OUR FRIEND IN NEW PLYMOUTH GETS INTO TROUBLE.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 482, 6 December 1879, Page 2

OUR FRIEND IN NEW PLYMOUTH GETS INTO TROUBLE.

At the meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council on Monday last, the following discussion took place relative to the letter sent by Mr A. C. Fookes to the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce ; Mr Humphries asked if the letter that had appeared in the Herald and signed A. C. Fookes, Mayor of New Plymouth, was written by the authority of the Council.— The Mayor said if he had been instructed by the Council to write it, it would be recorded. —Mr Humphries said if he had not been instructed to send it, why had he put “ Mayor of New Plymouth” after his name? —The Mayor : I have written many letters without consulting the Council respecting them. —Mr Humphries said he did not see that he had a right to use the name of Mayor without being authorised by the Council.—The Mayor said ho should not ask the Council’s permission as to what he should write.—Mr Humphries ; You have no right to affix your name as Mayor to a letter in which yon are personal ly interested. —-The Mayor said he could write what he liked. —Mr Humphries said so lie might provided he did not add “ Mayor of New Plymouth” to his name.—The Mayor said if it was any information to the Councillors he could tell them he had also written a similar letter to the one referred to to the Chairman of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and if he wished to see the reply to it he could.—Mr Hammerton said Mr Fookes might write as many letters as he liked to the Chamber of Commerce, but he had no rigth to add the four words “ Mayor of New Plymouth” to them.—The Mayor said he should not consult the Council on the matter. —Mr Humphries moved, “ That the Town Clerk beinstructed to write to the Chairman of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to the effect that the letter signed A. C. Fookes did not emanate from the New Plymouth Borough Council.” —Mr Rennell seconded it.—Mr Humphries asked why he signed the letter as Mayor of New Plymouth.—The Mayor replied he did so simply to give weight to the letter.—Mr Humphries said the letter would tend to do the place a considerable amount of harm. —Mr Hamerton did not think that there was anj’thing in it, and it would be treated for what it was worth.— The resolution was put and declared lost on the voices.— Herald.