OUTSPOKEN ATTACK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 642, 19 April 1929, Page 1

OUTSPOKEN ATTACK

MURRAY INQUIRY COST £509/15/11 “TAKES THE BUN,” SAYS MAYOR There was a semi-political atmosphere about the City Council meeting last evening, and at times councillors wandered away from the subject under discussion. Tile most critical discussion was directed to the figures showing the cost of the Murray inquiry, and a feature was an outspoken attack on Cr. Murray by Cr. Phelan. In response to a question by Cr. J. A. C. Allum, the town clerk reported to tile council that the Murray charges cost the city over £SOO, without taking into account the expenditure actually incurred through loss of time by members of the outside staff, who were required to attend at the Town Hall at varying intervals. DETAILED COSTS The actual expenses were set out as follow: Town clerk’s time, £SB 12s; city engineer, £240 6s 6d; city treasurer, £9B; purchasing department, £66 3s sd; material such as stationery, £2l 12s; city solicitor. £l5O. “This is the first time 1 have seen these figures. I think it was very cheap,” said Cr. Murray, a statement which was greeted with laughter. “I saved more than that in one case,” asserted Mr. Murray. Cr. E. J. Phelan: You didn't save threepence altogether. Cr. Murray went on to detail the savings, specially mentioning the reduction of sixpence on kerbs and pitchers, and asserting that on kerbs and pitchers lie had saved the council thousands of pounds. “Well, for sheer audacity, I think that takes the cake,” burst out Cr. E. J. Phelan, as the be!l went to notify Mr. Murray that his time was up, his parting remark being an invitation to councillors to hear the truth at his meetings. “If this is a sample of the speeches b.ing delivered to the poor suffering ipablic, they have my sincere sympathy,” Cr. Phelan continued. “Mr. Murray had not the slightest thing to do with savings on kerbs and pitchers. “The committee which was set up and dealt with these was set up on my motion,” said Cr. Phelan, "and he knows that that committee effected any savings there were-—not Mr. Murray. USING MUCK-RAKE “During that inquiry Mr. Murray was using the muck-rake, and that is where we parted our weys. He then went round posing as the suffering hero. He suggested that there liad been criminal actions among officers of the council, and he was shown documentary evidence that his beliefs were ill-founded. He was not man enough to come forward and say so. When he takes credit for reducing the cost of kerbs, he is being deliberately untrue.” “I regret that other engagements prevent my attending Mr. Murray’s meetings,” remarked Cr. T. Bloodworth. Mr. Murray’s procedure, he said, merely tended to undermine local government, and bring about a dictatorship, as in Sydney. ON A PEDESTAL Cr. Bloodwortli talked out his time, and was immediately taken to task by Cr. S. I. Crookes, who accused Mr. Bloodwovth of placing himself ou a pedestal. Cr. Murray asked the Mayor If he could reply. He would dearly love to. “For absolute cheek, that takes the bun,” remarked the Mayor. “Mr. Murray has been flattened out on every count. We were glad to get kerbs and pitchers at any price at one time. It is absurd to attempt to say that we have had value for the money we had to spend on this inquiry. “Only the other day, on my usual Monday morning visit to the Zoo, before 8 a.m., I found Cr. Murray and a particular friend of his sneaking round inside the Zoo.” “Point of order!” said Mr. Murray, rising. He was ordei’ed to sit down. The discussion then lapsed.