“PETONE’S DIGNITY”

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 191, 15 May 1928, Page 10

“PETONE’S DIGNITY”

UNUSUAL COUNCIL MOTION TROUBLE OVER WATER SUPPLY At the last meeting of the Petone Borough Council it was decided to write the late Mayor (Mr. J. W. McEwan), and also Mr. G. Cook, to “attend the next meeting of the council, and to be kind enough to explain their attitude regarding remarks they had made at a recent meeting of the Petone Fire Board against water supply scheme No. 2. It was expected that both members ot the board would be present when the council met last night, but instead of attending both Mr. McEwan and Mr. Cook forwarded letters on the subject. The late Mayor wrote as follows: — “With reference to your letter conveying the desire of the council that I shall attend its next meeting and explain my attitude towards water supply scheme No 2, I wish to say that on my judgment ‘my attitude’ has been sufficiently explained, based as it is upon decisions of the Fire Board, which have been submitted to your council, Inspector Hugo’s report, and an interview with the secretary of the Fire Underwriters’ Association fifteen months ago, which I reported to the council at the time. This and my experience in connection with the existing service was the cause of my opposition to the adopted scheme. "In view of the above there does not appear to be any need for my attendance at the meeting of the council on Monday night. I can therefore only express the hope that the council will yet evolve a scheme that will be of service to the greatest number of people of this town and directly and indirectly no serious additional annual cost.” In his letter Mr. Cook stated that he did not consider any good purpose would be served by his appearing before the council. “The opinion expressed by me at the Fire Board meeting was not new,” he wrote. “During my nine years service on the board I have given a great deal of time to the consideration of the water supply of the town, and am anxious that we should secure the best service possible. When I accepted the appointment as your representative on the Fire Board I understood that I was to use my judgment for the benefit of the borough as a whole, and that I was to be allowed freedom to express my honest opinion as a business man. If your council is not satisfied with this explanation of my conduct I am quite willing to send in my resignation. “Failed in Their Duty.” Councillor Scholefield said that while he had no objection to any representatives of the council stating their honest opinion on any subject, he thought that the first duty of Mr. McEwan and Mr. Cook would have been to consult with the council on he matter, and suggest amendments where they thought amendments should take place. Although they di not fall in with the councils view, they should have brought the council’s scheme forward, and fallen in with the councils’ views, with the right, of course, to express their own opinion on the matter. “That’s how I look at it, anyway,” concluded Councillor Scholefield.

An Unusual Motion. “I don't think any good purpose cau be served by discussing this matter any further,” said Councillor Cumming, who at the previous meeting moved: “That the two members of the Fire Board concerned should be called before the council.” Councillor Cumming went on to say that he believed, in the right of free speech, which was given to every British subject, but at the same time be agreed with Councillor Scholefield that the two gentlemen had acted wrongly. “As for Mr. Cook' saying he will resign, well, that’s his business, and he can do as he likes for all I care. If it was not for the fact that their term on the board lasts during the office of this council, I would move in another direction. I will now move ‘That the two 1 letters from Messrs. McEwan and Cook be relegated to the waste-paper basket.’ ” The motion was carried unanimously. Half an hour later, when the council was engaged on other business tlie Mayor (Mr. D. McKenzie ) said he would like to refer to the letters received from Mr. McEwan and Mr. Cook.. After giving consideration to the motion of Councillor Cumming, he thought perhaps it could be put in a better way. He wished, if Councillor Summing agreed, to move: “That owing to the letters read from Messrs. McEwan and Cook giving no valid reason for their action in calling a special meeting of the Fire Board to publicly criticise the scheme of the council, we strongly disapprove of the action of the writers and pass on to the next business.” ■ Councillor Cumming: Yes, Your worship. I think that would be better. It sounds more dignified. . Councillor D. McCarthy said that he thought the motion of the Mayor would be responsible for the matter being given more publicity. “I think, added Councillor McCarthy, “that although I voted for the motion, it really would be more in keeping with this . council s dignity if we carried the motion of the Mayor.” . ’ „ The “more dignified motion was accordingly put and carried.