SUPERINTENDENT AND FIRE BOARD MEMBER.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1918, Page 4

SUPERINTENDENT AND FIRE BOARD MEMBER.

AX ALLEGATION RESENTED.

CIHI HATCH I'BCTI, Jan. 10,

Superintendent Warner in a letter read at last night’s meeting of the Fire Board, complained that a local newspaper had reported a member of the Board (Air. Grierson) as saying at tbe last meeting that. “Superintendent Warner nils piqued at the foyer of Everybody’s Theatre, and the Council should renew the license and. take no notice of the recommendation.” He contended that these remarks were spoken without knowledge, of the position, and wore unwarranted and unjust. especially in the absence of the officer concerned. Be had no hesitation in saying that the dress circle of Everybody’s Theatre could he improved by widening the cross passage-way to 5 feet. Mr. Hugo had stated it Avas a dangerous dress circle. The Avri-tcr stated that lie “welcomed honest- advice and well-meant criticism, but loathed such unseojnl.v methods of injustice as were repeatedly meted out to a responsible officer as in this instance.”

The chairman (Mr. H. Holland) said he deprecated the matter being brought up. He ihad given Superintendent Warner some advice in the matter, which apparently, he had not thought advisable to accept. Air. 11. P. Hopkins said tbe matter was not one which should be discussed in open Board. ■ Air. H. R. Rusbridge said . lie thought the fault for the ventilation of such matters lay with the person who started them. Personally, he thought the remark, though possibly thought loss, was in. bad taste," and if such a remark had been made about him he would have taken it lying down. He avos not surprised that it called forth an answer. Air. J. F. Grierson said if the Board was going to receive such a letter as that, he would certainly resign from tbe’ Board. Ho particularly objected to the' suggestion that the criticism was dishonest,, and not well meant. Mr. Hopkins said ho thought tho letter should lie referred back vo the Superintendent, who could be asked to explain to the Board Avlien he came back from his holidays. Air Grierson said Air. Warner should bo asked to withdraw it. It did not reflect on tho Board, hut merely drew attention to a remark made by a momber of the Board. He moved that the letter should bo received. The Chairman said he thought that that would ho the host way out of the matter. He certainly objected to the course indicated by Air. Grierson. Air. Hopkins then moved as an amendment, and Air G. Iverruish seconded, that, the letter be referred back to the superintendent. Air. Grierson reiterated hi s intention to resign if the .Board did not ask the superintendent to Avithdraw the letter. Tf the Board could not protect its members from remarks of such description from its officers,, the sooner -~e' Board was dissolved the better.' The amendment Avas then put and lost, and the motion, “that the letter lie received,” carried.