THE MUNICIPAL DEADLOCK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8537, 18 March 1908, Page 6

THE MUNICIPAL DEADLOCK.

THE CURATOR QUESTION. MAYOR REFUSES AN AMEND-, MENT. Included in the correspondence at last night's meeting of the JtJorough Council was a letter from Captain J. D. I*. Hawiet. covering ihe resolutions passed j by the public meeting with reference to J the curator of reserves. The resolutions 1 ui-n-ed that in the interests of the bor- j ougit every effort should be made to retain Mr" Smith's iservices. ■L'b.3 Mayor .moved that the letter be received. Or. Stubbs: I will move an amendin o"t that the letter be received, and that the resolutions be given effect to. The Mayor: 1 am very sorry I cannot take the "amendment. This is simply adding insult to insult. Although a public meeting was called, it cannot be termed a meeting of ratepayers. No 'doubt those who originated the meeting | did ~-o with the very best intentions as jar as the borough is concerned, and I appreciate their action; but I don't thinli" they were conversant with tho position, of affairs or they would have taken very different action. I claim that there was not 25 per cent, of the i .meeting ratepayers. ! Several councillors here dissented from die Mayor. (jr. Holben said he had taken the trouble to count those present. There wore 300 people in attendance, and 75 pc-r cent, of them were ratepayers. They were, besides, men who had taken a prominent part in public affairs, and representative of those who had the good of 1 the borough at heart. It was a public meeting, and anyone had a perfect riijhv to go there. . He referred to tho work of the Beautifying Society, and R:\ld it had made Palmerston a working rr.an's paradise. What working man, he, -d.'.lred, could afford to have a garden such as they and their families could •O'ljoy in the Square? He would like to see the little personality between the Mayor and Mr Smith forgotten in the interests of the town. The Council, he painted out, • was absolutely unanimous, M'ld tho position was a very painful one. He- would support the resolution to keep I.lr Sniijh here. He was a man of groat qualifications, who was working for an ordinary labourer's wages. The iiafor : " I have already expressed my opinion. If Mr Smith publicly withdraws and publicly apologises for the ir,snlf- he has gratuitously conferred upon ii.-j and my position, I have no objection to hi; withdrawing his resignation. That i: tho only way out of the difficulty. If Mr Smith thinks his dignity will not a!low him to withdraw, my dignity is quite equal to Mr Smith's." The fact that the Council did not support him, continued the Mayor, when he was open-ly-insulted by an employee, was the most •disgraceful thing he could imagine. Or. Holben again appealed to the Mayor to sink his differences with Mr ijj'mth in the interests of the borough. H? submitted that Mr Smith had done right in writing to the Council, and that the councillors, acting on tho impulse of the moment, had treated, his letter v. irli contempt. Therefore, they ought ti- consider tho matter again

Cr. Haydon said he was at the public moetsing, and nothing that could be considered harsh had been said in any shape or form. It was a representative mooring of the leading men of the town. The Mayor: Thank you, Or. Haydon. Cr. Holben again referred to the unsatisfactory position, and suggested that the Mayor, Mr Smith, and the Reserves Committee meet in conference and enden vour to settle their differences. The Mayor: Mr Smith has published tu3 letter, and he must -withdraw it. That is the only way to get on with the business. In answer to a question, the Mayor said the position was that the letter from the. public meeting was received aid he declined to take Cr. Stubbs' amendment. Cr. Stubbs: Well, we are on the eve ot an election. If you are returned, •Time other way will be found of settling t!u3 matter if you continue to refuse. The Mayor: I think I can refuse. An insule has been offered to the position I occupy and tha ratepayers who returned me. I anticipate that those ratepayers will again return mo. The ratepayers, as a whole, will have an opportunity of discarding mo in a very short f.irjic. and that will prove whether the Council or lam wrong. It is ti great pity it is not a general election, so ■that,'we could all go to the poll with a clear conscience. Councillors interjected thsrt the consciences were quite clear. Cγ. Holben again suggested conference or arbitration as a way out of the difficulty, but the Mayor reiterated his former statement that withdrawal was the only condition he would accept.

Cγ. Haydon: I should like to ask if tha curator is still continuing his duties. The Mayor: Yes, but his time is nearly up. Cr. Haydon: Am I in order in asking what steps you will take at the end of the , month. The Mayor: When the month is up Mr Smith goes. Cr. Haydon: But his resignation ha 3 nol" been accepted. The Mayor: That is not necessary. He has given a month's notice and leaves by the effluxion of time. Cr. Holbcn: Suppose this Council decides to retain Mr Smith; what is the position ? The Mayor: I don't think you, can do that. A discussion followed on a suggestion b.y Cr Haydon that the borough solicitor should be asked for an opinion on the powers of the Mayor. The Mayor said the rights of the Mayor and Council were not clearly defined, but there was no doubt the Mayor had the right t<s say what should go before the Council aud what, was an insult to himself. Cr. Stubbs: I put in this amendment. The Mayor: I regret I canot receive it. Cr. Clausen: It seems to me a most extraordinary position. Cγ. Stubbs: Suppose the Council call for applications for the curatorship and Mr Smith applies and is appointed ? The Mayor said he would not accept tho application. Cγ. Stubbs: There you are! The Mayor said by that time he might bo out of office. Continuing, he referred to Mr Smith's qualifications, and was proceeding, when Crs. Nash and Holbtm interjected, "Now, don't be sarcastic." Tixe Mayor said money had been spent 01 a glass-house, and there was absolutely nothing in it. Councillors evidently got tired of the proceedings at this stage, for the discussion was not carried on. An adjournment was therefore made.