DUBBED NON-RATEPAYER

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 December 1933, Page 5

DUBBED NON-RATEPAYER

EX-OH AI RIMAiN D KMANDB APOLOGY HARBOUR. BOARD DISCUSSION An explanation was asked at last evening’s meeting of the Opunake Harbour Board by Mr T. P. Hughson regarding a paragraph in a letter which appeared in a Taranaki paper above the signature of the chairman, which stated, inter alia : “I also notice that a non-ratepayer member of the board, who is mainly responsible for this fiasco, says practically the same thing in a. circular letter he is broadcasting. ’ “Clearly,” continued Mr Hughson, “that is me.”. The chairman (Mr J. S. Hickey): Quite right. “Youi are implicating not only myself but also the returning officer,” said Mr Hughson. “I have been returned as a member of the boardi for the past 20 years bv the ratepayers.” Mr W. A. Sheat: Not by the ratepayers, but by the electors. The chairman: 1 meant to infer that you were not personally a ratepayer. Mr Hughson: I am of the opinion that I am one of the largest ratepayers in the Opunake harbour district. As chairman of Hughsons Ltd. I am a ratepayer on three properties in the town, while I am also as trustee of a farm estate for another party, a considerable ratepayer, so that I do not know how you can make out that I am a non-ratepayer. As representative of Hughson’s Ltd. and his” family, lie added, he was on the board as ‘ a ratepayer and consequently 110 could nob understand the chairman dubbing him a non-ratepayer in print. He therefore called on the chairman either to justify that statement, or else make an apology through the Ih’ess. The chairman : What I meant to convey was that you personally were not on the books ‘as a ratepayer, though you had a considerable influence in the building of the harbour. From what I see of the position, you are certainly legally entitled to sit on. this board or anv other local body in the district, but what I had in inv mind was that you lacked the direct personal ratepayer's qualification. Mr Hughson : I don’t know what you mean bv lacking the direct personal qualification. As managing director of T. P. Hughson Ltd. I have the personal qualification. The chairman : I did not know about the managing director. Mr Hughson reiterated that lie did not know why he should bo dubbed a. non-ratepayer when lie had all the qualifications. ~ , The chairman said that Mr Hughson was probably right in holding that lie was a ratepayer, but in view of the Mill nonce he had felt justified! in making the" statement. “However, in order to oot over the matter I will say that 1 v'horld not have put it that way,” said Mr Hiokey, “I will say that you are a ratepayer indirectly and apologise. Yon are perfectly qualified to sit here.