AN INTERESTING MEETING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14345, 25 October 1910, Page 4

AN INTERESTING MEETING.

FITZROY TOWN BOARD DIVIDED. BURKING PUBLICITY. A special meeting of the Fitzroy Town Board was held last night to consider tho questions of tho revision of tho roll and of amalgamation with Now Plymouth. Present: Messrs. L. Steolo, W. Griffiths, W. Outfield, W. Healy and F. Jackson. As soon as tho meeting opened Mr. Cutfield proposed that the board go into committee. This brought forth a protest from Mr. Healy, who considered that the meeting was of considerable public interest, and the ratepayers should know what was going on. Tho whole thing was being done in an underhand way, and instead of everything being straight there was too much holo-and-cornor business about the board’s doings, thus giving an opportunity for the “man iu the street’’ to talk. Ho could see no reason why tho reporters should not be allowed to report tho proceedings. The Chairman: Tho press never do come; this is tho first time for many months they have attended our meetmlt was pointed out that there had not boon anything before of public interest. Mr. Jackson saw no earthly reason why the pressmen should not be present. A very important question had cropped up now, as they all knew. Surely there was nothing to bo ashamed The Chairman remarked that Mr. Cutfield was quite in order in moving his motion. The press did not trouble to attend the hoard’s ordinary meetings, but had always gone to tho clerk for their information. Air. Healy: Thero was no matter of public interest.’ Ido not know what is underlying this matter. Mr. Jackson then moved an amendment that the board do_ not go into committee. Although this was a direct negative to tho motion, it was accented by tho chairman. Mr. Healy seconded tho amendment, and said that he did not wish to introduce a personal element, but he knew there would bo a majority for the motion. The chairman would carry it, although tho meeting should bo open to tho press and tho discussion published. Tho chairman was not a ratepayer, as his wife paid tho rates on the property, amounting only to Ba. A house had been erected for two years, and still tho rate was Bs. Ho wondered how many more cases there were Of that kind. ■ Tho Chairman: A good many. Have you only just discovered that ? Mr. Healy: There is something wrong somewhere if that is tho case. Tho Chairman: Why do you go for mo? lam surprised that you, as a member of tho board, do not know what is going on. You should have brought tho matter up when the valuations were being made. It was explained that some persons had not been put on tho roll for two years, as they had just missed having their properties valued for tho second The Chairman continuecl that Mr. Healy was quite in the dark. Ho had not been at all the meetings, or he would have heard a letter from tho Valuer-General read. It had boon tho same for two years, and could not bo helped unless, like tho Borough Council, tho board had its own valuer. Mr. Healy replied that they had a clerk who was supposed to know' something of, tho law, yet they said there was "nothing wrong. They were liable to a fine of £5 for not having a printed roll. Tho Chairman: You must speak to the motion. Mr, Healy replied that he was speaking of tho reason why tho press should bo admitted. The Clerk said ho would like to say a word or two. Tho board had not gone to tho expense of having a roll printed because thero had been no election. If there had been ono, tho roll would have been printed. Mr, Healy: By whose sanction? This brought an excitable reply in which Mr. Foote said; “I will not allow you nor any other member of the board to bo personal, and if you say very much more tho whole of tho hooks can go in. I don’t live by the board. If I did it would be a dammed poor living.” The Chairman, after calling for order, wont on to say that he did not knowwhy ho w-as singled out. His house, with others, was not finished in time to bo included in the roll. Why did Mr. Healy go for him? Mr; Healy; Because you are tho chairman of the board. The Chairman: Y’ou come hero with a cock-and-bull story. You say I pay Bs, whop it is something like 16s Bd. It is no fault of mine if it isn’t rated high enough. If you had attended tho meetings of the board you would havo known all about it. Mr. Jackson asked the, board not to carry Mr. Cntfield’s motion. Thero w-as not tho slightest need to .go into committee. They did not want tho public to think they had anything to hide. It looked bad. ' Why let the public think there was anything underhand? Mr. Cutfield had not given any good reason for his "motion. Mr. Cutfield did not think there was anything’underhand. He did not care what tho public thought. The amendment proposed by Mr, Jjfckson was then put to tho meeting and lost, Messrs. Jackson and Healy voting for it, and tho chairman and Messrs. Griffiths and Cutfield against it. Mr. Healy remarked that any resolution carried in committee would also havo to be carried in open board, when there could bo more discussion. He had got an opinion on the point. Ho, knew the clique was working, and had got ready for it. The Itoard then went into committee, and thus prevented the pressmen from reporting tho decidedly interesting discussion—sometimes personal and acrimonious and sometimes humourous — that followed concerning the two objects for which the meeting was called. Although certain resolutions were carried in committee the board forgot to resume in open meeting to pass these resolutions in proper form, and so tho meeting was really abortive. Owing to tho resolutions passed by tbo board not having boon reported in open Imard and formally confirmed, a special meeting of tbo board has been called for next Tuesday evening to have this done.