TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 407, 6 September 1918, Page 3

TUAKAU.

(See also page 1) HOUSES ON FOOTPATHB.

At the meeting of the Tuakau Town Board last Tuesday some anticipated scenes of the dramatic order failed to eventuate. The matter concerned a complaint that had been lodged by Mr C. M. Osbourne that Mr J. H. Craig, a f member of the Board, had infringed the by-laws by allowing his horse to stand on the footpath. At the previous meeting Mr Craig had exElained that such had occurred whilst e was taking shelter during a heavy downpour of rain. Last Tuesday Mr Osbourne was in attendance with some other ratepayers to support the complaint but the Board, by a majority, decided not to reopen the question. Referring to t the subject, Mr Osbourne writes to us as lollows .' — On the 16th August, I received the following notice: "ToMrC. M. Osbourne, —Sir. I am directed by Commissioner J. H. Craig to request that you attend the next general meeting of the Board on Tuesday, September 3rd, at 8 p.m.—l remain, Your obedient servant, A. H. Tapper, Clerk " This was the res dt l f a leiter I had written to the local paper. In compliance with the same I attended at the Board meeting on Tuesday of this week, with five witnesses, to prove my case against Mr Craig. 1 When the meeting opened the Chaiiman stated that he regretted to say that the notice sent out to me had not the sanction of the Board and was therefore not in order, and that my evidence could not be taken unless with the permission of the Board. Mr Craig then said that he objected to my evidence being taken and this is where the absurdity comes in Can anyone imagine a man notif) ing another to attend a meeting end then, when he turns up, refusing to allow him to speak because the notice sent from himself was iuformal ? Following this, Mr Pirret moved that the case be not allowed to be opened up at all. Mr Def ble moved, as an amendment, that seeing I was present at the meeting at the request of Mr Craig, and as the informality of tfce letter was not my fault, my evidence be taken This was seconded by the Chaiiman, but on being put to the votrt was lost (of course) by Messrs Pirret, Ryder and Barnaby voting against it, viz , three to two. Surely Mr Tapper hac been long enough in the Board's employ to know whether a lcttor is informal or not, and if fo why <)id he allow it to b3 sent without the Board's sanction ? My sole reason for writing this letter is to show tin people of Tuakau how legitimate complaints are treated by certain of the Board members and I trust that at the coming election the people will put men there who will do their duty without fear or favour. I take this opportunity of thanking Commissioner Deeble and the Chairman (Mr Fulton) for the straightforward manner in which they tried to administer justice.