TOWN HALL LETTINGS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 12, 8 October 1921, Page 2

TOWN HALL LETTINGS

AND THE WEST COASTERS’ ASSOCIATION THE TO.WN CLERK EXPLAINS In reply to a spirited protest by theWest Coasters’ Association in connection with tho alleged compulsory postponement of its annual reunion in order that tho Town Hall should be available for a reception to tho Prime Minister (tho details of which were published in Wednesday's Dominion), the Town Clerk has forwarded tho following memorandum to the Mayor:— "Early last week, Tuesday, I think’, when it became known that Mr. Massey would probably arrive in Auckland at such a time as would enable him to reach Wellington either by Saturday or Sunday hist, you asked me if tho Town Hall would be free for a reception to the Prime Minister on Monday, October 3. On looking over tho bookings, I 'found that Monday, October 3, was pencilled for tho West Coasters’ Association reunion, and, at your instructionsj I immediately got into touch with Mr. M'Grath, of the West Coasters’ Association, and also with several other parties, tho Salvation Army and tho Savage Club, to see if their engagements could be put back one day, in which case Monday would be left free for the reception.

“It was found almost impossible, owing to arrangements made, to interfere with the Salvation Army or the Savage Club. Mr. M’Grath, on 'being told of the possibility of Monday being required, expressed himself as being somewhat disappointed at the prospect of having to postpone their function, but stated that for a reception to Mr. Massey he recognised that the use of the hall was an almost foregone conclusion. I then impressed upon him the fact that nothing should be done by him immcdi ately, as I was only feeling the way m order that you might deal with Sir Francis Bell with regard to Mr. Massey » arrival and recaption, and I told -Jr. M'Grath that I would keep in touch with him, that he might learn at the earliest possible moment whether the reception would take place or not. “On several occasions Mr. M Gra_tn and I were in conversation on the telephone, and I thoroughly understood the urgency of tho matter to tho association, as well as to the council, and I finally promised Mr. M'Grath faithfully that I would undertake to inform him on Friday should it bo necessary for his function to be postponed, and thus allow the whole of Saturday’s papers to announce the fact, and that we would bear the expense of the necessary advertisements. Mr M'Grath, while regretting that the matter could not he dealt with a day or so earlier, recognised the petition, and was willing to abide by the promise given him. I was, therefore, very much surprised when you called my attention to the fact that the association ua-d advertised in Friday evening’s paper the postponement of tho function, this you told me by telephone from Parliament Buildings. I also understood afterivards from vou that within a few minutes of your ringing me, the urgent reply which vou asked for by special tetegram to Auckland to Sir Francis Beh, pointing out the extreme urgency of the case was received. You then immediately got into touch with Mr. M'Grath the position, but were informed that tae committee decided to place the adiertisement in the Press immediately. “Personally, I feel that the action of the West Coasters’ Association was somewhat precipitate, as if thej h.d waited a little longer they wou d hai o known the position, and it"'™ l ' l been perfectly clear that the y fion would not have taken place, and consequently the Coasters reunion not interfered with. .. "Of course, although the council retains the prerogative of sotting aside any booking, whatever may be the cn„a S e ment, when tho hall is tional or civic purpose up tothe p sent this prerogative lias bc..n rareiy Exercised, and only with the greatest, care and consideration to the parties affected. This has been the absolute practice in the past, and was also carried out to tho letter on this occasion.

The Mayor’s Regrets.

In connection with the above the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright) said:“I very much regret that the Wert Coasters’ Association’s social was interfered with, and I think it will be seen from Ko Town Clerk’s memorandum that it is unfair to place the w hole or tho responsibility for what has ed on my shoulders. I did my y best under tho circumstances to avoid interference with the association and it win tei X that if the association had waited only two hours longer I ale been in receipt of the necessary Lgrarn ™ W ,. b, "'°, “Mr SIS tho West Coasters. New Date for the Gathering. The committee of the association has 1 ,> for the postponed gathernow anan„ed toi i HaU on USoler 1 Particulars are advertised in this issue.