No Political Spleen

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 20, 8 February 1937, Page 7

No Political Spleen

COUNTY COUNCIL & GOVERNMENT Mr Logan Watching Interests of Ratepayers DEFENDS HIS ACTI0N That there is absolutely xxo political spleen between the council and the Government arising out of the recexit differences regarding the Pakowhai road and the controversy over the statenxent of the Hon. W. Nafch on the Government's attitude towards unpaid rates on Crown lands was an assurance given at today 's meeting of the Hawke's Bay County Council* The chairman, Mr F. B. Logan, warroly defended the action he had taken in the controversy whieh had been in progress between the Hon, W. E. Barnard and himself during the last two months. "As you are aware," he said, "there has been a controversy between Mr Barnard and myself, as chairman of this council, for the past two months over the interpretation of a statenxent which I claim was made by Mr Nash in the Hou.se in regard to the Government's attiiude towards unpaid rates on Crown lands," eaid Mr Logan.

"There is no doubt that the statement I refer to was made, for I have seen it reported in, many of the leading newspapers; but it now appears that it may be in the form of a xiddle the interpretation of which caniot even be elucidated by Cabinet itself. So we must just wait until Mr Nash returns to New Zealand for a solution of the conundrum. ' iglain aud Straightf orward. ' ' "in paasing, I must say that the wording of the statement is plain wud stfaightforward and would not give the man of ordinary intelligenee any idea that there was a. second ineaning to it. Well, we shail leave it at that for Ihe time being. "Shortly after the beginning of this controversy the Minister of Lands, Mr Langstone, was drawn by Mr Barnard 's asking him what the Government 's attitude was towards unpaid ratea on Crown lands. To this question the Minister gave no answer, but he dived headloug into a lengthy statement regarding the council 's wonderful treatment at the hands of the present and late Governments. He quoted a mass of figures showing that our position was, or should be, the envy of all other loeal bodies. "This mass of figures, though perhaps impressing the minds of some, caused the county clerk and myself the utxnost astonishment, for they were entxrely meaningless on account of their being grossly inaceurate, to say the least of it. Consequently Mr O'Connell and I felt it our duty to our ratepayers to set out the true position. Who would not have acted similarly under the circumstances 8 "By this aetion, Mr. Barnard says, we are carping at the Govornment and the member and that we may achieva nothing. Trustees For Ratepayers. "I may say that had the National Party been in power I would not for a moment have any of its members' inis-statements to go unchallenged. Our position as trustees for the ratepayers is a responsible oue, and it demanas our utmost efforts to safeguard their interests. I have always kept this viewpoint steadily in front of me sxnce I have been member of this council, and 1 will continue to do so to the end." "It is a matter of very great regret that tho differences between the council and the Minister of Publie Worns should appear in the minds of some ro flavour oi political spleen," said Mr, M. S. Chambers. "We have had great differences on some matiere witn the previous Goverxxment# but there was no feeling of any political spleen in any way. I hope that Mr. Semuio wili be big . enough i 0 see that there is nothing in the way of political spleen connng into the matter at alL We are out for the good of the district. and I hope that when he comes on hlt visit next month he will be convincea of that. "I am only too willing to pull ln with the Government for the geod vt the ratepayers. I do take objection to a Ministei of the Crown quoting maeses nf figures to try to prove sometning that we are not," added Mr, Logan,