Taranaki County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 63, 8 February 1895, Page 3

Taranaki County Council.

THE CHAIRMAN’S VINDICATION. ’ (Daily News.) There was a split at the Taranaki County Council meeting on Monday, the rock on which the Council struck being the appointment of the Parihaka Foreman and the subsequent controversy that has taken place in the Press. The Chairman (Mr Bewley) introduced the matter. He said: Gentlemen, —Before the ordinary business is taken, I have a personal matter to bring before you. Most of yon have, no doubt. seen the correspondence that has taken place in the Press with reference to the appointment of the Foreman in the Parihaka Riding and others connected with my position as Chairman of this Council. Now, I cannot rest under the charges that have been made in print by two of the Councillors—that I have used my position dishonorably, for that is practically the charge brought against me. You are perfectly well aware of the circumstance, and I wish you to simply say whether I have or have not ab.used my position in the way suggested in the letters. The charges are distinctly untrue. On no occasion have I knowingly used my place towards one side or the other. If I have, it has been rather in the direction of favoring the Parihaka Riding, and I understand that has been commented upon. When I was appointed to the position of chairman I felt, after visiting Parihaka, that the riding had not received the consideration in the past it was entitled to, and I desired to bring about a better state of things. Among the other charges that is brought against me is that of being responsible for the blunders made in connection with the Eltham Road Loan. The blunders made were the blunders of the members of the Council not one of them was made by myself. You might say I am responsible for the blunders as your Chairman, and you have a right to call upon me for an explanation, but having given that explantion iny responsibility ceases.

Mr McCollum : I would like to know, Mr Chairman, If Ihere is anything before the meeting. The Chairman : I claim that I have a right to place this matter before the Council. If I have to vacate the chair now there would be no chairman and the business of the council ceases. If any resolution is brought forward I will not vote. Mr McCollum contended that there was nothing before the meeting to discuss. Mr Peters: I have a motion Mr Chairman, It is, that you will temporarily vacate the chair until this matter has been rectified. Mr McGloin ; I do not think he has a right to leave the chair; We will require his services a little longer. Mr Peters, in speaking to the motion, said it was only fair to the Chairman that this matter should be threshed out, so that his character could be vindicated. The Chairman stated that he was quite willing to vacate the chair if the meeting thought pruper. Mr Horrocka said he sympathised with the Chairman, and it was only right that that gentleman should know whether he had the support of the Council or not. As far as his personal knowledge went he could safely say that Mr Bewley had carried out his duties in a straightforward and thoroughly conscientious and honorable manner, and it was, he considered, the dutfy of the Council to pass a vote of confidence in the Chairman. He added that as far as the members knew he had exercised his functions in a proper manner, and therefore moved, “ That Mr Bewley, the Chairman, has the full confidence of this Council. 1 '

Mr Peters had much pleasure in seconding the motion. During the time he had;been a member of the Council he could hooestly say that the Chairman had exercised his duties most impartially. Mr McCulium: I rise to a point of order. I wish to ask if this is ordinary or extraordinary business ? The Chairman : Extraordinary. Mr McCulium : Then it cannot be dealt with.

The Chairman: The matter can be dealt with by the consent of the Council. Mr McGloin : Then I say it is most irregular. Mr Connett: We want this matter threshed out. Mr McGloin: It has been threshed out. Mr Connet: Well, we also want the truth. Mr McCollum: And you’ll get the truth. After some further discussion, it was

decided that Mr Bewley should vac ite the chair, a d Mr Petois, was v-tel, on Mr liorro jlvs’ motion, to the position. Tin Acting-Chairman said the quo-Lon was one of privilege, or in might s <y the vindication of the cluti'--mau’s character, which had beeu assailed. He was prepared to hear any resolutions. Mr Hoirocks then formally moved —“ That the Council Ins full confidence in Mr Bewley as Chairman, and the members in no wise think the recent allegations that have been made in print have any weight.” Mr Okey seconded the motion. Mr McGloin; said he did not think the chairman had done right in vacting the chair. The Acting-Chairman ; I wish it to he clearly understood that this is a question of privilege. It is not business, but the Council is asked to say whether the, statements made are true or not.

Mr McCullum : Then if there is no business before the Council wc might as well leave.

The Acting-Chairman : You are quite at liberty to leave, Mr McCullum. Mr McCullum : What is the question of privilege ? The Acting Chairman : The chairman is accused of partiality. The Council is to decide whether he has exercised his functions partially or impartially. Mr McCullum; Well, as I have private business of far more imporancc, I might as well attend to that. The Acting-Chairman: I repeat that you can leave if you like,

Mr McGloiu said he would. like to make a statement to the Council. He would say that he was quite prepared to prove the statements that he had made in the Press, and he would challenge anyone to say they were not true. Take the Eltham Eoad Loan for instance, was it not because of blunders on the part of the chairman that fresh advertisements had to be put in the Taranaki News and Budget aud thus not only delay the matter but put the Council to extra expense. Then, as regards the appointment of a foreman in° the Parihaka Riding, the man stated that he was appointed. The Acting-Chairman: You are talking of “ the man,” I hope you are not alluding to the chairman. Mr MeGloin : No, t j the foreman. Continuing, Mr MeGloin said that no man of common sense would appoint a commercial traveller as overseer in a riding, aud making such an appointment the interests of the Council had been ignored; In la<.t he would say, if it were not unparliamentry, that Mr Bewley ought to be ashamed of himself, but as it was unparliamentary he would withdraw the remark, and simply state it was very discreditable (laughter), and as a civilian he (the speaker) would not staud it. He never said anything behind a man’s back, what he was not prepared to prove, either in the witness box or on the floor of the Council, and he was prepared to prove what lie had stated in the Press. With reference to tho Kaihihi bridge, Mr O’Brien had reported on its dangerous state and sent the report in to the Chairman but no notice was taken of it. The result was that an accident happened, and he ventured to say that had that man been, killed the Council’s chairman would have been responsible for his death, as he had neglected to see to the repairs. Mr Bewley: The report did not reach me. The Acting-Chairman : You will have a chance of replying to the statements presently, Mr Bewley. Mr MeGloin : the letter was posted at Opunake, and delivered at New Plymouth— The Acting-Chairman: Will you confine yourself to the point, Mr McGloin, Mr McCullum : Give the man a chance. Mr MeGloin then proceeded to refer to other matters. He stated that £2O was voted by the Council for the purpose' of suing defaulting ratepayers, but the chairman quietly cracked his fingers or walked down the street with his eyes shut and took no notice of the matter. He alluded to some alleged neglect with regard to a culvert at Eahotu and other matters, and concluded by stating that such things could not be tolerated even from an amateur chairman. The Acting-Chairman I hope you will withdraw that, Mr MeGloin. The chairman was elected by a majority of the Council, thus showing that he had our confidence. Mr MeGloin : I will not withdraw. ‘ Amateur ’ is parliamentary. Mr Peters : An 4 amateur ’ chairman does not exist, and I must ask yon to withdraw, Mr MeGloin : There’s an 4 amateur ’ in every profession—even an 4 amateur’ pugilist. (Laughter.) The Acting-Chairman: Mr McGloin, I will not bandy words with you. You are requested by the chair to withdraw your remarks, and a gentleman of your manners should withdraw. Mr MeGloin : I would withdraw at once if I thought the statement was unparliamentary. The Acting-Chairman : I hope you will withdraw them without any further trouble.

Mr McGloin : As you are so very strong on the matter, Mr Chairman, and as you rule ‘ amateur ’ unparliamentary, I withdraw, and substitute by saying that the chairman did not understand his duties. (More laughter.) Continuing, he said he had nothing to say against Mr Bewley privately, but he was speaking of him as chairman, and he would move —“ That in the opinion of this Council Mr Bewley has utterly failed to carry out his duties as chairman.” Mr McCulium seconded the amendment. Mr Tate supported Mr Horrocks’ resolution. He certainly did not agree with discussing these matters through

tl.e press, a> the 11 orof h -Cmv il win the proper place. Mr IVtcth n referred to the i-ta omeuts made by Messrs McGloin and McCuJum respecting the Waiter i repres o..tativi p, to which bo to k cxcepti' n, sta'irg that he was prepared to justify any action he bad taken in matters connected with the Council, and when he

was found to have done anything dishonorable he trusted the ratepayers would move in the matter. If such an injustice had been dohe to the Parihaka Riding, as the representatives alleged, then their remedy would have been to have brought the matter up in the ordinary course and not do as they had done. Mr McGloin: Is he reading or speechifying? * The Acting-Chairman : Order. Mr Connett was quite in accord with the resolution. Everything that had been done by the Chairman in connection with the appointment of the foreman was fair and above board. It was in the interest of the man, and with the sanction of Messrs McGloin and McCullum, that the Council went into committee, and because those gentlemen were not allowed to have the man dismissed without a hearing they were not satisfied. He knew perfectly well that those representatives wanted another man appointed to the position. The Acting-Chairman: I cannot allow that to pass. It has nothing to do with the question. Mr Connett said he would withdraw it. Mr Okey also spoke in support of the motion. If the chairman had done wrong in regard to the Eltham Road loan, the Council was as much to blame as Mr Bewley, and he (Mr Okey) was quite prepared to take his share. (Hear, hear.) The Parihaka Riding had been treated very liberally indeed by the Council, and he failed to see what reason the representatives had of rushing into print and bringing the members of the Council into disgrace. Mr McCullum: Nonsense. Mr Connett: Well, placing the Council in a false position.

Mr McGloin: You were not game enough to take up tbe challenge. You are like the man and the planet Mars —don’t know what you are talking about. The Acting-Chairman; You have had your say Mr McGloin and don’t interrupt. Mr Adlara said tiie Council had . done quite right in referring the matter in connection with the foreman to the overseer for his report. As regards the chairman, every man was liable to make a mistake, but they must all unite and give him every assistance they could. His duties were many, and it was almost impossible to attend to all of them without something wrong happening. Mr McCullum also spoke, tracing the appointment from the start. He stated that the chairman was infatuated with the man, and no matter what Cr McGloin and himself did, they could not convince him that he (the foreman) was not a suitable party. The man had not given satisfaction, and had not done work equivalent to ’the money he received. Mr Bowley briefly replied to the statements made. He denied that he was interested in any way in the appointment of tbe man, who had satis-fied-him that he was suitable, and until it had been proved to the contrary lie (Mr Bewley) would continue to support him. As regards the Eltham loan, the blunders mentioned had been made in the office, and ho was not responsible in any way for them. He also alluded to the Kaihihi bridge, and stated that he had not received any notice of its dangerous state. As regards attending to culverts, Sec., he would point out that the Council had been crippled for funds, and it was not likely that he would incur an expenditure that could not be met.

Mr Horrocks said it was exceedingly easy to criticise, and be very much doubted if Mr McGloin were placed in the chairman’s place whether he would carry out the duties as satisfactorily. The position of the foreman of the Paribaka Riding had presented itself *o him in a rather humorous light. The man had to look after 25 miles of road. This would appear to he like so much rope wound round the unfortunate man with Mr McGloin. at one end and Mr McCollum at the other. (Laughter.) Mr McGloin: I rise to a point of order. I wish Mr Horrocks to withdraw that.

The Acting-Chairman: I do not wish any ill-feeling to be caused, so you had better withdraw, Mr Horrocks. Mr Horrocks: In alluding to the rope Mr McCollum : Withdraw. The Acting-Chairman : Yes, withdraw. Mr Horrocks: Wait a minute, Mr Chairman, J. was going to say it is impossible for the man Mr McGloin: Withdraw, I say, that is not a withdrawal; it’s only piling on the agony. The Acting - Chairman : I must insist on you withdrawing Mr Horrocks. We are not dealing with the rope question but with the appointment. Mr Horrocks : I was going to say that I do not mean to imply that Messrs McGloin and McCullum are guilty of Mr McGloin : And I tell you I will have you withdraw that statement. Mr Horrocks : Well, I will withdraw. Instead of saying rope it should have been chain of 25 miles. Mr McGloin (angrily) : I’ll not submit to this. You shall withdraw. Mr Horrocks, continuing, said he did not wish to impute anything to Messrs McGloin and McCullum, but J was merely depicting a humorous chase of the case as it had occurred to him. Mr McGloin : Mr Horrocks is one of those humorous men, and we can afford to take it in good part. After some further discussion the amendment was put and lost, and the resolution carried on the voices—Ayes (6); The Acting-Chairman, Messrs Horrocks, Adlam, Okcy, Connet, and Tate; Noek (2): McGloin and McCullum, |