TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL AND BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3562, 29 June 1912, Page 11

TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL AND BOROUGH COUNCIL.

(to the editor.)

Sir,—-I have carefully read your report of the meeting of what was described as a meeting of ratepayers, under the auspices of the Trades and Labor Council, also the meeting of the Borough Council last Tuesday, also from time to time your comments thereon, and I think you have not mistaken the temper of the ratepayers. The dominant note struck at this so-called ratepayers’ meeting by practically every speaker was a fearnil and wondrous reverence for the City Fathers. At the finish of the squabble a marvellous resolution was adopted unanimously—a resolution of a strong non-committal character, and which carefully considered Would lend some point to Cr Collins’ criticism anent want of knowledge—l think lie dubbed it ignorance. 1 have no doubt that 'numerous students of our language have been wrestling with it, and endeavoring to discover the meaning,- which lias been carefully concealed. The proposer of the resolution, which was ultimately carried, remarked, apropos of nothing, that “as long as the rivers flo'w and the trees grow” (a fair period surely) he would never again be a candidate for a seat on the Borough Council. Rather personal animus to exhibit towards a seat, isn’t it? Other remarks which called for notice were one of Mr Bartlett’s, who gloomily mentioned that new things were constantly being discovered in the by-laws. ‘ ‘ \A’o are lost,” added a voice. “The by-laws are too expensive,” said another. ’The criticism that the Council could do anything, as the ratepayers were too late in putting in a protest, elicited an enthusiastic “Hear, hear” from some gentleman who must have misinterpreted this sage remark. An old friend in Mr P. Maher (who, by the way, once gave the present Mayor of Gisborne a good run for bis seat on the Council), said, “It looks to me to be the biggest- rot and foolery I have ever heard,” and lie was right for once. The climax was reached when the whole of the few present at the meeting declined to undertake personally the conveyance of the resolution so enthusiastically carried to the governing body of the borough. This must be charged to timidity or modesty. I would not undertake the commission myself unless accompanied by an interpreter and an efficient bodyguard. It was noticeable that Cr Collins was not asked, this time to sponsor the resolution —in fact, lie was soundly rated for not kow-towing to-th© little coterie who fell in so badlv over what was to be a great’ coup by those who misrepresent labor. Cr Collins cruieklv dispelled an idea that ha was likelv to play to the gallery, and he shortly after showed his contempt for the vote of this body by suggesting that- every ratepayer should have an extra vote —certainly an idiotic proposal. It appeared from the report that various statistics were wanted by the turbulent members which composed the meeting, but- Mr Simson remarked that they-would be asking the Council for something they did not know themselves. Anyhow, the meeting was a farce. The Borough Council did as everybody expected—adroitly discovered they had no power to act in the matter.' But they were very much alive to the importance of extending th© electric light system, and intend to ask the ratepayer for a,further loan. Strange to say, this great revenueproducing project found opposition. I wonder if the members of the Council know that the hilarious experiment of running an oil engine on septic tank gas was made recently, with complete success, at Parramatta (N.S.AV.). Formerly the unpleasantness was burned off unprofitably with a large Bunsen burner; but an economical person, observing the wasteful ferocity of the flame-jet-, started thinking, with the result that the bill for petrol is now less than it. might have been otherwise. The smell drives the engine, the engine drives a humming dvnamo, and the dynamo keeps the elctrie lights advertising the fact that a bad smell has been harnessed up and is ,doing useful work. The time seems to have arrived when a bad smell is a valuable possession and a really vicious one almost priceless. Gisbcrne, June 25, I am, etc., “O.L.