Dvies Explanation.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 399, 12 February 1909, Page 2

Dvies Explanation.

I T .. | It has never before been our duty I to flvly contradict a pars ,a through | the Settles, and okhougb the leak is distasteful we feel thee we would bo i looking in onr duty if we allowed the uplona ion of Cr Davies in our last isaue to go unanswered. At tbe outset it might be well to quote the following p nion of a reterenca voluntarily given by a member of tbe Narracin Council of 20 yeara’ standing on Mr Pel tit’s departure for Naw Zealand :—“ I have held a seat at ’be Council table for 20 years and must give you great credit for the faithful, way ir. which you have reported the business put through the Board, not in any one instance being taken tn task for any error.” After two ing Cr Davies’ reference is that he ha be*a misrepresented. To tbi? statement we give an unqualified denial, and reiterate that “Cr Davies knew that <he people be represented would vote for only one shed, and tha at Oparau ” Ct Davies picked out one part of tha report to contradict, bu- 1 what about tne other portions—both before and after tbe abnye-quoteif sag* remarks ? If we accepted the explana tion as tendered it w ,uld prove tha tbe Sbttckr bad wilfully mig ep-e sented Cr Daviej right tur ugbon the discussion, and th i:gh preps re<l t .-hield any public persun who tntdver todly makes nowise or iuc irrect remarks wh are not going L- allow any person to brand tie repu-ts in tbt? ! paper as ** incorrect ” or u unreliable. Cr Davies right fboughcut, f uzht f one shed only at Oparau and wneu tbe chairmm said tbit “if two sb*h were i-rec ud all wo dd be catered ( r ’ doubled “if tbe money divide i if either would giva iaii-fac i n ” The chairman asked “ would it give satis faction if spent at one sbed at Opa rau ?” and Cr Davies replied “ that there wag a new road to go into Opa rau from the main coach road and when that was put through the Tt Rau a-moa people would not be inc n I venienced.” Do these remarks and ; tbe explanation agree? or is it not an attempt to use this pap*r as a scape ; goat—a position we strongly object to. i Cr Davies is y.iung in public life yet, I and we regret that be ha? started on ’ a track—trying to belittle a paper—that, unless he alters his way, must bring him to grief. There was another matter brought up by the same councillor at the last meeting, which was one of the most peculiar suggestions ever put before a local body —and it was suggested in all seriousness too. After asking for a number of minor works, the member tor Matakowhai asked if there wag not a wav by which the get iters in the Te Mata district could be supplied with the doings of the Board ? Several answers were given, one being that the best way would be to subscriba to the Skttler, whilst another was that the i Chronicle send a reporter to tbe meet- j i )g. It was eventually decided that { the matter was not one for tbe Council. No doubt the idea was to get tbe council to instruct the clerk to send ; each of Cr Davies’ supporterg at the Te Mata end a detailed report. What j a brilliant scheme I Or was it a start ' in tbe direction of having a Council Hansard published, which would be supplied gratis tn ratepayers. Perhaps ; every person would then be satisfied i with the reports.