FIRE RISKS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 6

FIRE RISKS.

Sir, —Quito early this morning my attention was drawn to your article on "Firo Risks;" the result of an interview with one councillor, Mr. George Frost. After perusal, I telephoned tlio said Mr. Frost and' expressed the hope that he would feel pleased with himself after reading tlio account .of his interview. Ho informed me over tho wire that it was only a joke. A ioke, indeed! If that is his idea <>f a joke it appears to me that his seiiso of humour is certainly peculiar. His attempt to hold up to ridicule one of his fellowcouticillors was quite uncalled for, and .will not, I think, succeed, but will probably recoil on his own head, because tho people will readily appreciate the position and condemn such a contemptible method in his desire to belittle me in the eyes of the public. As to facts. Let me say that I never laid claim to the idea being mine. And as a matter of fact I saw Mr. Palmer and complimented him on his recommendation, and as a doubt was expressed as to whether anything more would come of the suggestion, I told him in his office that I would give notice of motion for tho whole question to be discussed at tho next meotdii" of tho council, and he (tlio Town Clerk) expressed his pleasure at my contemplated action. "Promptly borrowed," you say. Nothing was borrowed l that I am aware of. I was merely endeavouring to give effect to what was in my opinion an excellent recommendation niadle by an officer' which ought to receive mature consideration at tho hands of the council, because I beliovedi it to bo do the interests of the citj\ My friend', Councillor Frost, says that I was guilty of a gravo breach of confidence in divulging tho contents of a confidential report. I defy him to find anything in my notico of motion bearing on the Town Clork's report, 'excepts ing the amount proposed to be set aside ; but permit mo to point out the whole of tho report is published this morning, and tendered to your paper by my accuser, and not by mo. Councillor Frost further states _ tlhat it was unnecessary for me to give notice because it was on the supplementary order paper. Now ho knows, or ought to know, that although the question of "Fire insurance" was on the supplementary order papor, that tho matter was an important one, because it involved 1 a question of policy and' could only have beeni dealt with in tho manner in which I brought it forward. Councillor Frost, in his desire for publicity and lime-light, and possibly with a riow to tho Mayoral chair next vear, ought really to bo more accurate in his statements to tho press.—l am, etc., R. FLETCHER. Wellington, August 25, 1913.