ENGINEER MANSFIELD

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10565, 22 February 1912, Page 5

ENGINEER MANSFIELD

AND THE WANGANUI MAYOR.

A CRISIS REACHED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WANGA.NUI, Last Night. For some time past there has been much discord in municipal matters here between the Borough Council and the Borough Engineer. Matters apparently came to a crisis at a meeting of the Council on the. 13th, when the Mayor moved that the Engineer be given three months' notice of the termination of his engagement. . i-No .reflection., whatever was cast on. his professional ' ability, but "the ground for his dismissal was that of "incompatibility of temper." The Mayor's motion was lost by six to four. The dispute then took a t>er-s-onal turn, the Mayor stating that, as he had acted at the instigation of a majority of the Council, he would resign unless Councillors supported him. A special meeting was; held this evening, when the Mayor moved .that the Engineer be asked to resign. After a lengthy discussion, one Councillor recanted, and the voting oh the motion was five to five. In order that no one might say that he used his power to give vent to petty spite, the Mayor refused.to use his casting vote, and handed in his resignation. Considerable interest has been aroused in the quarrel, and a meeting of the public present was held after, <wheri it was decided to ask'the Mayor to reconsider his decision, and, if he refused, to call a public indignation meeting.