Mayor and Chamber President.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 37, 25 October 1912, Page 2

Mayor and Chamber President.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Si it, —I notice in jour paper of the 22ml that Mr Webster goes out of his way to make a sta f emei t about the recreation ground This gentleman first of all accuses mo of making a statement that was not the truth. The facts of this business are that Mr Dunn, our late Mayor, agreed to art in conjeno'ion with the President of the Chamber of Commerce with the one idea of trying to get as much i as possible from the Government put I on the Estimates fox' a recreation j ground for Pukekohc. Mr Dunn having resigned before anything was j done the Council did not know if the Government had decided to grant auv money or not. Su it was decided by the Council that Councillor Comrie and my«elf interview Mr Webster and iiml out if a reply had been received from Mr Massey or anything had been done. In due course we met Mr Webster in Mr Comrie's offico and asked for the information. That gentleman rofused to give us any information whatever. He said he would be prepared to give the information to Mr Dunn only, but ou after consideration he said if I would come by myself ho would tell what reply he had received. This I refused straight out to do, considering tint if the knowledge Mr Webster possessed was of such a private character as not to allow Cr. Comrie to hear about, it was of no use to me. Wheu wo found it was ijuite impossible to get any information we decided to write to headquarters as reported by me in open Council, and wo now have all the information we require without the assistance of Mr Webster. In conclusion I would like t > point out that it is such statements as the one referred to that keeps the best men out of public life, as the average public man, although thick in the skin, does not like to be accused of telling deliberate untiuths when he and those that are associated with him know perfectly well that the accusations are baseless aud false. I am, etc., C. K. LAWPIE.