THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1926.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4982, 2 June 1926, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1926.

BRICK AREA BY-LAW. We cannot, allow the castigations contained in Cr. G. P. de Castro’s letter to pass unheeded, otherwise quite tin erroneous opinion may be formed on the matter under controversy. There are many statements put forward by him which are not correct, and his letter shows evidence not only of bad judgment, but of an inability to appreciate fundamentals in the bylaws and a total lack of knowledge in regard to the purpose and power of the, Press. He hag also put forward personalities, to such an extent that he has strengthened our conviction that he was swayed by personal feelings. We fail to see. that there was any personal reproach whatever in our remarks, and men of integrity, and especially “old residents,” should know that the public actions of men holding public positions are watched, and are; at all times open to criticism through the Press. The charge levelled at us of “publicly slandering councillors for expressing their honest opinions” is a very wild one, as also is his charge; of insolence.' We claim to be above making spiteful and slanderous statements in our editorial column, and must refute the charge which Cr. de Castro has levelled at us. The Press is the only articulate voice of public opinion, and its authority .to deal with and watch over the interests of the public is beyond question. Were it not for a Press bold enough and strong enough to expose and attack wrong-doing, what would become of our town if it ever got into the hands of councillors who deify their own by-la.ws and the advice of its solicitors. Let us hope, therefore, that the tongue; of the Press will never be cut out. Just how Cr. de Oa.stro puts the “Gazette” down as being “purely a party organ” is difficult to understand. His reasoning in this is hard to follow, as we are not aware of any party being in the; council'. In this case we are supporting a minority vote of the council because we are firmly of the opinion that the minority is right. Cr. de Castro states that ‘‘the legal opinion expressed by the solicitor to the Municipal Association does not count, 'for much in this instance, because in my opinion, and that of other councillors, the whole peculiar facts of this application were not fully placed before him.” This is a very direct insult to his Worship the Mayor, and imputes bias on his, part,. This We must take exception .to, as the report published showed that His Worship had taken very considerable trouble over thq matter so that the council ccrild act in and strictly by its by-laws. Cr. de Castro had the right, to challenge I

the letter at the council meeting, but he; did not do 'so, and it is a gross breach to make such a charge against the Mayor in the columns of a newspaper after a decision has been arriv-. ed a ; t. The point, made is that the building in question was not to be placed on the front street line, and that in his letter to the solicitor to the Municipal Association .the Mayor withheld the information. The position, however, is that, the brick area extends to a depth of 85 fee.t from the front line of the main street, and it cannot be said that the rear 35 feet are any less in the brick area than the 'front 50 feet. The principle of building in wood and iron in the brick area, must be exactly the same whether it is on the front or back line, and irrespective of whether it is a workshop or any other kind of shop. While the present by-law remains it should be enforced without fear or favour. The statement made by Cr. de Castro about the shop being empty further conclusively proves that he has not viewed the position ’from the right angle, and he should not have been influenced by this aspect of the question. It appears that the application wa.s an attempt to defeat the by-laws, and it succeeded because the majority of the councillors surrendered a principle for an expediency. Our motto is "Public Service.” and from that, standpoint we reaffirm our position and state as strongly as we can that the decision of the majority in this instance was aga.inst. the public interest.