UNDER FIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 124, 16 August 1927, Page 10

UNDER FIRE

COUNCILLOR ALLUM ASSAILED BRISK GREY LYNN MEETING BOMBARDED WITH QUESTIONS

A SMALL, but vehement meeting of Grey Lynn ratepayers had a glorious carnival of questioning last night when Councillor J. A. C. Allum, Chairman of the City Council Tramway Committee, withstood a bombardment of relevant and irrelevant questions for an hour.

rjOUNCIILOR ALLUM was the principal speaker at the meeting which was held to explain the necessity for carrying the £ 500.000 Loan Poll on Wednesday to enable tramways extension work to be carried out. The Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, presided, and councillors Ellen Melville, and M. J. Coyle also spoke. Councillor Melville gave the meeting an account of the work which would be undertaken by the City Council if the loan was carried. Councillor Coyle told the meeting to give the tramways “a fair go" by voting for the loan. “You won’t be ■orry if you do,” he said, “and besides, you want to show that instead of being little Aucklanders you are big Aucklanders prepared to do something for the city.” The meeting was reasonably quiet until Councillor Allum came forward to speak, and then there were murmur in gs. ALL RATEPAYERS TOGETHER He told them that the members of the City Council were big ratepayers, and they would not bring down propositions that would take money out of their pockets. "The people who are opposed to the loan,” he said, "are the very ones who would accuse the council of lack of vision if it did not bring the proposal down. “If the loan is not carried,” he said, '"what will be the alternative?” A Voice: Community buses. (Derisive cheers from the crowd.) “No, it won’t be buses, and it won’t be more trams—it will be tears, not laughter, if the price of suburban land falls. “I’m not making a campaign of this.” he said. Another Voice: Oh, no, you’re only giving us a lot of soft soap. The speaker ignored this remark and went on to say that if the loan was not carried 1?0 men would get notice. “That is not a reason why you should vote for the loan,” he added, “but it Is a reason why you should remove prejudice from your minds.” THE BOMBARDMENT OPENS The Mayor then announced that the speaker would be prepared to answer questions. The first one concerned the salary of the general manager of the city tramways. “Is it a fact that he was engaged first at a salary of £500?” asked a man. “No," replied the Mayor. “Is his salary now £1,500?” persisted the questioner. The Mayor admitted that it was. but Councillor Allum came forward and said: “Is this a fair thing?” he asked. “What’s a man’s salary got to do with the meeting—l think the question is darned bad tnste.” “Mr. Allum ts one of our servants, and he offered to answer questions, so he must stand criticism," came back from the questioner. Councillor Allum (heatedly): I’m not one of your servants and I never will be. (Howls from the crowd.) “You are one of our servants,” the voice boomed back. “I’m one of your representatives, that's what I am,” replied the speaker. INSIDE INFORMATION Another questioner asked if members of the city council had been called that day to attend a special meeting at which they were pressed to sign a manifesto in favour of the poll. Councillor Allum: That’s untrue. The questioner rose again. The Mayor: Look here, Jerry Lundon “Mr. Lundon, to you. Sir," replied the man. “You’re in the chair, and do your business properly." You were disappointed last year because you did not preserve sufficient eggs with SHARLAND’S EGG PRESERVATIVE. Don’t make the same mistake again, but put down more this season. 4

The audience howled delightedly for a few moments, and then Mr. Baildon explained that Mr. Lundon had made a habit of attending the meetings. Mr. Lundon: Were councillors Patterson and Murray asked to sign the manifesto ? Councillor Allum: I refuse to give information concerning matters discussed in committee by the City Council. You have got information which you are not entitled to have. Mr. Lundon: Do you propose to publish a manifesto? Councillor Allum: In the papers tomorrow you will see a statement urging support for the loan. The Mayor: You see, this is the sort of thing we have to put up with. Councillor Coyle: He’s putting across gutter stuff. Another voice then rose up. “Can you tell me," he asked, “why the City Council turned down Mr. John Fuller’s offer of £ 900,000 cash for Civic Square?" “Well, we’re always learning something,” replied Councillor Allum. EMPLOYMENT OF FOOTBALLERS A question was asked as to preference given in the employment of City Council labour. Councillor Allum: We always employ labour to the best advantage. The Questioner: You give preference to footballers. Councillor Allum: Nonsense. The Voice: I say it’s not nonsense. Councillor Allum (hotly): I say it is nonsense. “Can you tell me any country where trams are paying?" asked another man “There is no need to go further away than home to answer that," said Councillor Allum, “they’re paying in Auckland." A vote of thanks for the speakers and confidence in the proposal was moved, but Mr. Lundon moved an amendment to the effect that the present time was not opportune for the loan. This, the Mayor declared lost, although the audience received his ruling with derisive cheers. The motion of confidence was therefore declared “carried."