CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 452, 11 March 1909, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[TO THE EDITOR.]

Sir, —Can you tell me if Councillor Hennessy of to-day, is the same Councillor Hennessy who, four or live years ago, was always howling and whining about all the Borough rates being spent on outside roads and drains ? He is reported in your last issue as saying that the portion of Whirokino bridge rate remitted by the Council, when cutting over 4000 acres out of the *borough, was a scandal, and a blister that the borough was never going to recover from. What rot! The man does not know what he is talking about. I will bet him ,£5 that the amount remitted is not per year. He talked about a “stiff back” with respect to increased rates to protect the health of the people in the borough. He would agree to let us bury our filth in our back yards, and sacrifice our health rather than pay a little extra rates. The more property some people get, the greedier they are, and its time we put men in the Council who have a bigger view than Councillor Hennessy. I also think his remarks to the Mayor were insulting, and it is common talk that he has been blathering and boiling o>?er with envy against the Mayor, because the Mayor was elected first Chairman of the Harbour Board instead of Councillor Hennessy. If Cr Hennessy has the interests of the borough at heart, as he is so fond of blathering about, why does he not resign his seat on the Harbour Board while he is away for 10 or 12 months, and robbing Foxton of half its voting power on the new Board. The Act was so framed as to give Foxton two members against one from other districts, but since the Government has appointed a Palmerston North man, the action of Cr Hennessy in retaining his seat, places Foxton in a hopjeless minority ; we are to be dominated by Palmerston, and all forsooth that Cr Hennessy may tour the world as a member of the Foxton Harbour Board. No, sir, if Cr Hennessy is a man, he will resign his seat, and not leave Foxton crippled by the loss of half its voting power during the most critical stage of the Board’s existence. —Yours etc., Ratepayer.

[What led up to Cr Hennessy’s remarks to the Mayor at Monday night’s Council meeting and referred to as insulting by “Ratepayer,” was that Cr Frankland asked his Worship what the annual expenditure was on that portion of the borough proposed to be cut out. The Mayor said he did not know as no separate account was kept. The Clerk also staled that expenditure incurred was paid out of the general account. Cr Frankland then asked for an approximate amount of the expenditure, which the Mayor could not give offhand. It was then that Cr Hennessy interjected the remarks contained in our report. —Ed.H.]