Taradale Town Board.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5159, 2 March 1888, Page 2

Taradale Town Board.

I_OWN COBBESPONDENT.J

Tho collected wisdom of Taradalo assembled on Tuesday evening in responso to an invitation to attend a special meeting, to take into consideration some correspondence that had appeared in a Napier morning paper in reference to the action of a certain commissioner of that august body known as tho Taradalo Town Board.

It is very seldom that the public of Taradalo attend any meetings of tho ..local bodies, but on this occasion a considerable amount of interest was manifested in the proceedings, as tho reading-room of the Institute was not only crowded, but a groat number could not oven get inside. Your unfortunate scribe was late in showing up, so had to take a back position, consequently it was difficult at times to hear distinctly. It seems that at tho last meeting of the Board ono of tho members gave notice to move, " That the remuneration of the Returning Officer be reduced from £1 11b 6d to £1." Now that imp of darkness known as the correspondent to the paper alluded to actually had tho audacity to comment on that member's action in the following words:—"l should bo sorry to impute unworthy motives to Mr Neagle, but it appears to me that his desire to reduce the Board's expenditure came upon him suddenly about tho time of the appointment of the now clerk. Of course, those who know him best will no doubt give him credit for the purest motives, but it docs seem strange to the uninitiated that tho same gentleman should have seconded the motion for the higher scale only four meetings previouslyj just before the present clerk took office."

Now, tho foregoing comment was the cause of tho meoting. The members being all present, with Mr Drummond in the chair. The meeting was opened by the clerk reading the notice calling tho meeting. Mr Neagle then made a statement complaining of the manner in which ho had been treated, stating that he was actuated purely by a desire for retrenchment, and intimating that if thero was any foundation for the implied assertion that he had acted otherwise ho was not a fit person to sit on the Board as a member.

Mr Bradley asked the Chairman what right the Board had to interfere in tho matter, giving his opinion that it was siniplv a question between the correspondent and Mr Neagle, and he was also of the opinion that tie Chairman had considerably exceeded his duties in calling a special meeting for such a frivolous purpose. Mr Davidson also strongly objected to the Chairman's action in tho matter.

The Chairman remarked that as Mr Neagle's action had been commented upon, ho was certainly entitled to the protection of the Board, and eulogised "Jlr Neagle as one of tho best members of the Board, if not tho best, which brought Messrs Davidson aud Bradley to their feet, begging to differ with the Chairman, stating with some wartnth that that gentlemen had worked as much for his own interest as for the benefit of the public. The Chairman stated that the Board's dork was the correspondent alluded to and called on him for the grounds for the comments he had made. Tho clerk stated that ho should not deny that he was " that individual," and gave his reasons for making the comments which were not satisfactorily received by the audience, but ignored b)* a majority (of one; of the Board.

The Chairman then moved, seconded by Mr Martin, "That tho clerk be asked to apologise to Mr Neaglo." Mr Bradley moved nn amendment, seconded by Mr Davidson, to the effect that the matter was out of tho jurisdiction of the Board.

On tho amendment being put to the meeting, tho mover and seconder voted in favor of it, and tho Chairman and Messrs Martin and Neagle against it. Tho Chairman declared it lost. The original motion was then put and carried.

Mr Davidson considered that Mr Neagle had no rig-ht to vote on the question, as he was personally interested, hut the Chairman ruled otherwise, and assured Mr Davidson that it would havo made no difference if that gentleman had abstained from voting, evidently intending to convey tho impression that ho would have given his casting vote in favor of the motion.

The Board's clerk was then politely asked to apologise, retract, regret, &c, for his wicked action, but it " would'ut work." That depraved individual actually stated that he could not sco his way to apologise ; neither did he regret. The Chairman regretted that the apology was not forthcoming, and remarked that the only course to pursue was to ask tho clerk to resign, when, to the astonishment of tho audience, the clerk had tho effrontery to state that he could not see his way to comply with the Board's request in that respect, and actually hinted that- it seemed rather a peculiar proceeding to request tho Town Board clerk to resign for an alleged offonco committed by a newspaper correspondent. Ho evidently seemed to consider that the act of resigning would be equivalent to admitting that he had acted wrongly, and, perhaps, thought if he had to go the Board should kick hira out. Well, the Board has not yet kicked, but has considerately allowed the worthy clerk to give tho matter his best consideration till the noxt meeting of the Board, which wound up tho Board's business.

I Now, Mr Editor, Ido think theso horriblo I newspaper correspondents are a perfect nuisance, and ought to bo annihilated. They are continually passing remarks on the actions of members of governing bodies. Why oau't they leave them alone r* What right has tho public to know what is going on at the meetings, or what rijrht has auv ono to conmient on their actions ? Now, this affair Ims created a sort of inquisitive feeling in the township. Tho public seem puzzled to know how it is that a squabblo between a correspondent and a member of tho Town Board should occupy the attention of tho Board at a whole meeting, or what right tho Board has to interfere in the matter, and are aimously awaiting tho next meeting to sco how tho matter will end. Tho public seem to fool that tlio Board ought to mind its own business.