Whangaroa County Council.

Northland Age, Volume V, Issue 16, 7 December 1908, Page 5

Whangaroa County Council.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I notice that in your “ Age ” of 90th ult. you print a letter from “ One Who Looks On ” concerning the Whangaroa County Council which is calculated to give the public a false impression of the actual facts. Your correspondent states that “ after a stormy debate ” "the majority in their wisdom decided to elect the most intelligent of the Councillors as their Chairman for the ensuing year.” Upon the face of it this is nothing more nor less than a very thinly veiled sneer at the present Chairman, but, in my opinion, your correspondent has unwittingly spoken absolute truth, if he refers to the relative intellira of the two nominated candidates the ohair, vis., Mr. T. S. Hayes and Mr. J. Hare, jun. The former in the opinion of most people represents sound common sense as against an inflated idea of self-importance. The equally truthful statement that "compliments” were

freely bandied about refers wholly and solely to the ex-Chairman, who, in his chagrin at defeat, gave a prompt justification—by means of his intemperate and unwise statements—of the action of the Council in depriving him of the Chairmanship, which office should only be held by a man who has control over himself, and who therefore has a chance of controlling others. ■ The expression of regret which concludes your correspondent’s letter that “a combination should be formed with the intention of ruling the whole County ” may be passed over for what it is worth in the opinion of any intelligent person, as may also he done with the final threat of afightfrom thesoi-disant “minority.” —I am, etc.. ONE WHO WAS THERE.