CR. TENNENT ADVISES CR. HODGENS

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 6

CR. TENNENT ADVISES CR. HODGENS

More Crossed Swords in City Council ROLLER WAS HIRED AT STANDARD RATES More verbal swords were crossed at the meeting of the Palmerston North City Council last evening, and the occasion culminated in Cr. W. B. Tennent advising Cr. J. Hodgens, M.P., that if he desired to retain the Palmerston electorate, he should show people that he possessed the necessary qualities. Cr. Tennent's strictures followed in quiries made by Cr. Hodgens as to the use by Cr. Tennent of a City Council roller. At the last meeting of the council. Cr. Hodgens presented a number of questions, asking that information be tabled. In reply to these questions, the town clerk last night tabled the following statement: — In accordance with the resolution moved by Cr. Hodgens on February 15 and adopted by the council, concerning the hiring of the road roller by Cr. Tennent, I hereby set out the questions moved in the resolution and the answers thereto: — Question 1: The number of times the council's petrol roller has been borrowed by Cr. Tennent for his personal use. Answer: Roller hired on five occasions. Question 2: Tho date and time charged on each occasion of such concession being given him. Answer: January 18, 1935, 4 hours, £1 4s; October 31, 1935, 3 hours, 11s 6d; January 17, 1936, 2J hours, 12s; April 27, 1936, 2 hours, 9s 6d; January 14, 1937, 2 hours, 9s 6d. Question 3: Was the roller taken out of depot or off some job to suit Cr. Tennent's convenience. Answer: No. Question 4: The rate per hour charged for such service and method of assessment. Answer: 1935 rates, 6s per hour; 1936 rates, adjusted to 4s 9d per hour to bring charges into line with standard rates fixed by Main Highways Board.

Question 5: Has the council by resolution fixed such rate at any time? If so, supply copy of resolution. Answer: No resolution fixing rates for this xiarticular roller.

Question 6: That a copy of the resolution authorising the loan of the roller to Cr. Tennant be tabled for the information of the council. Answer: No resolution.

Mr. Mansford moved and Cr. Cameron seconded, that the report be received. ’•A Childish Thing."

4 ‘l am rather surprised Cr. Hodgens has not made a statement," said Cr. Tennent. “Cr. Hodgens in bringing this matter up in the way that he has done, has done one of the most cafcidish things which have been done here fox some time. His action reminds me of a reply given to me by one of my small boys when I ask what all the noise was about. ‘He started it.' I feel that it has been done for nothing more than childish spite, and this opinion is strengthened by the fact that he brought up a similar matter about another councillor at the last meeting of the works committee in a very different manner. "Paid Me a Compliment." "In doing what he has done Cr. Hod gens has unconsciously paid me a compliment. Ever since X brought up certain matters last September he has been . scavenging to find something against me, and this is all he can find. You will agree that I have received no favours or even asked for them as a councillor. "When this information was asked for I wrote to tho city engineer as follows: Dear Sir, —W r ould you please give me in writing the following information: (1) The instructions which I gave you when asking for the use of the petrol roller. (2) Have you ever charged me less than any private citizen would be charged for use of tho roller for the same time. (3) Have you ever taken it from any council work to suit my convenience. (4) Can any citizen hire the roller on payment of the usual fee provided it is not in use by the council. (5) Is it usual for you to ask the consent of the council for such use when the usual charge is made.—Yours faithfully, W. B. Tennent. I received the following reply: Dear Sir: In reply to tho questions regarding tho hire of the small petrol idler, I have to reply as follows:—(1) You have on every occasion been most emphatic that tho roller was only to bo sent to your place when not required lor the city work; (2) the rate pf charging has never been less to you, than to any other private citizen; (3) never at any time was the roller thkeu off council work to suit your convenience; (4) the practice has been to hire the roller to any sports body, school committee, or private citizen so long as it was not in use by the council; (5) it has been the custom of the department ever since, and prior to my joining the council, to hire out plant when not in use, provided the fixed charges are agreed to. —Yours faithfully, J. R. HUGHES, City Engineer. 4 4 Typically Hodgensian. ’ * "This shows quite clearly, and without a shadow of a doubt, that 1 have been more than careful to accept nothing as a councillor which would no? be due to me as a private citizen. "Cr. Hodgens' method of raising this matter is typically llodgensian. He knows as well as I do that if he had any doubt about my dealings, he had a perfect right to ask the Town Clerk for the necessary information which would have been readily supplied; or he could have raised it in committee as fte has done other matters on previous occasions. Adept in Pathetic Style. "Before I sit down I would like to tender some advice to Cr. Hodgens. 1 know before I begin that I will be told .lsery plainly that any advice is »ut

wanted; but he has previously told Cr. Cameron the same thing m very plain language, and only a week or two ago, with sobs in his voice and almost fears in his eyes, in that pathetic style at which he is such an adept, he stated that he would not rest until he had the regard of Cr. Cameron as of old. it may not therefore be too much to hope that some night after he has realised what an ass he has made of himself he may be found tossing in his cradlfe and crying that he cannot rest until he has the regard of Cr. Tennent as of old. Therefore in that hope I tender my advice.

"At the last Parliamentary election he was elected on a 33 per cent. vote. If he desires to retain his seat he must obtain the respect and goodwill of a great many more people. The only way he can do this is by showing to them at large that he is a man and above adopting methods such as he has done in this case."

Or. Hodgens in Reply. "May 1 congratulate Cr. Tennent on the measured manner of his remarkable outburst," said Cr. Hodgens in reply. "He needs congratulating. His outburst is remarkable for this reason. Every councillor here is elected by the ratepayers, and among his duties is to listen to what ratepayers tell him from time to time. We at ihis table are naturally different in trades, temperaments, etc., but I have yet to learn that the manner in which I have pursued that duty is wrong. I am entitled to have this information and to pass it on to those ratepayers who have asked for it and drawn my attention to the matter. 4 4 Merely in. doing that I have incurred the ire and anger of Cr. Tennent. There is no doubt from the way in which it is delivered that this is a measured plan to be as insulting to me as it is possible to be." Cr. Hodgens declared that the matter into which he had inquired in committee was of quite a different nature. There was nothing unreasonable in his procedure. He had been on the council now for 16 years. He started at the bottom of the poll, but last year was in second place, a fact which suggested he had the confidence of the electors.

4 ‘l am just a little hurt—but there are no tears in my eyes—that he should think he can fix the methods other councillors must follow in seeking information. The council has a duty to perform to ratepayers, and the manner in which I sought both these items of information was correct."

Cr. W. B. Cameron thought Cr. Hodgens might have gone about the matter in the same way as he sought information on a matter affecting another councillor. It would have saved a lot of heartburning. Instead, he raised ono matter in committee, and another in open council. Cr. Tennent had fully answered the questions, and it was for the council to assure him it felt he had obtained no privilege not obtainable by any ratepayer. Cr. G. Tremaine thought that Cr. Hodgens' statement was surprising. "He suggests that a matter mentioned by a ratepayer to any councillor is sufficient reason for that councillor to bring it before the council. I agree, but that is precisely what aroused the ire of Cr. Hodgens some time ago when Cr. Tennent raised certain matters in that way."

The Mayor, Mr A. E. Mansford, said that when tho questions were raised they were confident Cr. Tennent would be exonerated from any suspicion of unfair action, and this was now confirmed. He trusted the same publicity would be afforded the clarification as was given the original questions. The council adopted the report, and on the motion of Cr. Cameron, expressed its assurance to Cr Tennent that the matter had been satisfactorily answered by the Town Clerk’s replies, and that he had obtained no concession because of iiis position of a councillor. An amendment by Cr. Hodgens that tho report tabled should bo referred to the special committee of inquiry already established was seconded by Ct. J. T. J. Heatley, but found no further support.