MR SIMSON'S CHALLENGE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 274, 8 November 1911, Page 6

MR SIMSON'S CHALLENGE

A* < KPT!.!' i;\ < i? *SSE. ARBITRATORS APP< H\TE!>. A tiVEI.Y MEETIN*. Mnhora w;i' the scene of a lively meeting last t.izhr wio-n Mr. H. lan Simson addressed the elm-tors. The. piece de resist an<e of Hie < verting was a ehallenge t» Mr. T. (>..>««■ t<> root rati iet certain allegations regarding eorinty titaOers. The ■ hal ■ lenge was for L’l'" - aside and t!.< < rowd was clearly delighted with the opportunity for excitement. There was some slight - l -- .d>t as t«> whether Mr. Crosse had derided to rv-t-rpt the challenge, But all do-ibt was dtpellet! hy Ids appearance at t«.meeting. Mr. Sim son l.y .trranir--inent addressed the meeting »a ge-i < ral politi-'s and then turned to the challenge. He suggested a <mall committee of three t<< investigate. the charges. Mr. Crosse sai<| it Mr. Sintsnn was to nominate three vuamiur.- nienj he should also l.av- rhe right to; nominate three The content ion was received with cheers. I Mr. Sjrioon agreed and said tr.' v , could get the Magistrate to act a* chairman. , Mr. Crosse did not object, but ex-

pressed himself as perfectly satisfied with the chairman of the meeting (Mr. J. M. Roberto.nt. Tire six following gentlemen were then elected principally upon Mr. Simson's nomination: Messrs. J. M. Robertson. D. Ma< namara. G. Merritt. J. B. HFrd. P. Murph - , and J. Walden. Mr. Crosse suggested that Me. Simson should : ak -- -rati ment to which he fCrosse) wt.uld reply. Mr. Stinson, as the • hnilengc ■. held he had ti e right ;,.f last Mr. Crosse did not dispute the; contention if the mcctinr thought t fair, hut he wantnl the case slat, d clearly if he was nut afterwards allowed to speak. The chairman ruled that they j must stick to the strict list of the : challenge:;. THE SIMSO.XONIOX IMH( T MENT. I The indictment was then read out ; as follows by the chairman : [ f. Horace lan Simson. hereby challenge Mr. Tom Cross. - to contradict the following: -•< I > That Walker was dis- ; charged for neglert of duty. (2) Tltc.t ; the late John Orr said: “ Walker did j not neglect hi-* work, anti bar! p-rm is- I sion to be away.” ' That Wa’ker was rvinstat -4 the same month Gs-nnse the cottncil knew he had Iss-ri discharged unfairly (I) That all the men were di - wharg*'*i on th • Puketitiri road, and Halpin, the county overs* - -r. was instructed to re-engage the best men. (.'») That Walker has h»s-n r>->list.U.Si. and is now working for the council. ' (8) That you (Tom Crosse) stated you; discharged him Iss-aus* - he had neg-) leeted bis duty- that Walker has left i his work to du shearing, ami in ronse-i qtirw -- that section of th? road was in a: had state. (7 > That yon made a statementl contrary to fact when you said that ■ you had a private lett - r in reference; to Ada stre t PO That it was a pide lie petition, and yon had no right to j make the statement you did. 'Sb That you published a testimonial that was i given to James Campbell for cleaning: Southland drain with the intention of! leading the jieopie to lielieve these | settlers (who are my supportersi gave! it to you for your good work as their I meinlsT. (Ill) If you come to my ■ meeting at Mahora to-night and prove I am wrong, I will give £l*o to the; Napier Hospital, providing you do th. [ wmp it’ the verdict t> against yon. MR. CROSSE'S DEFENCE. ! Mr. ('rose had evidently impres- { s«l the meiting with his sports matt-I like acceptance «-f the challenge • and somewhat arbitrary conditions, j He returned thanks fo 1 - the good re- | reption an .:d< d him. but felt that I they had cctne to r.ee Mr. Stinson, who was much the better looking man. He desired t > place b«f >r< the ratepayers the pos it ion regarding Pakc.wai bridge t Mr. Simson objected. The meet - j ing was his and Ise could net allow j Mr. Crosse to make an speech. ~ _ i The chair upheld Mr. Simson’s i cont«::ti >:i and Imitnd Mr. ( t*» ; reply upon the item.- in the indict- ; meat. Mr. Crosse a<<|i' < .<1 and p> > ceedcd t<» reply to ip't-sti >n X... I. Some years ago. i • ~ ’ I ti e stirfai-e- [ turn were allowed to go away in -oim- . months for -hearing. He felt th t this was a bad yistnii. The men ; bad good l»iII» - ‘— .i'id were paid V. rather and dry. He il-U n - : -a' - they di»i not deserve their pay. b :; tt was a bad prim ipli' - t«> kt them go away from thru - work. M aik« t lived in a house ami the man who j came to do his u - .rk v.l:i! -- tie t - :i‘ mor was away had to lit -- in a tent. Mr. Simson roff- with a protest that the statement was t - » long. Mr. Hird asked that they lie tt:v.n a full statement that they o-ui-i tb.-sroiighiy understand tin - po~ Referring to Ada street. «-l:a»gtXo. 7 and '. Mr. ('rosse pointed < 'it that this was originally part of rhe Hastings Borough, ant! had h> t n very much nt'E!i vted. The rHe payers had vonipiained to irtn and he suggested severance fr - .m the Bi r-

ough. and he and Mr. i’.< t • eti to get that thine. Sente ttrm in last winter a man had <-< :ne t>> > t. with a petition a-king that A*h ar.d Louie street? he fornird. lie w ml* a to look into the imitirr ar: 1 see what eoulil he done. Let lie »:t* -•» 1 . at the tme a”d n< ■ abb t.> g< t ib, it ni'n li Uion M ' >.• t-s.» ■t ' r i about the p« tit• ’> ( r t pb, •; ,• . co..'.dt in ' [■■ ’■.ft Tif> ,t.. ■ the t ount- !>■•,• o i t: r t . must !<» k nt ■ i .1 pt t i n l>« •’> •' < t- rsenttne ’ H" " ti> i’i . • . lion Mitt. M- < tai-'lit 1 -. I : to see it’ t !.♦ v < > t' «<’ ti> > o.:. < ouni tl t- I >lb V rkf ’ • ■ ’ ’ Hr -t [fort >ft at ■•’I• - i I t: < • tii at. I t: f m•. - 1J- - t ,i • o:t f.. . * - a 1 It n.'is imt a pul.l.i i» ‘ * • ■ fii’> < k. o into it. ar<t be w■ ■ .dn ;W U i I • breaking tin bi ’an. ;t ::v s : n..t ilo I With t-> i bars’*- N”. Mr. hr**- he v ,i. w bait !><l :: p I Mr. .J i .i. \!r. < rniisf answer the charge.

I Mi. Hertl said again that it was i ti,.(Ts,-,rv fur the arbitrators to hear al! 'hat . 0t.1.i 1,.- .mid upon the sub- !. Mr. CrusM pointed oat that the ,!r;;:n was not under ti-“ county until last tear -inu v. a- bad!’, neglected. | contractors had tried to clear mt the lirain and had failed. Then Mr. t'ampbell took over the work and did it well. On the strength of this improvement li<- trot flic follow ing t<■ stiuiomai addres-cd to him. Ma!.ora. .I.d’. 21. Thomas ( rOsSe. E> I tear Sir. We. the undersigned, beg to tender our sincere thanks nr i appreciation for the very sat isfai tory marmir that Southland drain has been cleaned out this \.ar. We are. fai'hfidlv \o:.r . CE<>. I’l RVis. PiMLEV. sissoM. R. G. MORGAN'. F. T. M .AX (LTV. MR. Si.MSOX REPLIES. Mr. Simson held that lie had proved Walker had been ids. barged. Mr. < 'rosse replied that he had not been allowed to explain the position fillip. M• Si;-.-on retorted that he had ■lad ’Ke chance and then pro. ceded t.. • -tin his action in the io:tmil. lie hi I n.oved i’or the re instntement ,f Walker, b’lt the « outlet! would not agree. Walker never neglected his duty and Mr. Crosse did sack him. Tie- engineer, the late Mr. Orr, had given Walker permission to go and the man had been re-instated in his

p..-itton thirteen days afterwards. The letter book of the council would -how this. Speaking " f 1,1 - charge of dismissing tm-n on I’uketitiri mail. Mr. t rosse said that h>' had refused to vote on this question at the council meeting. He lad no complaint to mak- - about Walker. Tim man was a g>» ■ l worker. Imt he was ’ sacked b -- > a'l-i he went away and did not work at all. Mr. Simson reiterated that he Lad shown tha’ the men were dis charged ami that Walker lia-l been reinstated. Interruptions from young men outside became very prevalent at tins stage anti Mr. Simson had to fre qnently appeal for a fair hearing <>f the case. He pointed oat that the petition regarding Ada street had been delivered to Mr. Grosse on June 17th. He had asked for its prodm tion. but the chairman ruled him wit of order. It was not a private letter, but a public document, and it was not put before the eounty -mtil March 13th. Mr Crosse said he understood Mr. Simson to say that what he (Crosse) had said was a lie. Mr. Simson: Ye; and 1 say >t again nowConsiderable uproar followed this and manv people rose to leave the room. Mr. Simson appealed to Mr. Cross? to stay and see it out. but the latter replied that he was quite content to leave the matter to th? committee. i-..i„ Mr. Simson tried for some littl time after to the meeting, but nt H 15 p.m. the people had cleaily had enough ami detenumed to go and a hurried vote <>. thank- “ chair terminated the meeting.