Mystery Letters

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 357, 18 May 1928, Page 13

Mystery Letters

late city

WAITEMATA COUNCIL BREEZE WHO RECEIVED THEM? Who received the two mysterious litters containing the resignation V Mr oiiphant from the Waiter.ta Council, and why have they been in hiding since April 5? Ratepayers of the Waiparuire Rid- , , claiming they had been disfrancreated a breeze at to-day’s cW ‘t°'g of the council. Mr. MV. Walker, “i. spokesman, said that ratepayers S it an election could have been held to ‘U the vacancy in time to let them the position. k The chairman. Mr. A. Day: [ don’t ,»hv we should not meet your tidies it the law allows it. , T M. Burns: The election should h.re taken place before now. Mr. Olit resinned on April 5. In the nothing has been done. Why? “ihe Chairman: The first time I relived the resignation was on May 4. I never saw the least shadow of it be(°CouncHlor Burns: That is strange, i can't understand it, because a fort- . h* ago Mr. Oiiphant told me that Yhkd sent hia resignation and two liters to you. One letter was a per,onal one to you. What became of "The secretary: I received the letter „ nay 4, at 1» a.m. I accept no reiponsibility. The letter was dated Burns: The letter should have been divulged, and action should have been taken by the joint council. , understand the chairman saw Mr. oiiphant, and asked him to reconsider tbs resignation. , the chairman: I never received the Liters till May 4. I challenge anyone inside or outside of the building to contradict that. Councillor G. O’Halloran also delared that Mr. Oiiphant had told him he had resigned. Councillor J. Maekie: This Is no surprise. The public has known about ihe resignation for weel ts- If is not in the credit of the council, nor will i’ add to the confidence of the ratepayers. The chairman should justidabiy be asked to clear it up. The chairman: I told you I never received them! The clerk, who received the letters from Mr. Oiiphant, was crossnxamined. He said he had handed the letters to the chairman, he thought. The chairman: You never handed them to me. Mr. Williams: I think you were in the room.

The Chairman: Have you a good memory?—lt was a long time ago. I think X handed them to you. The Chairman: You never did! Cr. Burns: Have you seen them shout the office since April s?—No. Mr. Williams said he had certainly not kept the letters for three weeks. He might have put them on a table. The Chairman said that this meeting with Mr. Oiiphant came after a request from that member. The Secretary: My hands are clean, ind so is my mind. I received the letterh at 10 a.m. on May 4. ■ (Proceeding.)