CITY COUNCIL AND "THE MOB."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 14

CITY COUNCIL AND "THE MOB."

Sir,—ln view of the so-called democratic nature of our civic franchise, a most extraordinary attitude on the part of the Mayor and a section of the City Council is indicated by your report of proceedings at Thursday's meeting. The public of Auckland, at the civic elections, expressed most emphatically, its collective opinion regarding a certain question. What shadow of right, then, has any city councillor to consider his (or her) judgment the superior of the electors he (or she) represents—even though they be " the mob?" Some councillors appear to lose sight of the fact that they are appointed to office with the definite obligation to observe the obvious desires of the public they represent, and that it is "the mob" that owns Auckland —not the City Council. Others would do well to remember—as a matter of reason, if not of common courtesy—that " the mob" collectively has at least the mental capacity of those councillors who seek so signally to derogate it. Would it be pertinent to ask whether the electors of the City of Auckland developed into a " mob" prior to or subsequent to the recent civic elections ? One Of The Mob.

Sir, —One wonders if Mr. Entrican, when speaking so contamptuously, and Miss Melville so condescendingly, of the electors of Auckland as "the mob," at Thursday night's council meeting, had so quickly and ungratefully forgotten that it is to that "mob" they are indebted for their seats on the City Council. When the electors of this city pass a loan, or vote the old councillors back, they are spoken of, by the powers that be, as good and loyal citizens, but when the same citizens decide definitely to withdraw Mr. Allum from the council and the Transport Board, they are publicly called "the mob." I wonder when we shall be considered sufficiently calmed down and free from prejudice to vote intelligently? One of the Mob.