WARM EXCHANGE AT COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23227, 16 June 1937, Page 4

WARM EXCHANGE AT COUNCIL

Allegation Against Member

CANVASS IN NORTH INVERCARGILL PETITION ABOUT REMOVAL OF TREES An allegation that Cr A. W. Jones had been canvassing certain parts of North Invercargill about a petition asking, among other things, for the removal of the trees along Elies road was contained in a letter received at last night’s meeting of the City Council. The discussion on the letter produced a warm exchange between Cr Jones and Cr H. Ritchie, as well as provoking heated remarks from other councillors.

The letter making this allegation was signed by Messrs G. Georgeson, Elies road, W. A. Young, George street, W. Murdoch, Elies road, James Henderson, Elies road north, and J. M. Docherty. It ended by expressing the hope that the council would not be influenced by Cr Jones. Cr Jones moved that the letter be not received. In the first place, he said, it was a deliberate mis-statement of truth. He had not gone up to North Invercargill. He had had one man come up to his office who had said that he had signed the petition under a misapprehension. On another occasion he had met a man named Keyes on the street and had spoken jocularly to him about signing the- petition. The Mayor had been present on that occasion. “Moreover,” Cr Jones continued, “some of the people who signed the petition were not ratepayers. This letter is ‘blown out’ on several points. Some who signed did not even know the wording on the petition. And I wish to state that I have taken up my attitude against the removal of the trees because of my love for trees. There is nothing personal in my stand. I have, on the other hand, been in favour of filling in the drain on Elies road. But I resent a letter like this coming in. When a councillor acts according to his conscience—has the courage of his convictions —he should not be belittled, misrepresented and lied about. The statements in that letter are a deliberate misrepresentation of truth.

25 YEARS IN PUBLIC LIFE “These men have no right to say my behaviour was contemptible,” Cr Jones continued. “I am sure the councillors will not stand for such treatment of a fellow councillor. I’ve given 25 years of my life to public life. What have the writers of this letter done? They pull down and traduce a man who is doing his best in the public interests. I move that the letter be not received. Throw it away. Throw it on the rubbish heap where it belongs.” The Mayor (Mr John Miller) said the letter had been received because it had been so long discussed.. Cr G. E. T., Dorman: I submit the letter should not be received. It is all based on hearsay. The letter should be ruled out. If people want to make statements let them come to the council table. I second Cr Jones’s motion. Cr Ritchie: As a representative of North Invercargill I move that the letter be received. These men are well-known citizens of North Invercargill and are not in the habit of telling untruths. I hold these men in as high esteem as I hold Cr Jones — Cr Jones: Don’t worry about that. Cr Ritchie: There is no need to throw the letter out because Cr Jones has ‘blown a lot of hot air’ about what he has done for Invercargill. I think we should receive this letter— Cr Jones: You typed it out for them. Cr Ritchie: You’re a liar. The Mayor objected to this statement, but the discussion continued. Cr Jones: I rise to a point of order. I say deliberately that Cr Ritchie had it typed at the Building Society Office. Cr Ritchie: Will you take up a bet of £lO on that, the money to go to the hospital? Cr Jones: I was referring to the petition. Cr Ritchie: You said this letter had been typed out at my office. Cr Jones: No, the petition. The Mayor (interjecting): Confine yourselves to the issue. Cr Jones explained that he had been referring to the original petition. After some further discussion Cr Ritchie moved as an amendment that the letter be received. This was seconded by Cr J. M. Grieve. Cr Dorman rose to a point of order, stating that this was a direct negative to the original motion. A vote on Cr Jones’s motion was then taken, Cr Ritchie asking for a division. The following voted for the motion: Crs W. G. Tait, A. J. Service, A. Scott, E. J. McLauchlan, Dorman, J. R. Hanan, and G. J. Reed. “A full golf ticket,” said Cr Ritchie when these names were read out. Cr Reed: I rise to a point of order. It’s about time these insulting and dirty remarks were stopped. Cr Ritchie: The truth hurts. Cr Reed: The remark was insulting and typical of your conduct. The voting was resumed, the following voting against the motion: Crs Grieve, Ritchie, W. M. C. Denham and J. H. Tattersfield. The motion was carried. CONSIDERATION OF PETITION At its last meeting the council had before it a petition signed by 197 residents of North Invercargill referring to the removal of the trees on the west side of Elies road, the filling in of the stormwater drain on the west side of Elies road and a proposed children’s playing area on the eastern boundary of Queen’s Park. The petition and the following letter, from the secretary of the Queen’s Park Golf Club, were then considered: “I am directed by my executive to write you about the petition now before the council from North Invercargill residents. The petition covers three matters about which there would appear to be a considerable disparity in merit and, so far as the bulk of petitioners is concerned, interest. The first two of these matters do not affect this club, but my executive feels with sincerity that the removal of the trees bordering Elies road, particularly before the young belt some 50 yards or so further in has reached adequate height, would seriously detract from the beauty of the park. It has been suggested that if there is sufficient reason for the removal of these trees, Kelvin road residents could make out a reasonably better case to have Kelvin avenue removed. “The third proposal directly affects the club. In view of the various negotiations between the club and council, of the past three or four years, it should not be necessary for me to dwell on this matter. I desire to say, however, that to meet the requirements

of the council, which were the basis of the existing five years agreement, there has been a considerable outlay in altering the course to avoid crossing the North Invercargill cinder track and to provide a suitable area for a children’s playground fronting Elies road. To meet this expenditure and the work involved the club used a credit balance of £75, borrowed a like sum, and had to increase its staff. In addition a large amount of work still remains to be done in this connection and the club has faced and is facing considerably more than was thought of when the agreement was arrived at.

INTEREST OF RATEPAYERS “I have been asked to make the point that before the present licence . was granted, notice was given by advertisement and such was the time for objection. It is significant that northern cities are expending considerable sums to provide and maintain golf courses, and my executive submits that until the city can provide sufficient funds to enable the reserves department to bear fully the expense necessary for the upkeep of the park, we feel amply justified in asserting that the existing arrangement between the council and the club is in the best interests of the ratepayers.” Cr Jones said he had no objection to the petition being brought forward, but, he said, it was unfortunate that it had been couched in the wrong terms. The deletion of several names from the petition since it was tabled last meeting showed that a number of the people did not know what they were signing. As far as the trees on Elies road were concerned the work had been carried out and it looked well. The Mayor said that he had that day received information from the city electrical engineer that the work on the trees had not been carried out to his satisfaction. The resolution of the council was clear on the matter. It was time the question about the trees was done and finished with. Ci’ Ritchie pointed out the danger of leaving some of the trees untouched and emphasized the necessity of topping a further number. After further discussion it was unanimously decided to receive the petition and refer the matters in it to the appropriate committees, the petitioners to be advised accordingly. Cr Reed commenting on the drain, said it was a blot on the landscape ana should have been filled in long ago. The work should be done right away. As for the trees, he added, if an officer of the counci' had not carried out the council’s instructions he should be told about it.