THE MAYORALTY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 47, 19 November 1926, Page 10

THE MAYORALTY

CIVIC LEAGUE AND MR. NORWOOD The following further statement has been drafted by the Civic League, signed by the president (Mr. J. 11. Whittaker) and the vice-president (Mr. T. Gray) for publication :- Having read the Mayor’s reply to our league’s statement, we think the same is very weak. It is only necessary to correct some ot his numerous mis-state-ments, which we do as follow: — 1. The statement which appeared m the league's name was not from its secretary, but. a considered pronouncement of the executive decided on at a meeting. 2. The league’s records show that election matters were first considered at a meeting on August 19. It is therefore unlikely that Hie Mayor was first consulted in June. 3. The league nowhere says that a conversation took place between the Mayor and its secretary regarding the former’s trip to Sydney. Mr. Norwood has no right to represent the. league as stating something it never said. 4. The question, after all. of whethei Mr. Norwood was interviewed in June or August is a mere quibble. .5. The material fact is that, on his own admission, he was paid tlie courtesy of being consulted twice when no one else was consulted even once. That was clearly showing proper courtesy to the office of Mayor. 6. In return for this courtesy. Air. Norwood publicly represented that the league, in consulting him, did so with an ulterior motive, • which was surely a discourtesy on his part. 7. The present statement ot tfie Mayor that a “demand” was made on him is contradicted by his own language, where ho said: “They (the league’s officers) asked me if I was going to stand.” Surely Mr. Norwood recognises the difference between a question and a- demand. 8. As showing how careless Mr. Norwood is in his reply, bo says: “The officers in question wailed upon me two or three days prior to their announcement of their selection of Councillor Troup." The actual fact-' are that Mr. Norwood was interviewed on October 11. and Councillor Troup was chosen by the league.on November 3. 9. Air. Norwood asks, "Is thc-'O no dignity about tho office of Mayor of this city?” in a way to suggest that any criticism of the occupant of this office is an attack on the office, and on tho city. To admit such a thing would be to stifle all right of public comment on any Mayor’s actions, which is positively ridiculous • 10. To represent that the Civic League in choosing its own candidate is dictating to other people, as tho Mayor ie doing, is most absurd. Everybody has a right to choose and recommend whom they please, as has been done by Mr. Norwood’s own supporters. If there is. dictation anywhere it is in the attempts being mad; to represent the exorcise of this right as if it were an offence.