GLEN EDEN DISPUTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19563, 16 February 1927, Page 14

GLEN EDEN DISPUTES.

ANOTHER LIVELY * MEETING. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S LETTER. PRODUCTION DECLINED. \ SOME HEATED EXCHANGES. After temporarily settling their differences and agreeing that it would be in the interests of the district to get along amicably, tho members of the Glen Eden Town Board last evening drifted into another warm discussion over the production of coiTespondence from the Auditor-General. Thero was a large attendance of ratepayers. Referring to his -action on the previous evening in calling a constable to remove Mr. J. 11. Hayes, the chairman, Mr. W. H. Shepherd, said had obtained a ruljng on the question and found lie had a perfect right in requesting a constable to attend to remove a member. He also admitted a mistake in that the motion for suspension was not carried. Mr. J. M. West: All! Mr. Shepherd said the board had power to suspend a member, but the chairman alone had not. As for asking a constable to attend, lie was quite within his rights on that point. A constable was obliged to remote a member. Mr. Hayes: Mr. West and I also obtained a ruling. You were incorrect, and • had no power to call a constable. Mr. West: I have no desire to be antagonistic to the chair, but I .think our chairman was a little hard on Mr. Hayes. Mr. Shepherd: I was quite correct. "On With the Business." Mr. West then urged the board to go ahead with its business and-give Mr. Hayes and himself a fair hearing. If they got a fair hearing, he would work his. best in the interests of the board. At present there were five against two. Mr. G.sH. Ambler: No! No! I object to that. Mr. West: I am speaking. You can have your say afterwards. For goodness sake, let us work in harmony. We are wasting the ratepayers' time and money. Mr. W. E. Martin: I quite agree that we should get on with the work of the district and not squabble. I also objectto the? remark that there are five to two. That is wrong, and there are only one or two occasions on which it has been so. On 50 per cent, of occasions I have voted with Mr. Hayes and Mr. West. Mr. West: With all respect to you, that was so on the old board,- but you turn up the minutes of this , board since it took control and where will you find that ? Mr. Shepherd: Do not start another controversy. Mr. West: I want this matter settled. The board does nothing. Mr. Ambler: I also object to. Mr. West's remark, I have voted on, -many occasions with them. I stand on my own judgment and members do not come into •it. t Mr. West : He cannot find any records in- the minutes of haviiig done so. Mr. Ambler": I can. Resolution Rescinded. ! Mr. 'Shepherd'said he had outlined his policy when the board began. He had asked members to cut out personalities, and told them to vote on all measures as they pleased. Mr. West : Quite true; Tho Chairman: I have tried to keep to that. You cannot say I have ever sat on you or Mr. Hayes until remarks have become too hot. Mr. West r I thank you for your remarks, but I am in total contradiction to you. I want to be respectful to the chair, but you must admit you have never given Mr. Hayes or I a chance on this board. Let us go on with the business. We have tons of work to do. Referring to the motion proposed on the previous evening to suspend Mr. West, the chairman said it would best be deleted from the. minutes' Mr. Hayes: I object to anything being deleted from the minutes'. Mr. Ambler: I move that the motion bo rescinded. t . Mr, Ambler's motion was carried unanimously. Mr. West: I move that we go on with the business of the board. The Chairman: You have held out a little bit of amity and we will take advantage of it. I hope you will live up to it. Another Argument Starts. The business of the board then proceeded. In consequence of discussion later m the evening, Mr, West stated that Sir. Martin was narrow-minded. Mr. Shepherd: We decided to work amicably. You must not use those expressions. Mr. West: I could not help it. I am broadminded. Everything went smoothly for an hour until Mr. Hayes moved that the board protests against tlie action of the chairman in withholding certain correspondence from the Auditor-General, and demands that it be produced. The motion was seconded hv Mr. West. Mr. Shepherd said he received a letter from the Auditor-General, addressed to the chairman, asking for certain information. He was in Te Kuiti at the time, but returned to Auckland and duly inquired into the matter. As it was subjudiee, he had kept the correspondence and would produce it at the proper time. Mr. Hayes: I have a letter from the Auditor-General showing that the correspondence must be produced on demand. Mr. West - It must- be produced. The chairman is the mouthpiece of the board arid anything addressed to him is the property of the board provided it is not marked private and confidential Member Holds Documents. Mr. Shepherd: I intend to hold on to it. When I was inquiring into the matter I found that certain documents in connection with this business had been taken away by a member of the board. I have informed the board's solicitor and he rules that these documents should be returned. Mr. Hayes holds them and I demand them as the property of this board. In keeping them' he has .harassed me in finding out things. Mr. Hayes: I intend to hold on to them and produce them at the - proper time. This board, is run by a caucus. Mr. Ambler; That is net true., You have no right .to 537 such a thing. I a® included in that remark. 'Mr. Hayes: Sit down. Mr. Margin stated last evening he saw the correspondence. Mr. Martin: 1 was told-the chairman had correspondence,< but knew nothing about what was in it. Mr. West : Oh, Mr. Martin, have a bjt oi seifc?. 1 Mr. Shepherd (heatedly): Mr. West, that is not respectful. We agreed to go, nlortz amicSbly. Mr, West: The correspondence belongs to tlie board. It should be on the table. Mr. Shepherd: In the Municipal Act there is a ml iris oir the subject. - Mr. West: Will vou show me the Act ?. Mr. Shepherd: We have no time to look into Acts. Mr. Il iyes: I will n> t take your word for it. On I>ejng put to the .-meeting th? motion win lost bv four votes to two, Mes.«r?. Hayes and West voting in favour of it.