THE CEMETERY SCANDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 299, 14 June 1912, Page 6

THE CEMETERY SCANDAL.

To the Editor. Sir, —I have refrained from writing re cemetery scandal (and every right-min-ded person must admit that it is a scandal) until I have seen what answer the council gave to Mr Hunt's letter. It must be admitted that Cr Buttimore has miserably failed in his defence, for the following reasons: He being chairman of cemetery committee should have been one of the last persons to give offence by throwing rubbish on other plots, or even jon footpaths. Cr Buttimore remarks, "two wrongs do not make a right." I Cr. Buttimore should be sorry for ;> himself for committing the first wrong and by so doing causing Hunt to commit the second wrong. Some two years ago I threw weeds and flower stalks off my grave plot on the grass alongside (not on any plot). When I visited the grave a few days later, the rubbish had been replaced on my plot. I took the hint in the spirit it was meant, as I could see i that if the sexton was to go to the council on every occasion any person broke the bye laws, lie would be always complaining. Mr Hunt has stated that the council has always supported his procedure until now, and the public does know about the rubbish depots and also Cr. Buttimore. Unless Cr. Buttimore has got tlie hide of a rhinoceros he will resign from the borough council. If the council had no sympathy with Hunt's methods why allow him to continue all these years'? Because the chairman of the cemetery committee who does work for which he receives payment, wilfully breaks the by-law the council approves of his action by dismissing Hunt. I say shame on those councillors who did this contemptible action. I am not surprised at the remarks by that Hotspur, Cr Clark. He says that the chairman and the sexton could not agree and one had to go. Well, and why dismiss Hunt? He has been a faithful j servant and has improved the cemetery 100 per cent, since he took charge I am speaking with some authority on this matter, as it has been my mournful duty for years to visit the cemetery, and I am not a personal friend of Mr Hunt's so am not influenced by friendship in the matter, but by a desire to see British fair play to a white man. Councillor Buttimore was not elected by the ratepayers, and I for one will anxiously await the next borough elections, and trust that Cr Buttimore will meet a fellow-ratepayer on the hustings, and I have no doubt but that the ratepayers will retire Cr Buttimore to oblivion, never to return.—Thanking you, 1 am, etc., JUSTICE.