MAYOR CALLS POLICE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1931, Page 2

MAYOR CALLS POLICE

TAKA PUNA COUNCIL MEETING

. “IMPOSSIBLE.:,TO GO ON.”

DEMANDS FOR, RESIGNATIONS

(Auckland Star)

Anticipating another lively meeting, a. large number of ratepayers attended last "Wednesday’s meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council. They were not disappointed. The proceedings were electrical. A councillor who refused to sit down, hut stood for 13 minutes, arid the Mayor’s summoning of the police, were featu-es of the meeting—one of the most disorderly the council has ever held.

A long latter from the Mayor, Air .T. Guiniven-, in which he declared that in the interest® of ratepayers and with a view to better municipal adminis- j tration his political opponents on the [ council should immediatey resign, was i read by the town clerk. “As Mayor,” said Air Guiniven, “ I. am reluctantly compelled to inform Councillors Colegrove, Titchenei'j Waddell, Collins, Hart and Gibson that the time has

arrived when, with a view to obtaining better and efficient municipal administration, they should resign, as their attitude displayed for some considerable time has been more of hindrance than any assistance to me in carrying out municipal duties.”

ONLY TWO SUPPORTERS. “The position is becoming acute of late,” , paid the Mayor, after his letter had been. read. “The.. council is divided and I have only got two supporttTsi. I esunnot gjet a> mandate from the people to carry out my work for tin; borough. 1 think that if T resigned myself, J would be returned with a bigger majority.” Mr McDonald: You’re optimistic. Mr Guinive.it: Mr Oulegrove, the deputy-Maycw. promised me loyal support, and yet he is the very one who is hardest against me. II is the general rule for the deputy Mayor to follow the Mayor and assist him in every way—

Mr Bryce Hart: Follow him blindly !

Mr Guiniven said the. councillors opposed to him gave their promise to resign il\ lie (Mr Guiniven) were elected.

Mr Colegrove: No, we did not

Mr Guiniven: Well, you all promised your loyalty and your support. You councillors do not leave your troubles in, the council chamber, but you rush into the Press and talk a lot of rubbish. That is not the proper way to go on,

Mr Colegrove emphatically denied that he had opposed the Mayor , on any policy or constitutional matter. ‘‘The day after the last meeting, when there’ was trouble and it ended in a row, I asked the Mayor if lie would see Mr Waddell and myself ana talk things over quietly, so that the-e would not he a repetition,” said Mr Colegrove, “but Mr Guiniven refused to meet me. I have never received such an insult in my life.” Mr Guiniven: That’s not right. Wliat (I did sav wa,s that I would not discuss council business with you. The council chamber is the one and only place to discuss it, and not outside in. the streeft.

Mr Bryce Hart said the Mayor’s letter was like the letter of a school teacher to a. class of naughty children. “I move that the letter be not received.”

“CZAR, CAESAR, KAISER!” Mr Titehener seconded. “We were with your Worship entirely for about two months after the election, until you received a report about the pipeline which was agaiitst your own opinion. From that on we have received nothing but insuits. We cannot go on being gagged by you, and we cannot allow any one person to be a Mussolini a. Caesar, a Kaiser and a Czar all in one.” (Laughter.) A Voice: Wonderful! Wonderful!

Air Waddell : You are a bright chairman. If a councillor interrupts lie is told to ®it down, hut you let the public say what- they like.

The A fay or: Withdraw that remark. e.

“I withdraw,” said Air Waddell. “Yoii are not a bright chairman.” “Withdraw unconditionally,” said the Alavor.

“I withdraw unconditionally,” said Air Waddell Air Titchener then referred to councillors having to put up with the “insulting, unehairmanlike behaviour of the Alavor.” Air Guiniven: You must withdraw. “Withdraw what.-’’ said Mr Ti.tchener. “You know,” said the Alavor.

Mr Titehener: Will your Worship tell me what I am to withdraw? “Sit down, Councillor Titehener,” shouted tile Mayor. Mr Titehener said that he would not bo gagged by the Mayor.

CALL FOR CONSTABLE. “I will call the police and have you removal,” yaid the Mayor. He again called upon Mr Titehener to resume hi'S seat. When lie still refused, the Mayor called on the engineer, Mr J. Bodle, as an officer of the council, to telephone for the constable. Mr Titehener: Call the police tlifen. I know w.frire I stand.

“You w'itf ! either apologise for your remarks or else sit clown, or leave the room, instead of holding up the meeting and insulting the Mayor,” said Mi- Guiniven.

Mr Titehener: You have not told me what lam to withdraw. 1 refuse to sit: down. '

“Gilbert and Sullivan simply isn’t jn if with this show,” said Mr Waddell amid loud laughter.

The engineer was absent from the council chamber for about five minutes, Mr . Titehener standing meanwhile, while councillors laughed, smiled and talked.

The large number of ratepayers present were apparently enjoying the fun and seemed to be eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the police.

When the engineer returned he said that the constable was not at home, but he was being sent for, “This has got to be stopped, ones and for all,” said the Mayor. “I’ve asked you to sit down, Councillor Titehener. You are in the wrong. “He’s standing up and growing good,” said a woman, who had plenty to say during the evening,

‘Why I am taking np this attitude, gentlemen, is because the Mayor is gagging us when we say anything lie does not agree to or with,” said Mr Titehener.

“ONLY A FARCE.” The Mayor: Will you sit down? I’ve got you under section 39. Mr Bryce Hart appealed for order. “'Phis is only a farce,” he said. “Why the policeman might be at Albany, and we might have to wait here all night. Cannot we w e get on with other business in the meantime?” Mr Titehener said lie was prepared to withdraw if the Mayo r told him wliat he was to withdraw.

“1 have asked you to resume your seat. There is only one man to conduct a meeting and that is the chairman,” said the Mayor. Alter being on his feet for 15 minutes, Mr Titchener sat down. Mr Giiiniven said matters had now reached a stage when it "'as impossible to go on. The action by the councillors concerned regarding the rocn wall at Milford was wrong, and the will of the people had been flouted. Residents of Milford had held a meet, ing and their desires that the lives of women and children should be protected had been ignored. “Why, 1 would not be human if I let that go on. I’ve got no respect for any of you councillors, apart from the two who support me,” said the Mayor, “1 would resign myself, * 110 w * would be returned with a Larger majority, only that many prominent Takapuna business people tell me to stick to my position.”

“Tliat’s what they tell us too,” said Mi - Colegrove, “You can take it from me that none of us are going to resign.

Mr Waddell: After what has gone on here lately I would very much like to be out °f all, hut f will not Resign. I. am not made of that stuff. As for the minority asking the majority to resign—well, it is the biggest joke I have ever heard of.”

Cries of “Hear, hear.” An appeal for peace and harmony was then made by Mr McDonald. ‘“Let us all forget what has happened, shake hands and be friends,” he said.

Referring again to the rock wall at Milfoyd, the Mayo r told the opposing councillors that if they had acted i n accordance with the borough solicitor's advice it would have been a different matter. He was' prepared to let bygones be bygones. LETTER NOT RECEIVED. “I have always supported you,” Mr Colegrove told the Mayor. “I have visited public body meetings with you and have never refused to assist you. There is nothing T have refused to do when you have asked me, and yet you accuse me of disloyalty to you. Tt is the greatest insult I have ever had.” Mr Waddell: The proper course is for you to resign, Mr Mayor. “I have no mandate form the people,” replied Mr Guiniven. “You have seven councillors against you,” said Mr Waddell. Mr Titchener: If you will resign, we will all resign. I 5 i Mr Waddoll: I could resign, but why let the wolves in possession and let the Mayor run the show? The nation that the Mayor’s letter be not received was carried, Messrs Clifton and Hamilton being the only ones to vote with the Mayor. The discussion then dropped. The Takapuna constable had arrived meanwhile, but he was told that he was not wanted. Mr Titchener remained. A committee comprising Messrs Hart, Hamilton and Gibson was appointed consider the question of a substitute for the demolished wall near the Pirate Shippe.