COUNTY ENGINEER.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15272, 23 June 1923, Page 5

COUNTY ENGINEER.

POSITION AT MATAIWATA. A PUNGENT DISCUSSION. At yesterday’s meetng of the Matamata County Council the chairman (Mr J. \V. Anderson) and Cr. Stopl'ord reported upon the visit to Taranaki, where an inspection of the work of Mr Fitzgerald, engineer to the Elthani County Council, was made. The-chair-man remarked that he read of the appointment in the press. This should not have appeared, although the appointment of Mr Fitzgerald was assured, as the majority of the Council was in favour of such. Cr. Stopford admitted that he gave the information to the press, and explained why he had done so. 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 be so until to-day. He moved that an emphatic protest be made against the irregularity displayed by giving to the press of the engineer, and it be pbinted out that no unanimously carried resolution of the Council can be varied except by a further resolution carried by the Council at a subsequent meeting. In moving the resolution Cr. Darby said the 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 upl I gave the press the information, and I admit It. Cr. Darby: I am speaking, Cr. Slopford; will you kindly sit down? Or. Stopford (addressing Cr. Darby) : 1 am not here to be insulted by you. The Chairman: Order, gentlemen, please 1 Cr. Darby (to chairman) : Are you not here to keep Cr. Stopford in order? Chairman: 1 am here to keep you both in order. Cr. Darby: With regard to the Press being supplied— Cr. Stopford: Oh, sit down, you kid! Cr. 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. Pohlen 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 the motion of Cr. Stopford, seconded by Cr. Darby, Mr Fitzgerald was officially appointed. At a later stage of the meeting Cr. Judd gave notice of motion to rescind the motion of Cr. Darby relating to irregularity.