THE COUNCIL AND ITS CRITICS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 619, 15 November 1913, Page 5

THE COUNCIL AND ITS CRITICS.

The Editor. Sir, -Perhaps you will kindly allow me space for a few words on the above subject. It has been obvious almost from the inauguration of the Ratepayers' Association that the Borough Council could only tolerate that body so long ay it was either dumb and blind to Borough affairs or was com mending the Council, but woe betide the Association it they ventured to criticise, or even make a suggestion,as witness Cr Walsh's explosion when the Association had the "impertinence" in August last to write asking the Council "to consider the advisability of procuring a horse and dray" —a letter, by the way, to which the Council has not yet had the common courtesy to reply. As to imputations that the Council or councillors were intent upon doing something which should not be done as mentioned by Cr Somerville. I am not aware of antyhing of the sort emanating from any of the members of the R. and C. Association. Regarding this terrible incident of the dam contract, I can only give his version uf it a emphatic denial. I never did demand to see this or any other document, courtesy forbids, but as I have pointed out, that is one of the qualities which is not particularly conspicuous in our Council. Acting on a recommendation of the Association, I asked the town clerk if "I might see the contract." Getting no direct reply I repeated the question asking "if" I had a right as a ratepayer to see it. I was then given to understand that I had, but was informed that he—the clerk—had lent it out of the office for a few days, and that he had no other copy. When in the office about a week later I asked the clerk if the contract had been returned, and was informed that it had, but that he had received instructions not to show it. Recognising the imnortanrre of the work, and the serious consequences generally following should a dam burst, or even prove defective— such accidents are not unknown in New Zealand the Association wished to know, without casting any doubt on the contractor's integrity or ability, but purely as a matter of business— what provision, if any, had been mads for supervision. This has been known to the clerk, and there is little doubt, also to the Mayor, and some of the councillors, for some time, so they n9ed not try to make any mystery of it, and no matter how they may stigmatise it as '"intolerable impertinence" or •'silly and malicious," etc., any unbiased person, I should think, must admit that the Association were quite justified in seeking the information as they did before troubling the Council in the matter. No matter how the councillors may manufacture and take to themselves imputations of incompetence, dishonesty, etc. in their more or less righteous indignation, no such nonsense was talked by the R. and C. Association; nor, I believe by any member thereof in connection with this matter. However, I have no doubt the Association will be pleased to see from your report of the Council proceedings that the? are now moving in the matter of providing for supervision, possibly they intended to do so all along. In conclusion, the Mayor seems to be labouring mora or less under the same, hallucination, but his eulogy of the Councii is refreshing, verily it is when he employs the silvery tongue that he shines, but does it not seem to give the Bhow away when he says of the R. and C. Association, "the moment they left their hitherto harmless and thoughtless course it was time to place matters on a definite footing." Oh, Mr Boddie! lMust we really be, and ever remain, "harmless and thoughtless," to earn the patronage and commendation of the Councii? There are several other points I would have liked to notice, but I fear, sir, I have already trespassed too e itensively on your space.—l am, etc , F. S. DIJNCANSON, Hon. See. R. and C. Assn. Te Kuiti, Novebmer 13th, 1913.