BREEZY MEETING AT TUAKAU

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 567, 17 September 1920, Page 4

BREEZY MEETING AT TUAKAU

BOARD MEMBERS AND ELECTORS PATRONISING LOCAL INDUSTRY. AND "SEWING ON BUTTONS." Willi the object of placing the facts in connexion with the erection of a hall at Tnakau to be known as the Tnakmi Memorial Hall before the ratepayers on the eve of the poll on the proposal to raise a loan of K7OOO, a large and representative meeting of ratepayers was held in the Tnakau Halt on Tuesday night, the chairman of the Town Board, Mr Dynes Fulton, presiding. The chairman outlined the facts leading up to the proposal and the calling of the meeting. Plans and specifications had been prepared, and the building was estimated to cost about £7OOO. Regafrding the question of sites, he stated that three offers had been made, namely, Mr. T. K. Materson's half-acre section at the corner of George and Liverpool Streets and Henderson's Avenue at a cost of £730. Mr. W. Pirret's quarter-acre section opposite the post office at a cost of £700; and Messrs. Hancock and Co's section between the billiard saloon and the police, residence at a cost of £750. The board by a large majority had decided to recommend to the incoming board that Patterson's section be acquired. Mr. Mungall was one of the first to "strafe" the chairman, and it was all in connexion with the "evergreen" Smeed's contract. Mr. Mungall harped on the same old question that has appeared in these columns until our readers were "full-up" of reading about such a matter. During one stage of a lively interlude, Mr. Taylor took the floor, and quoted extracts from a pamphlet signed by Messrs. Lapwood and Mungall. Mr. Taylor said that Mr. Mungall advocated patronising local industry, but he did not practice what he preached. The speaker referred to the office of which the pamphlet wi*s printed. (The document contained the imprint of an Auckland printing office.) "Now," said Mr. Taylor, "a representative of the 'Franklin and Pukekohe Times' reported the board's meetings, and some were lively and long ones at that. The 'Times' circulated in Tuakau, and was the local paper, and yet the advocate of patronising local industry had to go to Auckland to get his election platform printed." # "Not only that," continued Mr. Taylor, "Mr. Mungall was one of those who pretended to work in the interests of the town, yet if there was anything to be done Mr. Mungall would -be one of the missing links." Mr. Pirret: "And if there is to be a 'bob' spent, Mr. Mungall is away sewing on buttons." (Laughter.) A voice: Well done, Jim. Mr. Pirret: That's true. The meeting continued lively, Mr. Mungall in particular becoming very excited at times. Eventually a really entertaining meeting dealing with events of the past concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman for the manner in which he had conducted the hoard's business during his term of office.