Manurewa Town Board.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 244, 23 January 1917, Page 1

Manurewa Town Board.

| TO THE EDITOR. | Sir,—ln your issue of January 19 th, Mr Lupton has gone to some length to explain the numerous grievances he has against the Manurewa Town Board in the manner it conducts its business, and ho sugguests that he also has to suffer much inconvenience through the actions of the chairman. In reply to his query that " if tho chairman had sevon days' notice of the special meeting, why did not all the members have the same," I

desire to say that 1, as chairman, conferred with the clerk, who explained that he had to leave Manurewa for Trentham on January 10th. I told him to call the meeting for Thursday, January 7th, and to notify the other members as soon as the books were returned from the Government auditor, which was done. Mr Lupton accepted the short notice and did not even object to the throe months' leave of absence being given to the clerk. When asked by myself was he in opposition to the resolution he said " No." He admitted that something should be done, but again stated he was not in opposition to the resolution. Mr Lupton waited until the minutes had been confirmed at the following ordinary meeting of the Board before raising a protest. Mr Lupton, in his letter, goes on to state that the meeting on December 28th, railed for 2 o'clock, did not start until 2 40, and that I took three members away to look at a road. The facts are as follows: At 215 only three members were present—Mr Burton, Mr 0. Coxhead and myself-and as we could not start the busines3 of the Board without a quorum, we decided to look at some drainage work to. bo done on Lupton's road, Mr G. Coxhead joining us later. On arriving back at the office we found Mr Lupton and Mr Pfgler very much annoyed at being kept waiting. I may inform Mr Lupton that when there is no quorum the chairman has power to adjourn the meeting to any time he likes within seven days. And I wish to remind Mr Lupton right here that 1 am the chairman and not he. In reply to Mr Lupton's statements as to the meeting on January 13 th, I will only say that those two members present had power to adjourn the meetjng, but evidently did not wish to avail themselves of the opportunity. With reference to Mr Lupton's challenge, I wish to state that if there were any real grounds calling for the Board's resignation I would be only to willing to accept the same; but when a public meeting of ratepayers is called and forced forward by one who is not a ratepayer and only 12 attend then it takes a quarter of an hour to get a seconder to a resolution which in the end has to be seconded by the chairman of the meeting) I fail to see that this Board is justified in going to the expense of about £45 for another election, and I also fail to see how 12 ratepayers, including three disappointed candidates, can be regarded as constituting a repro sentative meeting of ratepayers. In reply to your correspondent " Enquirer," I will furnish you with the list of those present at the meeting when the resolutions were carried. This list has been supplied by one of those present and verified by another, tho names being: Messrs Aspden, F. Wood (a disappointed candidate), Gray (another disappointed candidate), Bull (an. other disappointed candidate), Geraghty (chairman of the meeting), Osborno, Oram (not a ratepayer), C. Neild, McAnally, Walker, King and Thompson (Massey road). In conclusion, I wish to inform all those who are not satisfied with the management of the affairs of the Town District that so long as I am chairman of the Board I will not tolerate any outside interference from anyone, especially from those who are not ratepayers, but I am quite ready to support any proposition that is for tho advancement and welfare of the district.—l am, etc., THOMAS J. CORIN, Chairman Manurewa Town Board. Manurewa, January 20th, 1917.