“INARTICULATE EXPRESSION”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 67, 10 June 1927, Page 11

“INARTICULATE EXPRESSION”

PUBLICITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL—DECISION REVERSED A SUGGESTION that the Council should rescind its decision to appoint a publicity officer came before the City Council last evening from the Finance Committee, and drew a spirited attack from Councillor L. A. Eady. He said he took strong - exception to the recommendation. The committee had unwarrantably exceeded its powers. It iiad been asked to select six candidates from the applicants. Every committee of- the council, and the council, had decided in favour of the appointment. “Speaking - very deliberately, I will say that never before has the council’s policy been so inarticulately expressed,” stated Councillor Eady. “Since Sir James Gunson’s time, citizens have not been sufficiently in the confidence of the council. The council has had very little medium of selfexpression. If you are going to get the support of citizens, you must give the information in the way it should be given. All our receipts are falling—l say because of lack of advertising. As a business man, I say the time is opportune for the appointment.” “I am going to consider very seriously my whole attitude to the council if this is approved,” he concluded. Councillor J. A. C. Allum took up the defence, and said the whole reason for the recommendation was because of the financial position. “This is but one of the recommendations that will come before the council, on the same score,” asserted Councillor Allum. “We knew we were bringing down an unpopular recommendation, but we have to face the position. Every citizen will agree that every possible economy should be effected. The goodwill of the citizens can be regained more by the councillors and the council.” Councillor E. J. Phelan said his principal objection was to the form of the committee recommendation. The committee should have gone about it quite differently. Councillor A. J. Entrican said the present Mayor had not gone to the Press as much as Sir James Gunson did, but he did not know that Sir James, Gunson had secured any goodwill by seeking publicity. The council eventually decided not to go on with the appointment.