THREATS ALLEGED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 1

THREATS ALLEGED

HOT WORDS AFTER MEETING HINT OF LEGAL ACTION Legal advice on an altercation alleged to have taken place after the Transport Board meeting closed this afternoon is being obtained by Mr. F. S. Morton. In a statement to The Sun Mr. Morton strongly criticised what he described as the attitude of some of the board members toward proposals he had brought forward.. Mr. Morton alleged that he was threatened by Mr. A. E. Ford, manager to the board, in the presence of several of the board members. On this, Mr. Morton has communicated with his solicitors. He informed the board members present that he would subpoena them as witnesses in event of his carrying the matter further. Mr. Morton said the incident had occurred when Mr. Ford taxed him with a statement made at the local bodies’ conference on flat-rate fares. It was Mr. Morton’s contention that Mr. Ford had not provided a report which had been required by a committee of the board to popularise the service. “Mr. Ford said to me, ‘You put down on paper what you said the other night’. When I told him that he said he would give the report to the committee, he denied this, and when I said I would not believe anything more he threatened me. I then informed members of the board who were present that I would subpoena everyone as witnesses. “I am not going to be intimidated in this way.” said Mr. Morton in giving his reasons for not letting the matter drop. “I have already referred it to my solicitors and I shall place the fact before all the local bodies I represent.” Mr. Morton said that those who witnessed the incident were Messrs. J. A. C. Allurn, chairman, M. J. Coyle, J. Wood and J. St. J. Clarke, secretary. Messrs. G. Baiidon and E. J. Phelan were outside the door.