The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1912.

Gisborne Times, 11 October 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1912.

j Although matters municipal have i been much less strenuous during the past few days it is generally understood that the present per- ' iod of peace may be regarded merely as a lull in the storm. It is. of course, the position that it was not generally expected that the action of Cr Collins and his advisory committee in requesting the immediate retirement of the Borough Engineer would be entertained by a majority of the Council when it was brought tip at the recent meeting. As is well known, the request was not even supported. by specific charges 'of maladministration ; and even if such had been the ease all that the “City Fathers” would have been justified in doing would have been to order an inquiry to he held so that the allegations might be fully investigated. In this connection, the Major, however, does not seem to have helped matters by the attitude which he adopted on the subject. No doubt it would have been' all very well to have passed a resolution of confidence in Mr Paterson if certain charges had been put forward and upon inquiry found to have been disproved. But here was a case where it was decided to vote confidence ju an important official, . despite the fact that the “City j

Only a Lull in the Municipal Storm.

Fathers” had not even been enlightened as to the particular reasons which were behind the request for quite a differentZlecision. Was it fair to Mr Certainly not. Or was it likejyto end the trouble? Xot at all. VTt would indeed seem as thou (dr what a majority of the Council Jmd in view was simply to crush 1 for his fearless remarks as I Mo his intentions with reference to ! municipal reforms.' When the Mayor straightaway moved his resolution of confidence in Mr Paterson, it would seem that Mr Pettie could not have given much weight to the circumstance that Cr Collins had just been returned to the Council table on the specific question of the Engineer. Nor does it appear that Mr Pettie took greatly into account the fact that Cr Collins’ attitude had also just been further endorsed at a large meeting of ratepayers. How much better then would it have been had the Mayor simplified matters, and as it is expected to turn out, expedited the settlement of matters had lie simply said: “Well, Cr. Collins, upon what grounds do you ask that Mr Paterson lie requested to send in his resignation?” Now, the position is, of course, that if there were matters a week or two ago which Cr Collins and his advisory committee considered were sufficient to justify them in advocating the dismissal of the Borough Engineer, the need for an inquiry of some sort or another can hardly be said to be non-existent today from their point of view. It is then still the obvious duty of Cr Collins to bring forward any allegations which he lias to make, and it is equally | the obvious duty of his colleagues on j the Borough Council to afford every j facility for the pros and the cons in regard to the charges to be fairly and fully placed before the ratepayers. We can hardly believe that either Cr Colj lins or the Council will shirk a task from which there can lie no honorable escape. As it was reported some days ago that the advisor;,' committee to Cr Collins is to hold a further meeting on Monday evening, some developments may he in store in connection with the next meeting of the Council, which takes place on the following evening.