NORTHCOTE BOROUGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13926, 7 December 1908, Page 3

NORTHCOTE BOROUGH.

MAYOR'S RESIGNATION DISCUSSED. AT the meeting of ratepayers at Northcote on Friday night the chairman ((Mr. H. H. Hunt), on behalf of the Council, referred to the resignation of Mr. Alex. Bruce as Mayor of the borough. This. had come as a surprise to them- all, he said. The 3 reasons given by Mr. Bruce had been published in the Herald, viz., " disregard of motions passed and placed on the minute-book" and " the • looseness of our financial business." Mr. Hunt read the paragraph referred to, and also Mr. Brace's letter. The Council, continued the chairman, knew of no financial -looseness, and if there had been any it was Mr. Brace's duty to have pointed it out. The Council had worked amicably with the Mayor and treated him with every re- >~ spect, and the councillors felt that if they were carrying out the financial business loosely they were not fit to hold their positions. (Applause.) Mr. Bruce said that from the outset it had been apparent to him that the councillors lacked con- : fidence in him as the choice of the ratepayers.- In '•'•■ fact, he knew before the first meeting that it was the intention of a section to leave off the \" Works Committee. For two months past he had • not signed the cheques, material had been / ordered of which he knew nothing until the -accounts had reached him. , It was impossible, with dignity, under those conditions, to any;' longer continue in office. He had nothing to find fault with regarding the courtesy shown to him, and v was perfectly satisfied with the town clerk's ac-J-w counts, which he had just gone into ; very ex- ' ! haustively. He assured the ratepayers that Mr.•'.':;'■' Cawfcwell' was a 'good and i painstaking officer. '-.- (Applause.) ■'■■• . •" ' tu : The Chairman said Mr. Bruce had brought for- '~ ward nothing to substantiate bis charge of loose- ;! ness of their financial - business. 3 The Mayor i: I (Mr. Bruce) had initialled every - account passed: v before payment had been made, arid the Council " : -M repudiated any charge :of financial looseness, s ■ With regard to minutes passed: and disregarded, -""-'", it had been found in some cases, in the main, road and other roads, that the growers could not :' get their fruit to market undamaged,; and - the ~' order of the ;,work as . r passed had ; been , altered, I which he considered was justified. /(Hear, hear,) - - Mr. Bruce wished to reply,»biit the chairman -j ,f' ruled against him. P - : . ,;-»*, t> 'rr • >-