CRITICISM OF THE MAYOR.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 December 1926, Page 6

CRITICISM OF THE MAYOR.

ATTENDANCE AT AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LEAGUE. "CAME AS A SHOCK” TO CBS. Strong exception wms taken by Levin Borough Councillors last night to the action of the Mayor in attending a meeting of the North Island College League at Palmerston in view of the fact that the Council agreed to take no action in the Palmerston agitation against the South Island. The Mayor contended that he acted in a private capacity. The subject was introduced at last night’s meeting of the Council. Cr. McAllister asked whether D>. Mayor was representing the Borough of Levin or just himself when he attended the meeting of the Executive. The Council did not ask him to go. The Mayor; I was invited by the League. They elected all the Mayors on the Executive. Cr. McAllister: The policy of thuCouncil was to have nothing to do with it. It looks very funny to see you as Mayor on the Executive of a body of which this Council does not approve. The Mayor said the College must Ina benefit. It was stated at the last meeting of the Council that they were still in favour of the College being ir. the North Island. He thought it was Cr. Parker who said that.

Cr. McAllister; I don’t think you should have been there at all.

The Mayor said he had not got •• very full report in the papers. He had said Levin was strongly in favour the College being, at .Weraroa and that they had a property here worth £IOO,OOO on which two Governments had promised to put the College. \ Civ McAllister,said the ostensible reason for the meeting was to promote Palmerston’s interests and Levin Avas against Palmerston as a site for the College. The Mayor stated he had never accepted the position on the Executive. Cr. McAllister: You have been fighting as hard as anybody to have the college at Weraroa. The Mayor: And if we can’t get it here — Cr. McAllistci: When the matter was before this Council I thought we definitely agreed that we would not take any paid, in the business. It was got up by Mr Nash simply for the benefit of Palmerston. Cr. Mortensen: I for one do not like the idea of associating ourselves with it. Personally I don’t care where it is and think we should wash our hand;, of the whole business. I agree with Cr, McAllister that it is not nice to see the Mayor’s name theie as representing Levin. :; Cr. Sigley thought the Mayor had clone the right thing. Because they could not get the college here they should not go against the chosen site. It was as near Levin as it possibly could be. (Laughter). It was a wrong idea to set against the college because they could not get it in Levin. Cr. Mortensen: We don’t suggest op posing it, but just standing clear. Cr. Roc said the resolution passed by the Council was just to receive the letter inviting them to the Conference and then to see the Mayor’s name in the paper as being present made him .tVel very sore. He doubted whether the League was getting the support they in Wellington and Auckland. It Avas a financial matter and when it came up before the House it Avould be a question Avhether the country could afford the money. “If avg had men like Mr Massey or Mr Seddon, ” said Cr. Roe, “this Avould not happen.” Cr. Sigley: The college Avould have been down the West Coast.

Cr. Roe: “We have a Prime Minister who had not been in power 24 hours before he kicked over the traces. There has never been a greater autocrat than the present Prime Minister. Lincoln College made an offer worth £250,000 to the country. Why spend another £250,000 when it is not needed?”

Cr. McAllister said the Mayor admitted being invited to go as Mayor. The speaker wished to dissociate himself entirely from the Mayor’s action. The Mayor: I gave the reporter my name as “T. Hobson, from Levin.” Cr. McAllister: I would like to ask you a definite question: Are you on the Executive of the North Island College League?

The Mayor: I read in the paper that all the country Mayors were elected to it. Cr. McAllister: Are yen on it? The Mayor: Not that I am aware of. Shannon has offered money for it and Foxton have accepted membership aim thanked the League for electing one of their members on the Excutive.

, Cr. Mortensen was not surprised at that. Both Shannon and Foxton fell in with Palmerston and Levin did not. Levin was in direct opposition in business and other ways, and could not possibly do what the other towns had done.

The Mayor considered that in a private capacity he was at liberty to go to the meeting. Cr. Bishop said the Council was rightly taking exception to his going as Mayor, “We here passed a resolution dissociating ourselves ' from the League and it comes as a shock to see your name in the paper attending as Mayor of Levin.”

The Mayor: I can’t help it if they put my name in in that way. Whereover 1. go i cannot say i am not Mayor. t ]•. bishop: r J ne point the Council is concerned in is: Have you accepted a position on the Executive? The Mayor; No, I have not. Cr. Bishop: That is all we want to know.

Cr. Eoe said ho had boon approach-M by Messrs Nash and Linlduter when having dinner at Palmerston receutiv in regard to the college, “i told i hem it was a g'ross waste of public money, ’’ said Cr. Poe, 11 and i raised mv voice and lot everyone know it.’ (Laughter). They -went away and lett meP ■’

Cr. McAllister: it is you who .should have gone up to that conference.