Tranquillity of Board Disturbed

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 156, 22 September 1927, Page 13

Tranquillity of Board Disturbed

BRUSH AT ONE TREE HILL MEMBER FALLS OUT WITH CHAIRMAN usually tranquil deliberations of the One Tree Hill Road Board were disturbed last evening, when one of the members fell out with the chairman, Mr. R. G. Clark, over a statement alleged to have been made by the latter at a recent meeting of the City Council’s Tramway Committee.

One Tree Hill enjoyed the distinction of being; r.he only local body in Auckland to protest against the new scale of tram fares. At its last meeting it decided to give way, however, and the chairman was instructed to confer with the Tramway Committee with a view to getting a better car service on Great South Road. Mr. J. Mathieson objected that the minutes of the previous meeting put him down as seconding a tram service motiop, but this was incorrect, because. being a City Council employee, he hacl never expressed an opinion- one way or the other. Mr. Ma:hieson: “Why did you blame me with thwarting tram service improvements?” Mr. Clark: “I did nothing of the kind.”

Mr. Maihieson; “You stated no tram service improvement could be effected with a C ity Council employee on the board.”

Mr. Clark: “I absolutely deny havingmade such a statement.”

Mr. Mathieson: “I think it would be a good idea if we kept.you away from Tramway Committee meetings in future.” Mr. Clark: “I close the discussion. I am not prepared to discuss what happened* at a committee meeting.” Mr. Mathieson: “That’s it You’re not game to thrash the matter out.” Mr. J. S. Hardwicke: “It certainly seems funny that shortly after that meeting the City Council passed a bylaw prohibiting any of its employees to sit on a local body, without the council’s permission.” Mr. Mathieson: “You know what it will come to, Mr. Chairman. Either I will resign, or I will fight you at the next election.”

Mr. Clark: “Right O! I’m not afraid of that.”

With that the breeze died away, and Mr. Hardwicke moved that in connection with the new by-law, the board should write to the City Council to get the necessary permission for Mr. Mathieson. The motion was carried.