LIVELY MEETING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 228, 27 June 1928, Page 10

LIVELY MEETING

GLEN EDEN TOWN BOARD AND A DEPUTATION PROCEEDINGS ABRUPTLY CLOSED ALLEGED INJUSTICE TO RETURNED SOLDIERS The alleged unfair dismissal of two returned soldiers from its permanent staff led to lively scenes at a meeting of the Glen Eden Town Board when a public deputation waited on the board to protest against the dismissals. Dominion Special Service. Auckland, June 26. A stormy scene at a meeting of the Glen Eden Town Board last night culminated with the chairman (Mr. W. H. She - ’ rd) abruptly declaring . the meeting closed and leaving the room. This was the outcome of a dispute with t’.e leader of a deputation which waited upon the board regarding the dismissal of two permanent returned soldier employees of the board to make room for two married strangers to the district. i The deputation was followed into the room by large numbers of the public. As there were apparently about 150 to 200 members of the public endeavouring to get into the limited accommodation of the board room. Mr. J. H. Hayes suggested to the chairman that he adjourn the meeting to the Public Hall so that the large number of ladies present could be seated.

The chairman, however, declined to adopt this suggc~*ion. The deputation asked the board to recon:’'er its decision to dismiss the t’ o returned men. The chairman in his reply admitted that perhaps it would have been better and more advisable if notice of motion had been given. When the subject was brought before the board subsequent: a board member moved that no action be taken in regard to the request of the deputation. There was an interjection by Mr. Cameron, leader of the deputation, the chairman waving him to silence. Mr. Cameron: Don’t you poke me or I wil] poke you back again I Mr. Shepherd ordered Mr. Cameron to leave the room. Mr. Cameron refused to do so or withdraw his remark, and amid general confusion Mr. Shepherd closed the meetiii" and left the room.

A meeting held subsequently in the Tov. n Hall carried the following resolution : “That this meeting resents the action of the chairman in closing the board’s meeting in the face of the deputation, and demands that the tvvd permanent employees of the board be reinstated.”