THE WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 87, 18 April 1901, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL.

CHARGES AGAINST COUNCILLORS.

STRONG COMMENTS BY JUDGE AND PRESS.

Press Association. Electric Tderjraph, Copyi-ight.

WjsrjJNGTON, April IS. Dimng the hearing of a compensation case against the Kclburnc Tramway Company, the Chief Justice .-aid the Corporation had acted illegally and disgracefully in regard to rights-of-way. It seemed to be desirous of creating slums in tho city, and its conduct during the last ten yea'-s had assisted to that purpose. Commenting on this, the New Zealand Times says Sir Robert Stout possibly had in his mind quite a recent case, in which a person possessing influence with the Council was granted permission to lay off a piece of land belonging- to him in such a way that slums of the worst description must result. If it were possible to indict people for civic crimes there are some men in the community who ought to be pilloried for their flagrant disregard of public health, morality, and decent conditions of life. Self-seeking speculators have obtained scats on the Council, and used their position to advance their own interests, utterly regardless of the consequences to the community. The Council has so flagrantly neglected its duty as to warrant the whole of them being' turned out of oiliee, and U" the electors are alive to their interests they will sco that at least- two-thirds of those responsible are rejected at the poll.