“Bird” for Mayor

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 401, 9 July 1928, Page 1

“Bird” for Mayor

Storm-Beaten Crowd Resents Exclusiveness MR. ALDRIDGE “BOOED” While the Mayor of Devonport was winging on his metaphors in a high flight of oratory on Saturday several hundreds of Shore citizens, left out in the rain, were entertaining mutinous thoughts. The result was that, as the Mayor emerged, glowing, on to the promenade after the opening of the new wharf, his pride and dignity received a severe jolt. The uninvited hundreds who had been denied shelter raised their voices in a chorus of “boos,” and followed it up with the ceremony of “counting out.” This was repeated with enthusiasm several times and the Mayor faced a barage of questions. “Whose wharf is it, anyhow,” It was a clear indication that Mr. E. Aldridge was receiving “the bird.” THE “INS AND OUTS” With a band playing and afternoon tea laid out the privileged guests had listened to the inspired speeches under

the high covering at the seaward end of the wharf. But separated from these by long empty corridors which would have held thousands, 400 of Devonport’s residents stamped their feet in the rain. The only covering for the uninvited was the verandah at the head of the wharf. Harbour Board traffic officials standing grimly at an entrance gate in a barrier resolutely declined to admit anyone not possessed of the precious invitation issued by the Auckland Harbour Board and Devonport Borough Council acting jointly. The contrast between the “ins” and the “outs” was definite and obvious and the disappointed citizens made up their minds to get some satisfaction. They waited for over an hour until the Mayor and other public men were leaving the wharf and then gave vent to their feelings. AN EXPLANATION Later in the evening, at the Devonport Orphans’ Club meeting at which he presided, the Mayor of Devonport, Mr. E. Aldridge, explained that he was quite unaware that some hundreds of citizens had asembled at the wharf head and were barred from entering the shelter. Had he known he would have consulted with the chairman of , the Harbour Board and he did not doubt but that immediate instructions ' would have been Issued to the traffic ; officers to admit the public, as far as ■ the inner b -.friers at any rate. J