STRONG CRITICISM OF MAYOR

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 112, 5 February 1935, Page 11

STRONG CRITICISM OF MAYOR

Unusual Borough Meeting

COUNCILLOR WHO SHOULD BE AT CREMATORIUM An unusual meeting was held at Milford, Auckland, last week, when over 300 residents of Takapuna borough assembled to discuss the conduct in the playoral chair of Mi. John Guiniven. The chairman, Mr. C. M. Wills, said the meeting had been called by his association at the request of a number of Takapuna and Milford ratepayers. .Written invitations to attend had been sent to the mayor, Mr. Guiniven, and every councillor. The purpose of the meeting to consider the language indulged in, particularly by the mayor,. at council meetings, and the constant Insults offered, not only to councillors, but to the people of Takapuna. Matters affecting the council’s policy would be irrelevant. The rights and wrongs of what took place at the last meeting of the council would not be discussed, but merely the language used by the mayor.

“The attitude and conduct of the mayor and councillors should be a credit to the whole borough,” said Mr. Wills, who then read in full a newspaper account of a stormy meeting that ended in disorder at midnight after five hours’ discussion. The most objectionable of the personal remarks uttered by the mayor, Mr. Wills said, was his statement to Mr. Rollo that “he did not sell vegetables to chows,” that the same councillor “had no brains”; his allegation that Mrs. Blomfleld was “twisting”; and (to Mr. Rollo) “you ought to be out where your cobber is—at the crematorium.” Mr. Guiniven Not Present. “Such language uttered by the mayor is not a credit to this borough,” said Mr. Wills. “The result was that a large number of residents, and ratepayers considered that this meeting should be called to protest against such conduct.' ’(Hear, hear.) I will now call on his Worship the Mayor to place his side of the question before you.” After the chairman announced. “His Worship the Mayor,” there was silence. Everybody in the theatre looked round to the front door for Mr. Guiniven. “No appearance, sir, of the defendant,” said a wag in the audience.” Mr. Galbraith, deputy-mayor, was then called upon. He said that he was in a difficult position. “You have read in the Press of the last meeting of the council,” he said. “I wish it was the last. The proceedings were faithfully reported. For the want of a better word we will call it a Donnybrook. (Laughter.) I regret to say that such conduct on the part of the mayor is a regular occurrence at the council meetings. lam a great believer in upholding the dignity of the mayoral chair. If the mayor himself does not, well then it reflects on every ratepayer and resident of this borough. He should be expected to show respect. Even if our opinions clash with those of the mayor we expect courtesy. I admit that lam often afraid to clash with him. I trust that this meeting will have the effect of waking up the borough to what has been going on. The mayor has not been courteous to those he represents. (Applause.) “Council Held Up To Ridicule.” Mr. T. M. Rollo, chairman of the finance and legal committee, described the mayor's conduct and language as unforgivable. He was sorry Mr. Guiniven w’as not present. “Because of the mayor’s conduct and the publicity the last meeting received, we have been held up to ridicule from the North Capo to the Bluff,” said Mr. Rollo. “I, myself, welcome a hard aud keen debate, but I dislike personalities of such a disgusting nature. The mayor’s reference to .myself, that T should be out at the crematorium with my late friend, who was esteemed and respected by all classes of the community, and who rendered loyal service while a member of the council, was crude, filthy and disgusting—(hear, hear and cries of “shame!”) The mayor ended up the meeting by calling us councillors a ‘pack of mongrels!”’ “He Enjoys an Argument.” Mrs. Blomfleld said it was very degrading for a woman to have to sit on the council and listen to such language as the mayor had used at meetings. She had been accused of being a “twister” and been told that she would not-get in at the coming elections. “I claim to be his longest and best supporter,’”said Mrs. Blomfleld. “I still think that if the mayor would control his language and be more tactful he would be a good mayor. (Applause.) He carries out his duties well, but as a mayor and as for his language—well, he's hopeless.” (Laughter.) Mr. C. M. Dowd said he recognised that Mr. Guiniven was a good mayor and a “nice man when you meet him outside the council.” “As John Guiniven who sits on the seat at the corner, he is a fine fellow,” continued Mr. Dowd. “If that same man came up and sat in the mayoral chair, everything would be all right. The trouble is that he enjoys an argument with councillors, and I firmly believe that it is his practice to ‘rattle’ councillors if he can.”