IS HE A COUNCILLOR?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1068, 11 July 1912, Page 2

IS HE A COUNCILLOR?

A pbcuuae position has cropped up in the Pahiatua Borough Council over the election of a councillor. In May last Mr J. I. Fox —who by the way, is not unknown in this district, where he laboured some years ago as a lay brother in the Anglican Church—-was elected unopposed to the Council. At Monday night’s meeting of the Council, a letter was received from a resident ot another town questioning the right, under the Municipal Corporations Act, of Cr Fox to sit on the Council, as iu view of a re-cently-published statement, he had not at the time of his nomination been granted letters of naturalisation. The reading of the letter created some surprise. Cr Fox, who had just entered the room, said the matter came rather as a bombshell to him. It came from a friend and had to be taken as such. The Deputy-Mayor asked Cr Fox it he had the naturalisation papers before the election. Cr Fox explained that prior to his nomination for the seat he had taken the oath of allegiance, and applied lor letters of naturalisation. He believed everything was in order, and that he could sit on the Council. He explained there had been some delay in receiving the papers, and when subsequently he enquired at the office of the Minister of Internal Affairs he was informed that they were waitiug till they signed a batch of naturalisation papers. As an objection had been raised, he thought the proper course was for him to retire from the Council. Cr Billy pointed out that a councillor who was not naturalised was liable to a penalty of It was iu the interests of both Cr Fox and the Council that the matter should be ventilated. Cr Fox considered it would have been only fair that those who raised this question should have come to him before and made inquiries. It cast a slur on him. Crs Hewat and Lilly assured Cr Fox that there was no personal element in the matter. Cr Fox said he would resign. Mr Fox intends to take legal advice on the matter. It appears to us that once a man has taken the oath of allegiance he becomes a British subject, and the delay of the Department in gazetting same should not be allowed to invalidate his election.