"BUTTONHOLING."

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2693, 10 July 1923, Page 3

"BUTTONHOLING."

APPOINTMENT OF POWER HOTj'SK SUPERVISOR. [NJUSTICE DONE AN APPLICANT. The usually tranquil atmosphere of the Borough Council was last night somewhat stirred when Cr. Hodgens made inferences of the "buttonholing'' of a councillor by an applicant for a position under the jurisdiction of the Council. The matter came up following a report from the electrical committee, stating that 2G applications were received for the position of supervised- at the power house, and after perusing same it was decided to ask three applicants to interview the finance committee on Friday, July G, and that all other applications be returned. Amongst those names, said Cr. Jackson, as chairman of the committee, was another which had also been set aside, because certain statements had been made regarding the habits of the applicant in one particular direction. However, these statements had been proved to be incorrect and the application was again placed before the committee for consideration. Cr. Hodgens alluded to the fact that an applicant could not "buttonhole" a member of the Council in regard to any position he sought. This was a very drastic provision embodied in the Council's constitution and should not be entertained. By way of explanation, Cr. W. T. Fitzhorbert said the applicant had called on him on business, and quite informally mentioned that he had an application in for the position. Later, when Cr. Fitzherbert heard a casual remark that the applicant had been turned down because of an alleged weakness in a certain direction, he immediately denied the allegation, as ho had known the man for years. Cr. Jackson said he had been responsible for the application being put aside, because he was told that the man's habits did not suggest fitness to hold the position, in the best interests of the Council and the people it represented. He was then requested by the Mayor to make further enquiries, with the result that it was found that the applicant had been clone an injustice. Cr. Hodgens explained that although the explanation given might be perfectly satisfactory, it was the kind of thing which lent itself to deduction by others. He favoured calling for freah applications. Cr. Oram considered that the man should not have been thrown out in the first place. Cr. Hodgens moved that the clause be referred back to the committee and that fresh applications be called. Cr. Oram seconded. Cr. Jackson reminded the Council that the information he was working on came from the Council table of the previous Council. The motion was lost, and the applicant is to be -' -nsidered.