"NOT RECEIVED,"

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13605, 26 November 1907, Page 6

"NOT RECEIVED,"

LABOUR LEAGUE LETTER.

.REGARDED AS IMPERTINENT. Last week the City Council declined to "receive" a letter from the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, owing to the " impertinent" terms in which it was couched. Another instance of p. local body refusing to receive a communication addressed to it occurred at'yesterday's meeting of the council of the Chamber of Commerce. The letter in this • case was from the secretary of the local branch of the Independent Political Labour League, who wrote conveying a resolution passed at an open air meeting regarding the action of the Chamber in sending a deputation to the Harbour Hoard in respect to a suggestion to place gates at the entrances to the wharves.

The letter ran as follows: —

At a meeting: of citizens held at the wharf last Sunday it was resolved to ask the liarhour Hoard not to grant the request of the deputation from tho Chamber ot Commerce to erect gates on the wharf, and so deprive the oity people of their health resort, enjoyed by them for the last 40 years. Also, they resent the insult by a body of men catling themselves gentlemen that the worker* are a loafing class and pilferers of sardines and pineapples, and sincerely hope the Harbour Board will.not grant such an undemocratic request. We would also like you to produce your title deeds to your imaginary private property.

'.the Chairman of the Chamber (Mr. N. Alfred Nathan) said that in sending the deputation to the Harbour Board there had not been the slightest intention of depriving the public of the right of promenading the wharf. Mr. J. B. Macfarlane endorsed the chairman's remarks, and stated that even if gates were placed at the entrances to the wharves it was not intended to. shut the people out. He referred to the system in Wellington, where, he said, there were gates, but where the people were not denied admission to the wharves. The gates would merely furnish a means of regulating the traffic, and enabling an eye to be kept on the class of people going on to the wharves.

Mr. Bart. Kent said that there was no reason for the writing of such an impertinent letter. All that was desired was to have the power, in the case of fire, or other special occasions, to regulate the traffic by closing the gates, and also to prohibit smoking and the use of wax matches on the wharves. Another letter of an impertinent character had been sent to the City Council the other day, and he was very pleased at the dignified attitude on the matter which had been assumed by the Mayor.

On the motion of Mr. Macfarlane, seconded by Mr. Kent, it was resolved that the letter be " not received."