TROUBLE AT MARTON.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1919, Page 5

TROUBLE AT MARTON.

COUNCILLORS ASK MAYOR TO ■ ■ RESIGN.

The Mayor (Mr. F. C. Wilson) and members of Marton Borough Council are not a happy family, and the former Kaa placed himself in such u. position that ilvc of the candidates have called upon him to resign It is a well-known fact tliat at Marton it has been a case of "pull devil, pull baker," municipally, for somo considerable tune past, but the latest development has arisen through the publication of anonymous correspondence signed "Decency," making an attack on some of Marion's best citizens. "Decency's" first contribution was in connection with the action of an organised band of workers operating during the epidemic period. When the doctors of the town were put out of action, certain men visited homas, and took the temperatures of sick folk. The 'medical men duly received these reports in their own sick rooms and prescribed accordingly. The ac.tion of, the V.A.D's was considered humane, and worthy of all praise, ex. cepting in the eyes of one individual, who sought by means of anonymous correspondence to throw discredit on the workers and the purity of their motives. Mr. Frank R. H. Brice, a well-known land agent of the town, immediately replied to ''Decency's" unjust and unwarranted criticism of the actions of the workers concerned. This .drew the fire in the direction of Mr. Brice, and a vituperative letter appeared over the same nom de plume. The fat was then in the fire. Mr Brice lost no time in dealing with the allegedly libellous production, and then came the startling announcement that the Mayor had admitted his responsibility for the publication of the letters in question, though he said he submitted the correspondence on behalf of another, whose name ho was not in a position to disclose. The published statement of the Mayor's implication in the correspondence caused pained surprise among his friends, whilst five <rf the members of the council took the matter more seriously. They have informed the Mayor by letter that they can mo longer sit with Mm as chairman, and have suggested that he should resign. The latest development las 4*e*ted» wide a^Msaili''" " ' " v