PUKEKURA PARK.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1920, Page 5

PUKEKURA PARK.

.THE CURATOR'S RESIGNATION, j / . I BOARD'S yiEW OF THE MATTER. ! NEW APPOINTMENT TO EE MADE. The recent resignation of the curator of Pukekura Park (Mr. W. W. Smith) «'as under review at the monthly meeting of the Park Board last night, and the question of appointment of a successor was also discussed.

A statement prepared by the secretary (Mr. P. K. Stalnton) concerning the acceptance of Mr. Smith's resignation was endorsed for publication by the Board as setting out the Board's position. It read as follows:

"Up to June, 1920, it had Seen the custom of tl:e Board at its monthly meeting to appoint an overseer for the following month, the duties of the appointment being to visit the Park and confer with Mr. Smith regarding any matters concerning the welfare of the Park. At the June Board meeting it was decided that the above arrangement was not satisfactory, and in Its stead a permanent Grounds Committee (vide triumvirate), comprising Mrs. Burgess and Messrs. Collls, Weston and Stainton, was set up. This committee met at the Park at times to suit their convenience to co-operate with the curator In the work and progress of the Park. In fairness to the grounds committee it should be recorded that on several occasions Mr. Smith has expressed his gratification to the members for the greatly Improved arrangement. "On September 9, 1920, the chairman wrote the following letter to Mr. Smith, which explains itself .-—'Sir,—The Grounds Committee of the Park visited the grounds yesterday and were very disappointed at not being ablo to find you tlrere. This Is, at any rate, the second time this has happened since the Grounds Committee was appointed, and as the committee are busy people It is hardly fair to them to have, to practically waste their time, or else pass the details of what is required to the men.. It was felt that if you have to be away from the grounds the least that could be done would be to .mention the fact to either the secretary or the. 'chairman. The Board are paying considerable sums out to the employees, and on this account th\ "supervision should bo as perfect «s possible, and not as It was yesterday, everybody In total'ignorance' of your whereabouts. The committee wore hanging about for probably an hour and ' a half in tip hopes of your putting In an appearance, which, however, did not eventuate.' To this the Board received no protest or reply.

"At the Board meeting on, October 5, 1 was" instructed by the Board to send the following letter to Mr. Smith:—'Dear Sir,—At the Board meeting held last "evening,'" It was the expressed wish of the members that you be present at each Board "meeting, at trere are always matters arising on> which your advice will be of considerable assistance. Also the following resolution was carried: 'That In any case where the curator'! cervices are required by other bodies in New Plymouth for guidance- and assistance, that the application must first come through and be sanctioned by either the chairman or secretary of the Board.' No doubt you will fully appreciate the importance of this reso. lution, for In the past you tave been almost expected to be at.the call of every sporting and local body for advice and assistance, and this must take a considerable amount of time. The public are watching closey how no expend tho money recenty raised, and we, as a Board, and we know that you as curator, do not wiah to be found wanting. The Board feels that only by concentration and your being in attendance at the Park to supervise the work tie whole of the working hours, that wo ran justify the present very heavy wage sheet. It Is the intention of the Grounds Committee to pay frequent vislta to the Park to co-operate with you in every manner possible. Your hearty co-operation in the above expressions Is requested.' "This is the letter that Mr. Smith refers to as Insulting and 'a no-confidence motion,' and advjsod ma personally that it was libellous and slanderous. On tre morning of October 1, Mr. Smith called at my office, handed in some money for boat hire and firewood, and said he wished to be relieved from tho Board's services that day. Without any explanation he turned and went out. although I called to him with a. view to getting further . particulars. I immediately got into touch with the acting ct-alrman and other members who were available, and it was decided to call a special Board meeting at !i that evening. Meantime, I was instructed to- Interview Mr. Smith again, and If he still insisted on resigning, to ask for his resignation in writing. This I did. At the commencement of the Interview, Mr. Smith refused to discuss the question at all, replying that he had his ttings packed, was making the necessary arrangements for the instruments In ,hls charge to be taken over, and that he would be out of the Park that night. I pointed out to Mr. Smith that nothing, was furfber from the thoughts of the Board than a desire to Insult or pass a vote of noconfidence in him, also the unfairness to the Board If he left at ( a day's notice, together with tho unsatisfactory ending to years of j faithful and much appreciated service. Mr. Smith reiterated that he had fully made up his mind to go, hut would agree, to stay on till tho end of October (not to reconsider tte, matter at tho end of the month). I pointed out that as the next Board meeting would not be held before the end of the month. It would be necessary to call a special meeting to consider the matter, as it was of vital Importance to the Park. Also, if Mr. Smith still Insisted on resigning to kindly give me his resignation in writing. To this Mr. Smith replied that we wonld get nothing In writing from him, and there was no noed to call a special Board meeting for be was going and there was no heed for any fuss. "The, whole facts were placed before a full Board meeting held at 5 p.m. on the same day, and it was unanimously decided to accept the resignation as from October 31st. The following letter containing the resolution of tho Board was posted on October 9th to Mr. Smith:—'Dear Sir,—At a special meeting of the Board called to consider your verbal resignation as curator of Pukokura Park, the following resolution was recorded: 'That the Board have received Mr. Smith's verbal resignation as curator of tho Pukekura Park, and accepts the same as from October 31, 1920, with very great regret, and would place on record their appreciation of his faithful services extending over a period of nearly twelve years.'" Regarding the remarks by Mr. Smith that the first Intimation he had regarding the acceptance of his resignation beting in the Dally News of Saturday, October 23rd, tl-e statement says: "Before tho official letter from the Board accepting the resignation was posted, Mr. Hughes, on his own initiative, went to the Park and saw Mr. Smith and expressed his regret at the resignation, and offered his services to bring about an understanding between Mr. Smith and the Board. He assured Mr. Smith that he had been misInformed when he told the secretary that the.Board had intended to dispense with his services; the Board had no such desire. Mr. Smith cordially thanked Mr. Hughes, but urged him to take no action."

The statement proceeds: "The officio! letter, strange to say, was returned to my office three times 'unopened' by one of tile Park employees. The ttird time another letter addressed to Mr. Smith was returned in company with the one accepting his resignation, and apparently ho thought this was from the Board also, which, however, was not (he case. These, twe letters were posted back to Mr. Smith on the 15th. or iCtii. October, and hnvo not since dein ril- - Further, Mr. Smith hltitt'f' hod told people some days before the notice appeared in the Daily News thit ho was leaving. How can his statement hi reconciled with these facta? The person?! references made against me by Mr. Smith I <to not propose to discuss, as I ptefer to let facts speak for themselves. Any sensible person knows what a secretaiy'a iJuties are, and no doubt the Board will conflfa that what I bar* im m bitit J»j» thwpfcttwttrt." • 1