To the Editor of the 'NORTH-CHINA Dairy NEWS."
SiR—I regret once more to have to refer to my resignation from the Council, bat the statement made yesterday's Municipal Gazette (more than three weeks after my resignation) compels me to do so.
At the Council Meeting of March when I tendered my resignation, explained that this step was taken s0 a8 not to embarrass the embers taking their seat for the frst time. The Rules as stated on the Council Minutes of that date embraced the followings That all Council business is} hat the Council acts as a. whole! and. that the "individual Spinions of members, though record shi the [Minutes may not be Sivulged to outside oth nliviteal Counet tember may discon Monieipal ma her tay "ise, Mmicpal mate {ern tu public or addrean any yale teeting without the sanction of the Council, "I was requested by the Vice-Chairman to. reconsider my decision, and as the members had been previously advised of the purpose of the meeting, it must be presumed that the Vice-Chairman's request was made with their knowledge. I reiterated the reasons which made my decision appear to be in the interests of the Council agit a fortnight before the annual eating of ratepayers "view of recent incidents, which are" generally known, ction a and the latter had no alternative ut to accept my resignation, which was published in the Gazette two days later. I um therefore surprised to" read in yesterday's Gazette that at a subsequent Council meeting the matter was reopened and the statement made that my resignation, (which, as already pointed out, I was at the time quested to withdraw, but had refused to do so) was accepted, owing to the relations existing: between myself and some of my colleagues. This most gratuitous statement fs the first indication 1 have had, that unfriendly relations existed, except as between myself and one Councillor, a Director of the Telephone Company, who, although he has for some time ceased to be the Council's representative fon the Boar! of the Telephone Company and consequently, according to a Council ruling, should therefore not have participated in discussions: regarding telephone matters, has continued up to the time of my resignation, to dominate these discussions, When the whole unedifying story of the telephone negotiations is told, I trust that my attitude with re: ard thereto will be vindicated, In further reference to my resignation, the view is expressed in the Gazette that it in not obligatory for a member of the Council to resign because he fails to secure relection. This very obvious view has never been disputed and illustrated by the fact that Mr. Massey is continuing in office, It ignores, however, entirely the fact that T'was at the time Chairman of the Council, and in that capacity. had to perform certain duties which, under the circumstances, might have been embarrassing to the Council. This was explained in imy letter to the Press of March 6 and has since been admitted by anembers of the Council individ Tt must also have been obvious that T could not continue to preside at Council mostings and ignore the fact that a member had broken the rules and conventions covering these meeting th reach of the positive rules and con: entlons of the Council, view of the above tend the Tact that the wmiber as to the policy of the cornel whole, any views. expressed" by
lst. be deemed to be the. views should "have resigned, rat ake am electioneering. letter which het addressed. to. the Council, the Vehicle of his disagreement, mind of either the Gounell ae, of the "To prevent any ambiguity in the
Tatepayers,. it ins cxsentiat for' the Council to' take the matter under eon sideration and" give 's definite raling. An the "principle hes been publicly Ghattened, It ts moat desirable that the Counci's attitude inthe matter now "to theater next annual meeting, shall therefore be you would kindly publish, this Wether with the" Council Municipal Yours traly, The Council's Reply Connell Chamber. Administration Building.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.