RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR BROOKING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81875, 27 October 1906, Page 2

RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLOR BROOKING.

REGRCT OF THE COUNCIL. Mr W. F. Brooking on Friday resigned his seat on the New Plymouth Borough Council. At the special meeting that aftonocm, His Wosbip the Mayor, in moving that the resignation be accepted, said he did so with the greatest regret, and added to his motion that a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Councillor Brooking for his long and valuable service. Everyone would admit that Mr Brooking had given splendid service to the ratepayers, and he was sure the whole Council would regret his resignation.

Cr Wilscn said the news of the resignation had come as quite a shock, lie considered that in the four years he had been associated with Councillor Brooking that that gentleman had done more work for the borough than any two other councillors. His loss would be especially felt just now,, when the Council was proposing an eleanc light loan, for. Cr. Brooking alone wa s familiar with the details of the system.

Cr. Monteath suggested that Cr Brooking might be asked to withdrav his resignation.

The Mayor, however, said that was .impossible. Ho was acting on the advice of Mr Samuel, given in somewhat similar circumstances on a previous gecasion. Otherwise he would he pleased to sc 0 this course adopted. Cr. F. Belhinger, as the youngest councillor, added his tribute, staling his regret, lor he had always found Cr. Brooking most ready to give information and direction to a ned councillor. The loss was the more severe, as Cr. Brooking had the whole of the electric light figures at ins lingers' ends.

Cr. Browne deeply regretted the resignation. From the four years he had been assiciated with him he could say that Cr. lirookng had devoted a very great deal of time to the benefit of the people, turning out at all times even at the greatest personal inconvenience. The ratepayers were losing a good representative.

Cr. Collis, speaking as the oldest member of the Council, stated the 10-s of Cr. Brookin-g's services and advice at this juncture would be severely felt. He had worked with the ex-councillor for very many years and, of course, had differed from him sometimes, but he could safely say that whatever position Cr. Brooking had taken up had been because he was convinced he was right—ho man could do better than that. The resignation came as a great surprise, and whatever the cause, was a matter for extreme regret.

Each speaker expressed his regret at the impossibility of asking Mr Brooking to reconsider his decision. The motion was carried without dsscnt.

THE CAUSE OF THE RETIREMENT. NOT GOING TO STAND MISUSE. A NEWS reporter dropped across Mr Brooking in Devon street just after tiro meeting, and broached the matter of his retirement from municipal life, "Oh, you've > heard of it, have you?'' he asked. "Rather,'' was the answer. I wa s tit the Council meeting when the resignation was accepted. he sn«— ' lrr "~~ ~ered, 'l'm not ■s to be told I'm in the Council !">' what I can make out of it. Hang U all, there's nothing in it. And a man's not going there to stand abuse. 1 could excuse a blunt, ignorant, uneducated man who might blunderingly say more than he meant, but there was no mistaking the intention en this occasion," referring presumably to certain remarks at the last Coujieil meeting. Air Brooking has been a member "f the Council continuously from INO4 °r iXqu to the present tj mc . During .that period he has made himself thoroughly conversant with the 10'Uiirements of the town, and ways ;i iocognis.'d authority » n all works. As * member of works commiMees. he had rendered valuable services at all times. lie was frequently called upon to act as deputyMayor.

OUR PACIFIC M/'L SERVICES. I TDK FRISCO Ki.SOLUTIONS. A WARM )i - i;SSi()N. REGRETFCf. CONVERTS. Tilt; ONLY SERVICE AVAILABLE Per Press. A-.-uciation. Wellington Octoher 26. On the motion u, go into committee of the whole 10 consider the Frisco resolutions \a the I louse on Friday afternoon Mr J. Allen moved the addition to the Frisco resolution ot a provision agatost the granting or any subsidy (iu; !ng the present condition of the American navigation laws. As a former supporter of the 'Frisco service, lie explained thai the passing of these navigation laws Hall turned him against the service. Mi reover the service had failed in every respect to come up to promise. H was slow, irregular, and unable tu bear comparison w th any up-to-da.e service. He favoured ttie route as tne best, but he would not suppttit a,n inferior service under a commercially hostile flag. The Postal Union rate, which the colony pays to Bri-tish-owned was 28 pence per pound, whereas the poundage paid to elie 'Frisco service was 7/0, while the Australian payment to the same company was 2/, Regarding the proposal for a Vancouver service, he was afraid after the. repeated lailures of tne attempts (a letter or two here and there) to inaugurate this service, n was useless to think of it. He preferred the Suez service. The cost had been given at ,648,000 a year of a weekly service, which would further the best interests of our own people and our own trade. T'lie Premier : Lascars are employ-

Mr Allen said he was referring to the Federal service. The Premier: It is ,not running. Mr Allen: Bui it is certain to run shortly. The Premier wondered what the member for Bruce would do if Mr Massey were called upon to form a Government. The 'Frisco service, shorn of a 1 sentimental considerations, was the quickest and best possible. For the navigation laws ot America there was a reprisal on our Satute Book at the present rnomeiu. Was this country to cut off its no>e to spue us face.- ine Americans subsidised Ine service w.th £50,,000 and the total amount paid by New- Zealand last year wa* .020510 (less than the maximum of £20,000) lor lis voyages, but the postage- here and Fiji reduced that amount to £'3s°°The line advocated by Mr Allen couid not compate with that, and, moreover, it carried Lascars. He had made a mistake on that point, and had shunted hims.-lf when ho was twitted with it. (.\lr Allon : "No.'') It had been said that a line via Mexico would have secured the same advantages as the 'Frisco, but enquirieproveu that was >vrong. It was wrong to speak ui the United Slates as a hostile poop:•■. They were a friendly ally, as a! their actions have proved of late ye.,is, as he had said in that House in lie words he quoted. He defend'.'o the service from the aspersions of .is opponents. THe last lyear's record gave an average of 31 days Auckland to London, and 30.29 days London to Auckland. No other service ecu d compare with that., Vancouvi. would certainly come nearest, bio though every etfort.was made it had not been possible to establish a service on lhat line. He denied that the attempts had been confined to a letter or two. A subsidy was offered, and the matter placed in capable hands. He recapitulated the terms of the resolutions. They contemplated a special service with obl.gations of many kinds. To offer Postal Union rates for that would be an insult to any company. The Australian Government paid for their service (fortnightly)' £125,000 to the P. and 0. and Orient, and further substantial sums to the German and other companios. The only Postal Union rates pa'd were to the intercolonial boats. He admitted the 'Frisco steamers were noi what they ought to be, hence the provision for betterment, which were better than the instructions the House had provided. To establish a Vancouver service, the Union Company must be prepared with more reasonable terms-. In that case the colony could estab ish the best postal service in tho world by 'Frisco and Vancouver. For his part, he had opposed the 'Frisco service when it was too costly. " Mr Aitken : £31.000. \

The Premier said that was £n,oio more than the maximum now proposed, and that was a big sum. ile reviewed the terms of the contract, and summed up its advantages, and urgo.l that it was right to give the company a reasonable time to improve their ships. He moved the. resolutions.

Mr T. McKenzie spoko of the changes made in the private members' sentiment by office He proceeded to point out that the commercial hostility of America was much worse than Mr Allen had described I,n the Pilippines and Cuba, they were now not only enforcing the Navigation Laws, but imposing export duties on products exported in British bottoms. Moreover, no concessions of any kind were given to British interests. The member for Bruce had been very consistent in the matter. The 'Frisco service had developed no trade The Vancouver service would have been eslab ished long ago if the Government had been prepared lo give reasonable terms to Sir E. Dawes. He had his authority for the statement thai he would have built a suitable line of steamers and ina ug-| united the service i

Mr Wilford said it was too late to substitute anything else for the service, and therefore quite useless to appear or try to amend the resolutions. The ships had been pronounced by a Commission to be tubs, built by scab lab<;;:r in Philadelphia. Nothing better con id be done in America, The temi. of the contract would not enab;< them to supply boat' Then the running of 'he boats could not be slopped at the end of two years, the,, .ore the provision for building was ~ farce. The rotten tubs that had exploited the colony would go on doing it. The contract so far as the colony i s concerned was an "all 10 no.hu.' contract. He was sick of the c :,l of American friendliness. lie could not forget the Navigation Laws and the Harper ease. '1 he Auckland members were mortally afraid of the whip of the New Zealand tier. :d. They were taught to fear the loss of Auckland as the port of pall, but geographically Auckland must be the port of call. Patriotism and business required the refusal of these resolutions, hyt they would have to be accepted as there was nothing e|se, Mr Hogg did no' ■'' | ford's so*"- 1 - . , llink Mr Wi |.

. .a would have been made in America. There was no need for tliis small country to raise Niitional jealousies. Toe 'Frisco stcameis worn deficient; they would be improved, lie urged Government not lo forget thai coaxial freights here require cheapening, also since the inauguration of tin; 'Frisco service, the import American trade had increased by .£1,415.000. (Voices: "The-, Fast toast trade") Mr Uugg said he meant Mie inipon trade. Mr Laurensun regretted the low level of the speeches of the members for Waikouaiti and the Hutt.- That style of reference to a great Republic was- Ihe best argument for the 'Frisco service. Patriotism did not consist in abuse of oilier nations. lie had not always supported the 'Frisco service, but cosmopolitan considerations, the speed of this service, and the absence of any alternative, had induced him to change his mind. Mr Poole said he had never allowed himself to be intimidated bv any scribe. It had always been tile practice of the British race 10 utilise conveniences as they came to hand. From his own knowledge, damage had come of the hurry willi nhich the Spreckcls" bonis had been buill and commissioned, bill Mure were not two boats in Ihese waters which could *rep up with them belween Auckland and Sydaev. At picsc n t these vessels representee! Ihe best service obtainable, and if ilm- were ,ui off the Pacific became ;, blank. The colony must be prepared to support them until something beller offered." Mr Tanner explained that he had ceased to oppose tlv 'Frisco service because the substitute sought to be

piovided had broken down. Tin- Red Sea louie was out of tfift question; the 'Frisco rout'-' was the bc« and the only one available. He would sunport it, purhaps regretfully, but sincerely.

Mr I''isher could nut go into raplures over the friendliness of a nation which absolutely debarred ftciirade with X, imprisoned Harper, and drove the Union Company out of tin: Frisco trade. The objection of the South is that the 'Frisco service is not British, and is irregular. The Union Company was prepared to establish a first-class British service. Though its time would be somo four days logger, he would greatly prefer it.

Mr Massey denied there was anything in the. Ametican shipping laws to prevent British ships from trading u 'Frisco direct, and pointed out that the Navigation Laws of New Zealand are far more drastic than the American, lie scouted the idea that the Auckland members wore whipped into line by any newspaper. They were sensible business men, understanding the position. The trade with America, costing £IO,OOO a year, was ten times tho trade with South Africa, which had cost 4 £y0,000. He complimented the converts on the other side who had listened to reason, and he stigmatised as backsliders those who had turned their backs on 'Frisco, and among these was the

member for Bruce. He was. prepared when tho time came to support a better service, and he would do it more willingly than he supported the Frisco service. Then that service had only been irregular since the great earthquake. There was no possibility of establishing any other service. Canada and Australia liad united in preventing any diversion pf the Vancouver boats to Now Zealand ; Australia had, in fact, shown a certain amount of unfairness. When better things came, ho would bo prepared to support Vancouver. It ought to be possible then to have both the Vancouver and 'Frisco services, both three-weekly, with mails goingout and coming every 10 days. At present,' however, the main fact was that we had only the Frisco service. He felt strongly that it would be a mistake to give up its benefits simply because it was at present impossible to get all we require. Mr W. F'raser deprecated localism. He was not concerned with Auckland, but with the best way in which our mails are going 10 be carried. He blamed the Government for having allotted the Vancouver service to drop, but ho would not criticise them fur not being able to bring about a restoration, which he was beginning to think was impossible. If we connected with Australia, the service would be six or seven days longer. Thero was no means of enforcing the "betterment" clause of the contract. He wondered w:hcn he read the terms whether the Minister was serious. ,T7ie service was irregular; the boat now due was five days behind time. He was afraid the thing was hopeless. Mr Buddo thought the adoption of the 'Frisco service was against business principles and contrary to Imperial interests. An average of four days greater length of voyage was worth the advantages it secured. Mr Ailken had always felt kindly towards the 'Frisco service, but that service had become disorganised longbefore the 'Frisco earthquake. Now, business people required reliability, and he preferred reliability with four or five days more-steaming to a shorter service, which camo up to time once a month. Moreover, a threeweeks' service was not enough for this colony. The House rose at 5.30.

Mr Aitken, resuming at 7.30, pointed out that America is jt thoroughly protectionist country. Tho main requirement of this advancing colony was a weekly service. There was a grand asset in the shape of a weekly service with Australia. To connect that service will the Australian Suez services would be larger. All that w-as necessary was to make .it worth the company's while to make, arrangements to cacth the Australian mail on the day of its weekly departure. Mr Flatman found the reasons in favour of 'Frisco stronger than ever. Mr Izard, with evcrv goodwill towards Auckland, preferred a Suez weekly service. Mr E.G. Allen opposed tho resolutions.

Mr Barber and Mr Stevens supported.

Tho House divided on the addition of Mr Allen's proviso. Ayes, 23; Noes, 41; and the addition was last. The following is tho division list: Ayes—Messrs Aitken, E. G. Allen, Arnold, Barclay,, Buddo, Fisher, A. L. D. Fraser, Gray, Hall, Hornsby, Izard, Lewis, Mackenzie, f. Parata, Rhodes, Rutheiford, Sidey, Steward, Symcs, Wilford, Witty, fellers—J. Allen and Davcy. Noes—Alison, Harbor, Baunic, Bennett, Bollard, Carroll, Dillon, Klb, Flatman, Fowlds, W. Fraser, Graham, Groenslade, Hall-Jones, Hanan, Heke, Herries, Hogan, Houston, Jennings, Kaihau, Laurenson/Lawry, McGowan, McNab, Mander, Masscy, Miliar, Mills Ngata, Poland, Poole, Stddon, Smith, Stalhvorthy, Stevens,. Tanner, Thomson, Ward. Tellers: Colvm and Kidd. I

In committee Mr Eraser proposed to reduce the period for the betterment of the 'Frisco service from two years to one.

The Premier considered that would be fatal to the contract. The amendment was lost by 4; to 25. Mr Fisher proposed an amendment that on six months' notice, the determinations of the contract be compulsory after failure of the contractors to improve.

The Premier pointed out that it might be impossible within six months.

The amendment was lost, and the 'Frisco clause was carried without amendment.

The Vancouver resolution was then, after slight discussion, carried Oil the voices.

The resolutions were reported to •he House and adopted.