MAITAI LANDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 17 July 1915, Page 4

MAITAI LANDS

RECENT POLL,

COUNCIL TO PUSH ON WITH NECESSARY PROCEEDINGS'. '"':•

The Mayor and Town Clerk reported to the City Council last evening the result of the poll in connection with the Maitai lands. ■ ." ; '

The report was adopted, and a resolution authorising the necessary steps to acouire the land passed. .. The Mayor said that .if everything went favourably, and without delay, it would be November or December before the proclamation.was made. A letter was read' fromi Mi". J. M. Calder, stating that on the 9th July he received a leter from 'the Town Clerk appointing ,him a deputy : returning officer for the Maitai poll; but on Tuesday, last the Town Clerk called at his house and told him that it was' considered unwise for him <to be allowed to act, as he had taken a very active part in opposition to the Council acquiring the land and bathing holes; Mr Calder pointed out that people with, strong views on the opposite side, and who had given evidence,for. the. Cpuncil'before .the Oommissionj, were appointed > deputies. He considered a .slur had, been jcast upon his character and. integrity", and he asked the Council.to publish in both papers an apology worded to his satisfaction, and that the/fee of 15s to which he w>ould have been entitled had he acted, he handed to the Sick . and Wounded Soldiers' Fund, v

The Mayor'said'he would take /any blame, if there was any, which he did not think there was. When lie first saw the list of poll clerks on the 14th, he said he did not think it right for Mr Calder to be a poll .clerk. Not because he doubted Mr Calder's integrity or honesty, or 'fitness, but because of his active opposition to the Council acquiring the land. The Town Clerk, at his request, saw Mr Calder. In the circumstances, the Mayor considered,. the ■•.right thing had been done. Had the resultp£ the voting been close ~ -people would have complained about Mt Calder being a poll clerk. . Cr. Piper thought the Mayor had done wrong. Mr. Calder having been appointed, the . appointment should have been adhered tP. The Mayor's action was taken.top late. .. The•-Mayoi" said•.. it was late when he knew. Mr. Calder had been appointed to act! - - -■

The Town. Clerk, in a memo., said Mr Calder's letter was only a one-sided statement of what took place, and was incorrect in many \ particulars. IJ» was quite true that he wrote appointing Mr. Calder a deputy returning officer. This he did without thinking at.-the time that it would perhaps 'be better not to do so, and after 'further consideration he thought he had better see Mr Calder, and find' out what ;he, himself thought. Mr Calder said lie thought it Would in the circumstances-perhaps be wjser foj him riot to act. It was not correct that Mr. Calder questioned -the appointment of the witnesses referred to. The subjectl was not mentioned at>all: Mr. Calder made no decision at all; but said .it .was all right, and. he did riot iriind in the. least.

Cr: Mercer thought the Council should accept the Mayor's explanation. " Cr. Watson said a- mistake had been made, and naturally Mr Calder felt very sore about it.

Cr. Hampson considered that Mr.. Calder had practically.resigned' his position, as he had acquiesced in his removal from the list; and had. agreed with the view advanced by the Town Clerk. Had Mr. Calder objected' to the removal of .his name the case would have been different.

Cr. Moffatt sympathised, with .. Mr. Calder; but he would not say tho Mayor was wrong. He would very probably have acted as the Mayor did. It was unfortunate that Mr. Calder had been asked to act at all. Cr. Mercer moved' and Cr. Hampson seconded that the Mayor's explanation be accepted. The motion was carried, Cr. Piper dissenting. , At this stage Mr. Calder, who was m the auditorium, asked permision' to address the Council. v

The Mayor said this was unusual • but if the Council was unanimous Mr Calder could speak. . Cr. Hampson raised an objection, and Mr Calder was not permitted' to address the Council. . <