MAYOR V. EX-MAYOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8068, 27 March 1906, Page 2

MAYOR V. EX-MAYOR.

WHO IS RIGHT ? Prior to discussiug the retrenchment proposals at the New 1 iy.uouth Borough Council nicotinic on Monday night, His Worship the Mayor said ho would like to call attention to one or two electioneering statements, made by ex-Mayor Dockrill. Mr Cock said he «ould first of all state right out that the Council was never in a better financial position than nojv, even when Mr Dockrill was Mayor. The latter had said (His Worship quoted from the Tabanaki Daily Nkws of 17th March last) "he felt that there was a desire that he should como forward to remedy the state of affairs going on." What had he got to remedy ? Nothing, nothing in the world. Mr Dockrill had further remarked that "he was satisfied that if something were not done, there must be an extra rate, or the streets would have to be denuded of metal." The Mayor asked: Did they ever hear of such a thing? The total amount of money spent on the borough streets during Mr Dockrill's last vear of office had boon £202. Wasn't that disgraceful? During the year just closing, aud the year before, tho Council had spent £1501) a year in metal. That criticism was thus easily disposed of. Mr Dockrill was coming forward as Mayor, and ho was going to do all those wonders, but the speaker did not like the system of running down the present Council, which had done its best for the ratepayers. j

! Cr. Brooking: Perhaps he's going to i do with £202 all you have done with i £ISOO. (Laughter). The Mayor went 011 to say that Mr , Dockrill lmil also stated publicly, that " the Council had gone to a great deal ! of expense for a crushing plaut, which 1 was rarely used, the Council preferring I to get metal from contractors. He was . satisfied if the borough's own plant [ were used, a saving of 'is a yard could [ be made, equal to about £SOO per annum." Councillors all knew that statement was false) Every yard used iu the past two yeats had come from 1 the Council's crusher. Yet Mr Dock- ■ rill wanted to tell the people that this plant, specially imported, was lying ' idle and rusting. The Council had not bought a yard of metal from contra* tors. " I take a deal of trouble over borough matters," continued the 1 Mayor, " and when I see a man tackled like that I generally try to get to the bottom of things, I tell you." Councillors would uoto that Mr Dockrill was going to save £SOO in cost of stone. The engineer's figures showed that the Council's stone from its own crusher bad cost 4s 10-72(1 per yard on the streets, and under the contract system <js li'36d ; also that there had been 110 contract metal supplied since March 6th, 1905. "So you see those statements were only made for the purpose of catching votes, and to do us old Councillors harm. But if he proposes to save £SOO on my figures, as given here the other night, he will have to get his stone carted from the river to the crusher, crushed, and carted ou to the streets, for t'72d per yard, I would like to see him do it." Cr Brooking: I vote we have him. Another Councillor ■. That's the retrenchment we want. Mr Cock returned to Mr Dockrill's published statement that "if the engineers the Council employed were uot able to do what they promised, it was the Council's duty to employ expert men." He (the Mayor) had heard a lot of this sort of stuff lately—there were heaps of sea-lawyers in New Plymouth. But they must remember the Council had decided to employ a talented man, Mr Mestayer, who had been left by Mr Dockrill as a legacy for the present Council. He was to blauie, and not Mr Gibbon, who had simply carried out Mr Mcstaycr's instructions and plans. It was a very sore thing with Mr Dockrill that the ratepayers had returned the speaker as Mayor. Mr Cock then touched on the matter the Troopers' Memorial Fund. Mr Dockrill had stated that the speaker had had 110 right to influence the disposal of that money, as be whs not a contributor to the funds. He might state now t hat he gave £2 for every £1 given by Mr Dockrill. Again, the Council had never had to pay any of his (Mr Cock's) expenses. Jusl a few months ago, Sir Joseph Ward wasbanquetted here, and the deficit was paid out of the Mayor's pocket. What happened a few years ago ? Sir Joseph was bauquetted, at au expense of £2B. Tickets only realised £l2 2s (id, and the Council had to make up the remaining £ls 17s 6d. " I've never done anything like that, anyhow." Cr. Stolir There was a surplus this time. What became of that ?

His Worship (lie Mayor concluded: "When anyone wants to liaveashoi at me, I am always ready, as the papers say, to ' put my hob-uailed boots on.'"