Agitation at Mount Albert

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 15

Agitation at Mount Albert

ENGINEER S DISMISSAL MEETINGS TO BE HELD Dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Mount Albert Borough Council has treated its engineer, Mr. W. H. Cook, will be expressed by speakers at a series of protest meetings, the first of which wil be held next Monday evening. The engineer, who on Tuesday was dismissed from the council’s service, will be invited to be present, as well as the Mayor, Mr. L. E. Rhodes, and members of the council. Some, at least, of the councillors, if not all, will be tendered specific challenges to resign, and contest their seats, with the reinstatement of the engineer—or an inquiry into his ease—the predominant electoral issue. Messrs. W. Hammond, W. Fulton and M. R. O’Callaghan may be candidates if the councillors accept the challenge. SUCCESSOR TO MR. COOK Meanwhile the council is holding a special meeting next Tuesday to discuss the appointment of another engineer. It is considered in Auckland, however, that Mr. Cook’s case may cause other qualified men to bo extremely cautious about accepting any engagement Mount Albert has to offer, and the attitude of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers lends weight to the theory. Such a development could have only one sequel—the absorption of Mount Albert by the city. Without an engineer the borough could not carry on its development works, but apart from that possibility there is already afoot a movement in favour of Mount Albert’s joining the city, and that course was advocated at the indignation meeting held outside the Borough Council Chamber after Tuesday night’s meeting. SERIES OF DISMISSALS The affair has recalled to -the public mind a series of dismissals from the council’s service about a year ago. A foreman, a cadet in the engineer’s office, and a chainman were among those discharged. It is possible that these cases may be referred to in the sworn statement prepared by Mr. Cook, who has traversed the history of events associated with the engineering department since he took office. MAYOR’S INTERESTS Mr. Leonard Rhodes, the Mayor at the head of the council which dismissed Mr. Cook, is in his fifth year of office. His earlier public service consisted of service on the council, and on the committees of the Mount Albert School and Kowhai Junior High School. He is, also, a member of the New Zealand . executive of the Protestant Political Association.