THE -MUSSOLINI OF AVONDALE"

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 112, 2 August 1927, Page 9

THE -MUSSOLINI OF AVONDALE"

MR. TIARK EXPLAINS REASON FOR AMALGAMATION “Spite is at the bottom of the whole thing." said Mr. H. Tiarks. Mayor of Avondale, when the amalgamation proposals were referred to him by a SUN representative this morning. HR. TIARKS also stated that Mr. W. x J. Tait. ex-Mayor of Avondale, having shown himself to be "totally incapable of managing the affairs of Avondale,” now denied the right to others. ‘He left the borough £4.000 in debt on the general account." said Mr. Tiarks, “and being a landholder he was naturally perturbed at what he would consider his excessive share of the burden!” If the borough joins the city, and was rated, as it would be, on the annual value, the working man will pay the bill. This would, of course, relieve the big landholders of their burden. Mr. Tiarks said that he and his supporters had received a mandate from the ratepayers a month or so ago to lift the borough out of the financial mire. This they could do if they were left alone. He also pointed out that at the last election he had received a greater majority, on a percentage basis, than any other Mayor in the North Island, and a greater majority than has ever been given to any man in Avondale.

“I consider the ratepayers have a right to vote on this question,” he said. “Also I consider it my duty to place the full facts in front of them and let them judge for themselves." He regretted that Mr. Tait and his followers should have sunk to common abuse by advertising in the local Press a request to the ratepayers not to bow to “Mussolini,” but to get something for their money. “If I had half the brains of Mussolini,” said Mr. Tiarks, "I would not be wasting my time in Avondale.” In regard to getting something for their money, concluded Mr. Tiarks, "if the ratepayers had listened to me years ago they would not be in the deplorable position Mr. Tait left them.”