CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 18 June 1907, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the. Editor. Sir, — I noticed in your report of the Council meeting of Friday last that the- Mayor and two of the Councillors rather severely criticised the action of / Messrs: Hanson^ Petftt .and myself in retaining 'office oil . ttte' Hospital .and Charitable Aidv Board, afte* *Ufejii at the recent Council v.; election, .and .1 should like with" your', permission to make a few comment^. I was . considerably surprised^ to:.' notice the part the Mayor took" in the : discussion, for when he was last defeated 'try Mr Baige'ntt (in 1904) he retained 'the XJhairmanship of the Board until the follow* ing November, when his terra expired. It is trtte iJiat I stated in the Council - my belief .in the principls of direct representation oii the B'oarU, afid it was because of that , belief that.l placed my resignation in 'the hands of the members: who refused to accept it. . They pointed, out that the retirement of tie tj^ree towph. members ' would cause an unfortnnfife break in some important ;.work in which we ki& fit present engaged, : and that it would be Cofiufr cive to the economy and good adminiftration of the Board that we should remain until ■ November. The Mayor contends that we should have placed our., resignations jn the hands of the City Council. . But, Sir", that would have bae"ft irregular, for we. were not appointed by the Coulicil. /but were elected by the Board, and* there"* fore our resignations were handed to the latter body. You will find, Sir, -a full report in your paper of thp Board's hieeting at which -our resignations were" cdilsidgrgfL Some of the -metaißett; of the 1 Council apparently do not kliow that the Beard may elect whom iti ivlshesj and is riot bound to elect frbrij the) Gity Council. Any resident is eligible. ■.'-.- The Mayor says we show bad taste, but I do not think that statement will disturb our equanimity, for after recent events we -could no more accept his Worship --as aa "arbiter ' elegantiarium" than •we.coula Cft Fi[Sjlttlyn as an authority on "Civic RjgnteqSS' ness." . It may interest your- readers to know that a similar position wee created in Wellington- by the recent elections, and there the Council passed a resolution • asking tbp old reprfesenta- 1 Council on the Board. .. .' ■ i Personally (and I believe I am voicing the feeling of the .other, two members referred to), I should riot have resigned if the motion had been carried on Friday last, for it was too clearly the outcome of personal animus, and not even a shadow of reason was brough forward in support. The Board at present is busy with a scheme for building a new afid more sanitary. ''Home for the Aged," whict is ay crying necessity. We have all th< details at our. fingers' eiids, and cai carry out -the scheme'; ffiofe' Expeditious' ly than if fresh representatives wew appointed- new to the work. -. I believe the standard of any civilisation may in a. measure be giiaged by the care bestowed on the aged of the community, and if we are to be. judged by that standard it is imperative that a new and .brighter home should be . provided without^ delay. In. conclufflon, Slf, let me repeat' that as our resignations wers considered..by the responsible body, and we were, then asked, tq continue sitting as members,: I shall do- so until my term expires or the hew building is completed, . notwiffastanding " any amount of criticism which may be directed against us- ' Thanking the majority of the Council for their remarks, and you, Sir, for your space, I am, etc., HARRY ATMORE. '-■ ■ s