WARM DISCUSSION

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 3075, 26 June 1923, Page 4

WARM DISCUSSION

APPOINTMENT OP COUNTY ENGINEER

PROTEST AGAINST IRREGULARITY. At last Friday's meeting of the Matamata County Council the chairman (Mr J. W. Anderson) and Cr .Stopfortl reported upon the visit to Taranaki, where an inspection of the work of Mr Fitzgerald, engineer to the Eltliam County Council, was made. The chairman remarked that he read of the appointment in the press. This should not have appeared, although the ap pointment of Mr Fitzgerald was assured, as the majority of the Council was c in favour of such. Cr Stopford admit®**'' ted that he gave the information to tlnj^f

press, and explained wily he had done

Cr Darby, without prejudice to Mr Fitzgerald, said he emphatically protested at such proceeding. He pointed out that a committee was appointed to inspect any work necessary, and to report at the next meeting of the Council. The engineer was not yet appointed, and could not bo so until to-day. He moved that an emphatic protest, be made against the irregularity displayed by giving to the press the appointment of the engineer, and it be pointed out that no unanimously carried resolution of the Council can be varied except by the further resolution carried by the Council at a subsequent meeting. In moving the resolution Cr Darby said ?h • act-of giving the appointment to the press prior to the meeting of the Council was an insult to the Councillors who had yet to vote, as a Council, on the subject.

Cr Stopford: Oh, shut up! I gave the. press the information, and I admit it. Cr Darby: I am speaking, Cr Stopford; will you kindly sit down? Cr Stopford (addressing Cr Darby): I am not here to be insulted by you. The Chairman: Order, gentlemen, please!

Cr Darby (to chairman): Are you not here to keep Cr Stopford in order? Chairman: I am hero to keep you both in order. Cr Darby: With regard to the press bc ; ng supplied— Cr Stopford: Oh, sit down, you kid! Or Darby: Don’t you call me a kid! At this stage the chairman again had to restore order, after which many interjections again took place. In seconding the motion Cr Pohlcn said the action taken was a breach of privilege, and deserved the highest censure. The Matamata County, he said, was known as a "one man show,” and so long as he was connected with it he did not intend to be a figurehead. Cr Allen asked the councillors to be reasonable men. The mistake referred to was a technical one. He denied the statement that Cr Stopford had ever dominated the Council. After further discussion the motion was carried unanimously, and on t;hc motion of Cr Stopford, seconded by Cr Darby, Mr Fitzgerald was officially appointed.

At a later stage of the meeting Cr .Tmhi gave notice of motion to rescind the motion of Cr Darby relating to irregularity. —Waikato Times.