REFUSAL TO TAKE CHAIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 24

REFUSAL TO TAKE CHAIR

ACTION OF MAYOR

NATIONALIST'S MEETING

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WESTPORT, September 28.

Stating that he refused point blank to take the chair at the opening address in Westport of Mr. T. O. Maddison, National Party candidate for the Buller electorate, the Mayor, Mr. J. Kilkenny, no doubt created a situation without precedent in the history of New Zealand.

The refusal arose from an invitation from the secretary of the Westport branch of the National Party to the Mayor, which was read at the monthly meeting of the Westport Borough Council tonight. . Mr. Kilkenny, in explanation of his refusal, stated that the Buller County Council and the Westport Borough Council had recently passed motions of confidence in the Government and in the Hon. P. C. Webb, who is seeki ing re-election for the seat. Mr. Kil- ! kenny stated that the consequences of ;his refusal were on his own shoulders and that he would-,npt assist any person that was contaminated with the, 1 diseased minds of th6se responsible for i the state of the West Coast before 1935.

Strong exception to his remarks was taken by Councillors O. L. Nahr and G Taylor, who regretted to see the step he had taken. The country, stated Mr. Nahr, was still free; By doing as he intended Mr. Kilkenny was practically dictating to the people as to how to vote. -'•-,, - - ,_• Mr. Kilkenny replied that m his opinion he was doing the right thing ,fof Westport.