Joke Gone too Far

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 571, 25 January 1929, Page 1

Joke Gone too Far

MR. TAYLOR AND HUIA DAM

No Reply to List of Questions

UNREASONABLE,” “impertinent,” and “disrespectful." were terms applied at last evening’s meeting.qf tlie'Oity Council to a list of questions submitted by Mr. H. P. Taylor. Twenty questions were asked, and the council declined to answer any of them.

TT transpired during the discussion that Mr. Taylor was on the ratepayers’ roll merely because he was the husband of Mrs. Taylor, a ratepayer, and he was nqt of the class of ratepayer entitled to inspect the council books. Mr. Taylor, writing to the council, submitted as his “requirements” 20 questions concerning the Huia dam. Details of the questions, which dealt with finances, cost and result of shifts, dimensions, etc., were published iu The Sun just prior to Christmas. The letter was sent by Mr. Taylor on December 22. On January 11 he wrote to the council claiming that he had not received a reply to his De-

eember letter, aud stating that he was at a loss to know whether this neglect was deliberate or an oversight, but in either case that it was a gross discourtesy. NOT REASONABLE “I think it is quite unreasonable to expect us to get out all this information,” remarked the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon. “Moreover, 1 do not think the request is couched in proper terms. If these are only his present ‘requirements.’ we don’t know what he is going to require in the future. With regard to his second letter, even if he felt inclined to act without the instructions of the council the town clerk could not have provided the information in the time. “I am going to move that the request be declined,” remarked the Mayor. “It is nearly time we put our feet down on this sort of thing. “The council is by no means opposed to giving information, but this joke we might call it that —has gone on a little too long,” said Cr. J. A. C. Allum. “Several ratepayers have asked me not to waste any more time on this sort of thing. Apparently these people know Mr. Taylor and judge, as I also do, that he is not seeking the information for enlightenment, but to prolong a discussion of no profit to himself or anyone else. It seems to me time that this gentleman and his associates took a somewhat more dignified course. “I am very pleased to see that the city engineer had the courage not to lower his professional dignity, and to refuse to be drawn into a controversy with this gentleman,” continued Mr. Allum. “There are thousands of people entitled to information as much as is Mr. Taylor, and the staff would be kept going continuously trying to answer if they all adopted the same attitude. Later I am going to ask for a return showing the cost of the Murray inquiry. I feel that we should do as the Mayor suggests, and that we will have the large percentage of ratepayers in agreement with us.” TIME TO STOP HUMBUG Ci’. S. I. Crookes: It is high time this humbugging of the council and waste of, time was put a stop to. Reasonable minded people will support our action in doing so. The time will soon be here when the electors can say whether they have confidence in us or not. “The extreme discourtesy displayed by this individual makes one surprised to think that he thinks he understands the difference between courtesy and discourtesy. Apparently he thinks he is one of the people who should wear the while flower of a blameless life His reference to the town clerk is most unbecoming and insulting..” CR. PHELAN DIFFERS “I don’t think anyone will associate me with Mr. Taylor and his party, and it is with diffidence that I oppose the motion,” said Cr. E. J. Phelan. “I think any person in the city is entitled to demand information, if the demand is couched in a respectful way. “By refusing information you only give certain individuals more poison to broadcast.” Cr. W. H. Murray said that whatever the Murray inquiry had cost the

ratepayers had been saved tenfold in improved methods, and money saved. A Member: Question! Cr. Murray: A ratepayer has a right to information. A Member: Is he a ratepayer? Cr. Murray: He has the rights of a ratepayer, as his wife is one. Cr. O. Mcßrine suggested that there would have been few objections if a reasonable lot of information had been desired, but Mr. Taylor’s questions were impertinent and out of all proportion to a citizen’s rights. Cr. Carr: It is part of an organised attempt to belittle the council. ! It is another pireprick. In reply to a question, the town clerk stated’ that Mi;. Taylor’s name was not in the occupier’s column on the ratepayers’ roll, and therefore he was not entitled to specified informslion. = The motion to refuse the information was carried- with practically no opposition.