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Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 10

FREE FOR ALL

TOPSY-TURVEY MEETING ORIGINAL PURPOSE REVERSED AUDIENCE TAKES CHARGE SPEAKER CROSS-EXAMINED The spectacle of an opposition section taking charge of a meeting, ap- . pointing its own chairman, passing resolutions approving of the very things the meeting had been called to protest against, and having a great deal of amusement in a free hall was provided last night in the North-East Valley Town Hall. Only one person even remotely connected with the organising of the meeting was present, and he spent the greater part of the night under a cross-examination that gave the 100 or so people present a great deal more entertainment than illumination. Organisers Not Present The meeting, which was called for 8 p.m., had as its advertised purpose, “ to discuss the recent Wakari purchase and voice disapproval of the present system whereby councillors are absent from the city while Parliament is in session, as well as the intrusion of party politics into our City Council.” At a. quarter past 8, up to which time most of those present had spent their time standing about the door, Mr J. E. Butler climbed on to the stage, and explained that there had been a “ terrible ipess up ” with regard to the hiring of a hall. First jof all, the George Street Hall had been advertised, but later it was found that It was not available, and the meeting had then been switched to the North-East Valley Hall. That possibly accounted for the fact that Mr IR. S. Black, one of the organisers, and the man who was to have presided, had not arrived. At this stage an insistent voice demanded to know why the meeting had been called and by whom. Mr Butler said that representatives of the ratepayers had called it. The voice: But who called it? Mr Butler: I am one of them. The voice: What party are you associated with? Mr Butler: It is not necessary to go into that. The voice: Why? Are you ashamed? ' Mb Butler: No. The voice: Well, you ought to be. Seeing that you are not much .of a speaker what about giving us a song. Mr Butler: All I can say is that the speakers have not turned up, nor has the chairman. The voice: You may be all right at, milking cows, but you are no good at talking to the community. Mr Butler: I was Mayor of Maori Hill three times. “In the Enemy Camp” Mr Butler then expressed the opinion that the meeting had better adjourn as there was something wrong. The audience agreed that there was something wrong, but, having come out on a wet night, it was by no means of the opinion that the meeting had better adjourn, and one of its numbes, Mr W. Watt, was elected to the chair, which he took with the remark that it was just like stepping into the enemy camp. He added, perhaps unnecessarily, that whoever had convened the meeting did not know his job. Under the direction of the chairman, the meeting then proceeded to discuss seriatim the questions .referred to in the advertisement, and as Mr Butler was the only one present who had had anything to do with calling the meeting he was m- - vited to express his views, first on the Wakari purchase. “It was a downright disgrace to the city,” Mr Butler said., “Two members of the council took it on themselves to make the purchase; the council was not consulted, and 1 have it on good authority that the superintendent of reserves, Mr D. Tannock, was never consulted. Somebody made a good, thing out of it—£2ooo or £3000.” When it was suggested that he should either substantiate the statement or withdraw it, Mr Butler replied that if he were given a day or two he would substantiate it. A voice: What an awful thing to do. You make a public statement and then ask for time to prove it. . Mr Butler; I can’t get proof tonight, but I am not going to withdraw it. I will take the responsibility for the statement. The meeting then unanimously passed a resolution thoroughly .approving the purchase of the property at Wakari. Lack of Seriousness A member of the audience suggested that the people had been brought to the hall on false pretences. “ The speaker has been made a goat of,” he added. “ This is not a serious meeting at all.” The next point on which Mr Butler was invited to express his views was the absence of city councillors. during parliamentary ’sessions. No reasonable person, he ■ said, would fail to support a protest against that sort of thing. A woman member of the audience asked why Mr D. C. Cameron had been asked recently to contest the Dunedin Central seat against Mr P. Neilson, M.P. Mr Butler said he knew nothing about that, but he thought that Mr Neilson, who was as “straight as a gun barrel,” should be rewarded with a seat in the Legislative Counci!!. After a man in the audience had stated that Mr J. W. Munro, M.P.. had been present at 21 out of 28 meetings held, the meeting passed a resolution expressing confidence in the members of the City Council who were members of Parliament, and thanking them for the past services and those which it was hoped they would give in the future. “That’s an awful crime, that ” commented a man in the audience when the chairman announced that the meeting would next discuss the intrusion of party politics into City Council affairs. Mr Butler intimated, however, that he did not wish to say anything on that subject. "I feel somebody has used Mr Butler to-night,” the chairman said, when declaring the meeting closed. “ I believe this is one of many meetings that will be called before- the election for propaganda purposes, and Mr Butler should be able to see from it how sincere his friends are.”