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Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1921, Page 4

THE COUNCIL AND ITS OFFICIALS.

The chairman of the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Association asked the Borough Council last evening to allow the borough officers to be present at a meeting called by his association to-night to discuss the hydro-electric position. The Mayor acknowledged the right of ratepayers to express their opinions, but considered that officers of the council should not be brought into what the Mayor evidently considers is a controversy between the council and the ratepayers. Mr. Carter's purpose evidently was to have the officers present in order to obtain information which they were better able to give than anyone else, manifestly not to criticise the actions of the council. Surely the ratepayers are entitled to have this information first hand. They provide the rates and pay for the services of the officials. In a matter that is exercising their minds pretty considerably, as this question is, they should have all possible information on the subject, sothat they can come to a right conclusion. Few ratepayers have a grasp of the situation, but they certainly can see that tha,,council is assuming a big responsibility in rejecting the advice of the engineers and town manager, and the earnest representations of two deputations of citizens, and limiting the works to such an extent as to prevent the council ever dealing with the English smelting firm which is desirous of starting operations in New Plymouth. Ratepayers cannot understand the Action of the council in refusing the modest request to have a survey made that will not cost a great deal, or involve any material delay in the carrying out of rhe works now in progress. This gagging of the council’s officers will not reassure them. It would have been more satisfactory if the council had complied with the request and facilitated in every wav the giving of information to the ratepayers, and to which they are justly entitled. The resolution certainly permits the officials to attend as ratepayers —a big conce.-sion, seeing that it a right the payment of rates inevitably gives—but unless they attend with their papers, etc., and are able to' answer questions they may as well stay j away. As private they are' barred from making use of facts and j figures acquired in their official capacity. On several occasions these officials have, by direction of the council, attended other meetings on hydro-electric matters , in order to give the fullest information; in their possession. Why that policy, should be abandoned in the present case j is tteafore intxplwable.