THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1917 UNITY OR DISCORD?

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 245, 26 January 1917, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1917 UNITY OR DISCORD?

"We nothing extenuate, nor let down auaht in malice."

Ox the principle that a house divided against itself cannot stand the strife current in the little settlement of Puni in regard to its recent acquisition of a public hall is particularly unfortunate and threatens, unless some amicable arrangement is brought about, to wreck what ought to be a successful undertaking The community of Puni is comparatively small and it ill benefits the district, besides constituting a menace to the well-being of its residents, that a marked cleavage should exist among its people. Endless wrangling and internal disputes seem to be Puni's destiny unless better counsels prevail and the present breach is healed. This acrimonious and bitter feeling has apparently been gradually simmering but it is the aforementioned public hall that has caused it to reach boiling point and thus to become prominent to the general public. On Tuesday last probably one of the most largely 'attended meetings ever held in Puni took place aud matters were ventilated in free and open fashion, a unanimous resolution of, in effect, no confidence in the hall trustees and committee being the outcome. In regard to the merits or demerits of the circumstances in dispute we have no intention or desire to identify ourselves with one party or the other. It is, however, only right to point out that it is admittedly thanks to Mr R. Fulton's persistency and enterprise that Puni to-day is in poßsession of a substantial and commodious public hall that does credit to the district and it 6eoms a veiy poor and undeserved acknowledgement of Mr Fulton's public-spirited action that he has been deprived of taking part in its management. At the same time, although possibly some little irregularities may have occurred, we fail to see that it can with reason be maintained that the proceedings at (ho meeting at which the trusteos and committee were elected should be discarded as illegal und consequently null and void. Mr Fulton cortaiuly protested against certain pornons voting at that mooting aud was over rulod by the chairman but ho does not appear to have questioned the meeting's

power to make the elec'im. What] apparently took place was that Mr ! Fulton was out-generaled in regard to the meeting; that is to say that | the supporters of his rivnl outnumbered at the meeting the adherents J of Mr Fulton, who made no personal effort to gather in his forces. Such being so, Mr Fulton is now hardly justified in impugning the act'ons of that meeting. However, the much more import int poiut remains that a " fluke" majority is apparently resented by a not inconsiderable portion of Puni's populace, who demand that the election should take place afresh. The t.ustees in office, probably recognisiug that a storm is brewing, have apparently refrained from active operations and testimony was forthcoming at Tuesday's meettng that the commi.tee were more or less a divide! body. That being so, and in order, if possible, to secure s >me unanimity of action, which ought to be afforded by a majority ruling and a minority bowing before the inevitable, we are of opinion that all interests will be beet seived by a fresh start being made for the election of trustees and committee subject to all parties agreeing that whatever the result amicable and cordial co-operation would be the sequel.