible for the attendance at tho Petone Council Chambers last evening of the following councillors: —B. A. Hartley, D. S. Bedingfield, A. Anderson, W. Hay, R. H. Jones, C. P. Brockelbank, G. Cook, and M. Ford.

The Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presided.

The Mayor said that Councillor Anderson and several others had assured him that they desired a special meeting and he therefore considered that Hie onus of dealing with the business rested on those who were instrumental in having the meeting called. Councillor Anderson said he thought the position was that the council would like to be enlightened as to the reason for which the public meeting had beau called for that evening. No intimation had been received save through the Press, and it appeared to him -that Mr. Glover, besides others, seemed well informed on the matter. Mr. M'Ewan: "I claim the right as Mayor to call a public meeting for the puroose of discussing any important question when I think it necessary.” He had been approached by a number of ratepayers and others interested in what he considered an important question. As far as Mr. Glover was concerned, some people from Petone had approached him, and the speaker had informed Chat gentleman that he also had been approached. _ , Councillor Brockelbank: It appears to me that if you keep on calling meetings you will run the borough into a tidy little bit. The Mayor explained that the borough would incur no expense from the public meeting that evening. "I want to know, said Mr. M’Ewan, "what action the council intends taking in the matter. Councillor Brockelbank: It’s your meeting. Do what you like with it. Councillor Jones: What do you intend to state at the meeting, Your Worship? The Mayor: Come along and hear, Councillor Jones. Councillor Jones: I would like to know whether you are going to put before the people what you tried to put before the council ? The Mayor: I did not come here to be talked'at. . . If there is no motion 1 will proceed to read this letter I have before me. Councillor Anderson: "I would not be in a hurry, Your Worship.’ They were a little bit "in the dark” in the matter, and the council had no desire to call the public meeting. "The position is,” said tho speaker, “that we would like to know what facts, or so-called facts, you intend to place before the people to-night, and whether it will be necessary for us to attend. ... If you work on those lines you can’t enjoy the confidence of your council.” The ALn.yor: T am still waitings tor motion. If there is none I will proceed to raad this letter. . Councillor Brockelbank: What is.it.

The Mayor said it was from the secretary of the Drivers’ Union anent the dismissal of the four men on Thursday, and requested that an appeal be heard by the council. Councillor Brockelbank: That s official business. , . , Mr. A. Cowie (the borough engineer) explained that on Thursday morning he asked the mon to transport a quantity of coal from the railway station, but they had refused, holding that it was ' black. “If you won’t do what you aro told' the speaker had said, "you can go to the office and get your time.’’ ~,,,, Councillor Anderson moved that tne appeal be heard on Monday night. Councillor Jones seconded the motion, which was carried. . Councillor Bedingfiejd said that they as councillors would in all probability meet together to decide what course ot action they would take. Councillor Jones: We should know what von are going to soy to-night. Your Worship Your attitude is that you re going a lone hand and ignoring the counC *The Mayor: "I entirely deny that statement. I have a perfect right to arrange a meeting, as I have done m ths' The sneaker mentioned that ho had received'a requisition asking lor a meet-

’"The requisition must have beqn largely signed or the Mayor would not have acted in the way he had, was Councillor opinion. Councillor Cook said ho could un(^ er ’ stand‘the position if the petition had Hpen largely signed. The Mavor: If you have no motion I don’t think it’s worth while wasting to his leaving the chamber, the Mavor said : "If vou must know my line of Action, I don’t want to see the trouble f pread. ° .