Noisy Altercation Disturbs Town Board

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 390, 26 June 1928, Page 12

Noisy Altercation Disturbs Town Board

GLEN EDEN ROW SPOKESMAN ORDERED OUT Glen Eden residents and their Town Board are not too friendly. Proof of this was given last evening when a disorderly scene with a deputation resulted in the chairman, Mr. W. H. Shepherd, closing the meeting and leaving the deputation stranded. A large deputation waited on the Town Board and the principal speaker, Mr. W. B. Cameron, proceeded to criticise the actions of the board and particularly of the chairman, in regard to the dismissal of two returned soldiers from the board’s employ. Mr. Cameron said the dismissal had caused a large amount of bad feeling. The chairman had moved an amendment to the motion of dismissal, and had then turned round and supported the motion. MYSTERIOUS WORK When Mr. W. Rosier asked if the deputation knew the foreman had recommended one of the men as a deserving case, Mr. J. IT. Hayes asked why this information was not given before. There seemed to be some mysterious underhand work. Suggestions that the dismissal had been hurried through were denied. Mr. J. M. West: It is a put-up job. The chairman said there was no animosity. It was a case of giving preference to married men. During the ensuing discussion Mr. Cameron interjected, and was waved down by the chairman. “Don’t you poke me, or I’ll poke you,” remarked Mr. Cameron. This caused Mr. Shepherd to order Mr. Cameron to leave the room, an order that was refused. In the ensuing confusion Mr. Shepherd declared the meeting closed and left. The deputation then formed itself into a public meeting, which supported an assertion that the town was going back every w’eek. There was no water or sanitation. The meeting expressed indignation at the action of the chairman in closing the board meeting, and considered the two men should be re-employed.