PALMERSTON BOROUGH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 59

PALMERSTON BOROUGH

THE COUNCIL ASKED TO RESIGN.

Special to the “Mail.”

PALMERSTON, March 30.

At a representative meeting of about 400 ratepayers to-night, the manner in which the Borough Council has conducted its business during the • past twelve months was severely criticised. The chairman (Mr W. Park) remarked that matters had reached a stage at which interference by the ratepayers was warranted. He was supported by numerous other speakers, and the meeting was practically unanimous in passing a resolution condemning the Hokowhitu site for the abattoirs, requesting the Minister of Lands to exercise liis right of veto in regard to the site, and demanding that a poll should be taken as to whether the 'Council should delegate its powers in connection with abattoirs to the Lpngburn Freezing Company for a period of three years. There was some uproar when a resolution was proposed calling upon the councillors as a body to resign and give the electors the opportunity of approving of their actions or otherwise. A question from an ex-councillor demanding the reasons for the motion led to some plainly-spoken utterances, condemning the policy of the Council ever since its election, and on the motion being put it was carried by an overwhelming majority, only a few persons dissenting. The Mayor's name was omitted from the resolution, as he is going out of office at the end of April. Resolutions were also passed stating that it would be a mistaken policy to curtail the size of the Opera House, and urging that a further lean should be raised to provide for a building sufficient to meet the accommodation required during the next twenty years, also that the loan for the protective works at Hokowhitu should he raised over the whole borough instead of a special rating district. .h.' It was decided to request that, th° questions to go before the ratepayer! should be submitted at the time of 'trie vote for the Mayoral election.