“THE LIE DIRECT”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10962, 26 July 1921, Page 5

“THE LIE DIRECT”

CASWORKERS' DISPUTE LIVELY DISCUSSION AT BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING. PETITION FROM CITIZENS. At last night’s meeting of the Petone Borough Council, a petition bearing the signatures of 1490 citizens was received, asking the council to hold a public meeting and place before the citizens the cost of running the gasworks and the reason for the position the council has taken up regarding the stokers. ■ Upon Councillor Anderson moving that the petition be ’ received, the Mayor (Mr J. W. McEwan) said he held that it tvae the duty of the council to place before the people any question of vital importance to them. The request, he said, was a reasonable one, and -should not be turned down. Councillor Hay said that the Mayor had been on the platform, and, surely, he had put the position befoYe the citizens in its true light and not kept anything back. Had he kept anything back, and what did he expect councillors to say to- the citizens? The Mayor claimed that he had plaoed the position of the stokers and the council before the public in a fair and proper way. There was a certain section of the council who, from the attitude they had taken up, evidently thought the Mayor had not done so, and it was their duty to show the citizens in what regard he had failed. “LOST ALL SENSE OF DECENCY.” Councillor Anderson (to the Mayor): Don’t you really think that this business should stop? It appears to mo that you have lo6t all sense of decency ; in fact, .your conduct on this question has been decidedly improper. Continuing, Councillor Anderson said that the Mayor was quite as well aware of the position as it stood to-day as other members of the council. He knew that the supply of gas was sufficient. It was being produced at no greater cost, which was remarkable, as the new employees had to be taught the particular work they were required to do. The ‘ council was sorry for the men who were nub of work, and the action the Mayo had taken was preventing them from seeking employment. The council could not go back on the men now in its employment, and it would be better for all concerned if the matter was allowed to drop. In respect .to the petition, a. counter one could, n S doubt, easily be obtained asking that a meeting should not be held. They were all aware that certain members of the Labour Party were keeping the matter alive, and some of them were not particular as to the facts contained .. in their statements. To one of them who referred to himself, ho desired to give him the lie direct. The man he referred to had said that the Mayor and Councillor Churchouse were the only Labour members on the council. Personally, he had. been president of a Labour union for many years, and was proud of that position. He had retained it in spite of all that had been said about him. The Mayor: You had better deal with that' person outside. ' Councillor Anderson stated that he would do so if the occasion arose, and reiterated that , nothing was to be gained by continuing the acrimonious discussion which was taking place. MATTER NOW SUB JUDICE. Councillor Bedingfield said that the case of the Petone gas stokers had been placed before the industrial unions, and was therefore aub judice and the council had no right to discuss the matter. The Mayor said he could not allow Councilloi Anderson's remarks to pass unnoticed. Mr McEwan claimed that he had a perfect right to express his honest opinion and to stand up for his convictions. Councillor- Anderson apparently desired that he (the Mayor) should lose some of his liberties, but, fortunately, they were living in, a free country, and a person was permitted to express his honest opinion. The discussion then dropped, and the petition was formally received.