26, 195 -- 1] PPE NE 423 ACTICE e 1233 1 RS, Daleville = igiazt [RioR gloss We Deli' "Thursday, April 26, 1951 THE OAKVILLE-TRAFALGAR JOURNAL fage 11 REFUSE DERRY REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION (Cofitinued from Page 1) meeting,' the reeve began. "I certainly wish to clarify my posi tion as reeve. Sections 212 and 213 of the municipal act state that the head of a council shall preside at all special council \cotings, and that in his absence, the council may from among its members, . appoint a head of council." Not One Called "Last Mondays gathering heard statements made to the effect that 1 had failed in my duty by failing to call a meeting when the regular meeting was cancell- ed. However, no meeting had been called for last Monday, so mone could have been. cancelled. If one lad been called and cancelled, I would certainly have been on hand to explain why. But such was not the case. When the dep- utyreeve phoned me the Friday night preceding last Monday, ask- ing me to call a meeting, I told him I had no authority to do so legally and would not do so ille- golly. He sald a lot of people would be there in the belief the regular meeting would take place and I explained that mo meeting had been planned, and that I had not had one phone call from a ratepayer requesting a meeting, I stated my position clearly in the press last Weel" Waxes Indignant Flourishing: a press clipping, reeve Litchfield went on: "The deputy-reeve has been quoted as saying last Monday night that he was as much in the dark as the public as to why no meeting was held. IT agree with him. He seems to be very much in the dark, and 1 think it's high time he saw the light." Reeve Litchfield declined to this latter statement, but continued: "Councillor Gibson al- so phoned, asking me to call a meeting, and T told him the same thing, stating I would under no circumstances call a meeting ille- gally. T would say that Mr. Gib- son is the last man in the world to question anyone for shirking a duty. T would ask him to refresh his memory by going back a few Surprised and Astounded Swinging . his fire away from fellow council members momen- the reeve criticized remarks. attributed in the press to rate- payers who gathered in the cham- ber last Monday night. "I'm sur- prised, even astounded, that a former mayor like T. A. Blakelock who was the peoples' choice at Queen's Park for several years, should be so ignorant of the act as to attempt to intimidate my Dosition as reeve by making the remarks he did," he declared. He also scored Fred Price for a statement he described as being Dhrased in "language I wouldn't ordinarily use." Scores Telephone Use "Mr. Price said he admired with guts who. recognized responsibilities, thereby in- men their fering I didn't recognize mine," he said, "I've already explained my stand. But the men he refer- red to, if I may use this rather objectionable phrase, didn't have the guts to~face me in person, but used the telephone to ask me to call a meeting." The reeve then questioned H. T.. Roden's right to criticize any members of council, "I might ex- plain, for the benefit of the press that there is no "t" on the end of this man's name," he said. "He was quoted as saying that the failure to hold a meeting was an arrogant display by some mem- Lers of council that couldn't be forgiven. What right has he to criticize when he hasn't even a franchise to vote?' ; Charges Bulldozing "Deputy-reeve Lauder didn't go! through the righ procedure as I advised him, yet he phoned me a second time and asked that a meeting be called, as did Mr. Gib- son. They were trying to bulldoze me into calling one. I can't stom- ach a man bringing personalities into a telephone conversation, and when the deputy-reeve suggested to me that the clerk had probably called the meeting off, I told him he needn't bother phoning me again if he was going to deal in person- alities." He charged that coun. Gibson told him over the phone that "they had something" on the mayor. "Coun. Gibson told me they had something on Black, but had noth- ing against me 'and that I'd be as well to: go over to their side," he stated. "Deputy-reeve Lauder, when he called the last time, said there had been eight phone calls at his home asking about a meeting, and that his wife was giving him hell, But I didn't have one call." No Legal Status Referringq to another press clipping, which quoted the deputy reeve as saying that the rules of procedure of the town stipulated a meeting would have been in or- der last Monday, he declared hot- ly, waving the document in ques- tion: "These rules of procedure, of which this is a photostatic copy, carry no date, no seal and no signatures and is not worth the paper it's written on. It was used to mislead the public. I haye no alternative but to feel that Mr. Lauder and Mr. Gibson made a deliberate attempt to promote their own interests by twisting the facts, thereby hurting me. It is fhe first time in 11 years on council that I have to publicly state that I am ashamed to be associated with men who would use such corrupt tactics." "Before I would call a meeting illegally, I would resign," he con- cluded, resuming his chair. | "Well, why don't you?" exclaim- ed a low but indignant feminine voice, clearly audible in the sil- ence that followed the reeve's oration. Denies Allegation Speaking quietly and briefly, TOO OLD TO HELP If you have caught your first cold of the season you may think of using up a prescription that was prepared during a similar previous illness. Should your doctor instruct you to resume the medication, remember that his advice does not necessarily refer to the unused remains in the bottle. An old medicine may have lost its effectiveness, may even be spoiled. Syrup, very often employed as a sweetening agent, may turn sour: Certain ingredients of a liquid medicine will remain in solution for a limited period only, after which they will form a precipitate in the bottle. In dry medications--such as capsules and powders--drugs are occasionally used that tend to absorb moisture from the aj drugs, unstable by nature, gradually lose potency. Your pharmacist has made the study of the behavior of drugs his life work. He knows whether the prescription he prepared for you six months or a year ago is still suitable for use, or whether--if your doctor has directed continuance of the medicine--a new supply should be prepared.-- Reprinted from, a copyrighted advertisement. published by Parke, Davis & Company. THE RUSSELL DRUG CO. (Formerly PROMPT DELIVERY . Still other Byers') OAKVILLE députy-reeve Lauder denied he had made any attempt to mislead "anyone at any time." "It has always been the custom to hold meetings on the first and third Monday of the month, and I didn't learn until the Friday be- fore that there would be mo meet- ing. I certainly made no attempt to intimidate the reeve, although I did try to coax him to call a meeting, as I felt that, under the circumstances, a meetings should be held." "I was told, when given the rules of procedure for town coun- cil, that they were to be used, and T've acted accordingly. If they were not to"be used, they should not have been issued," he went on. "The reeve said I didn't fol- low the proper procedure, but that is not so. I tried to follow his ruling, but apparently the neces- sary five members of council did not want a meeting." Must Have Due "Cause "It" is my belief that, under the act, the chief cannot be dis- charged without due cause, and I feel we should accede to his re- quest for an investigation which will establish whether or not he is carrying out his 'duties satis- factorily. T am presenting a reso- lution to this effect that I hope council will see fit to pass." "I apologized to the ratepayers present last Monday night for there being no meeting, just as I have felt it right to do so on past occasions when a meeting was called off,". he concluded. "The reeve said I had no right to do so. 1 felt it was my responsibility to do so." There was a loud burst of ap- plause from the crowded cham- ber as the deputy-reeve sat down and councillor Gibson arose to speak. "Reeve Litchfield makes it ap- pears that I invited all those peo- ple here last Monday," councillor Gibson began. "Actually, they came because they naturally thought there would be a meeting, as there should have been." Got Nowhere Pointing his finger at the reeve he went on: "Youre only sorry you're on the wrong side. I could not have a better job than chair- man of administration of justice, because justice is what I'm going to get before I'm through. I dis- cussed this whole matter with a well informed , friend before I brought it out in the open. You complain that I should have tak- en it to the police committee, but I haven't been able to get any- where with the members of the committee, and I had to bring it out in council." "Il take that other matter up with you later," he added, sitting down amid loud hand-clapping. Councillor McArthur stated he: recalled other occasions when meetings hadn't been called in the regular two week periods. "Im not so green that I don't know the" proper procedure for calling a meeting, and for the members who don't know, I'd say it was damned high time they studied a little municipal law." Wants To Know T. A. Blakelock rose in the aud- ience to ask leave to speak. "My name has been mentioned, and 'I think I should be able to answer," he said. "I stated last week, and still feel, that a meeting shouldn't be called off except by a majority of council. I've had as much muni- cipal experience as the reeve. We who were here last Monday knew that insinuations had been thrown. out against the chief, and as rate- payers we wanted to know if they were true. If so, we wanted him replaced, but if they were not true, we felt his good name should be cleared as quickly as possible He's a young man with his fu- ture still ahead of him. I ask you to have this investigation. If you find he's mot capable, fire him. But if he is capable, be big enough men to clear him," he concluded to applause. "My mame has been dragged in the mud, too" asserted Fred Price" "Mr. Litchfield objected to my use of the word guts, but 1 expressed it that way because 1 thought that even he could un- derstand it. This has been hand- led in a very childlike way. As an ex'policeman myself, I say: if the chief's useleSs,, fire him; if not, clear him, and fast!" brought out in the open," he said. "I had four meetings of the i retorted Gibson. "It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull to mention Derry to you fellows. I couldn't even repeat here the language you used. You called me bull- headed, but it was yourselves that were in that category. I couldn't get anywhere with you, so I brought the matter to coun- iL Mayor Black injected his first comment at this time, expressing the opinion that "the publicity given by some members was not to the credit of council as a whole." 2 No Notices "I defy anyone to prove I'm wrong in this," he said, in ex- plaining meeting procedure. "There can be no meetings unless the mayor calls them, or five mem- bers petition the clerk. There was no meeting contemplated for last Monday. At the previous special meeting, I told members that, as we'd had several special meetings, I hoped no meeting would be nec- essary. Council is notified of meetings by mail, and no notices were sent out." When councillor Gibson, after reading the chief's letter to coun- cil, advocated the town requesting the investigation, the reeve re- plied he felt the ratepayers should not be charged with the cost of same. Up To Us "It's up to us, in my opinion, to see to it that the chief is doing his job," put in deputy-reeve . "He can't be fired with- out cause, so we should either find the cause or give him our full confidence." Councillor McArthur also voiced opposition to the town paying in- vestigation costs. "I think a cer- tain political group is putting pressure on the matter," he asser- ted. "In council, I'll support no political group, though I'm a damned good Tory and I don't give a damn who knows it!" Councillor Ralph Wakely ex- pressed the view the town coun- cil should ask for the enquiry. "I feel that, as council members made the accusations against the chief, IT would heartily endor: the council paying for the investi- gation," he said. Nausea Sets In Freshman councillor Del Car- rothers, who described himself as being "appalled" by the dis- cussion at the previous meeting, earnestly declared he was "naus- eated by the comments made at this one." "It was poor taste to bring this all out in public and it's too bad it has been kicked around in the press. I don't feel the ratepayers should be saddled with the costs of what seems to boil down to a battle of personalities," he main- tained. "I'd like to ask councillor Gibson what police chiefs in com- munities of similar size are paid." "The Long Branch village chief gets $3900," shot back Mr. Gib- son, "I'd like to ask you why you voted against a raise for chief Derry?" "I only asked a civil question, which presupposes a civil an- swer," returned councillor Car- rothers. "If you ask the kind of ques- tions you wish' to, Ill give you the kind of answers T wish," said Mr. Gibson. Last Year's Data "I judged the value of the job by information gathered by last year's police committee," retort. ed coun. Carrothers. "Your an. swer is unsatisfactory, You kick. ed the ball on this thing, and I'm asking if you did it without suf. ficient information to justify creating the disturbance you haye ated in the past two weeks, Tf I was in your place right now, I couldn't sit with my head up." Interjecting again, mayor Black stated he felt there. were two questions to consider. "I've felt all along this was a straight ployer-employes mat he sald, "There is a procedure laid down for police chiefs .to follow, and our chief didn't see fit 'to take it. I'm against the town paying for an investigation. I would welcome it, however, and hope the chief asks for it, if council doesn't ap- prove making the request. I would like to correct the deputy-reeve on his statement. The chief is hired at the pleasure of council and fired at the pleasure of council." : "As for the photostatic copies of the rules of procedure, they have no legal status and are of no use to present day councils," he concluded. The discussion ended at this point, and other matters of bus- iness were brought forward. Re- jection of deputyreeve Lauder's resolution took place shortly be- fore the meeting adjourned. Wants Salaries Published Councillor McArthur told coun- cil a resolution passed last year had stipulated that "an intelligent financial statement and a list of municipal salaries" be published annually in the local press. He sald the statement had been pub- lished, but not the salary list. Bi- nance committee chairman Fred Turner promised to investigate. The town's mew traffic bylaw was given a third reading and forwarded to the dept. of high- ways for official stamp of appro- val. ® ONTARIO APPLES WHOLESALE No. 1 Fancy Grade Mcintosh - Spy Greenings - Canada Red Golden Russets - Talman Sweet | BASKET OR BUSHEL ANY QUANTITY Delivered Locally WILTON FRUIT FARM FOURTH LINE Between Lakeshore Highway and QE. North of Appleby College Douglas Wilson, Mgr. PHONE 49-W-2 Monument built A marble symbolic to the living . . . 90 COLBORNE ST. W. The Memorial Ideal of enduring granite or design and reverent in purpose, resting in surroundings of peace and beauty, a tribute of respect and honor to the dead, a constant source of inspiration Oakville Monument Works Cemetery Lettering--Monuments Cleaned OAKVILLE S| £ era in home A MODERN MIRACLE PHILIPS DE-FROST AUTOMATIC PHILIPS | 4 Defros 3 f autamay Now, AUTOMATIC DEFROSTING has created a new refrigeration Automatic. Just plug itin ... the new way to eliminate the messy old chore of constant defrosting. nyiss out on this great opportunity. 13.50 L. F. CLEMENT 8 THOMAS STREET NORTH, PHONE 1441 REFRIG & OIL BURNERS SALES & SERVICE DAY AND NIGHT SERVICE "What We Sell We Service with Philips De-Frost Be Profit-wise. Don't Against Open Di Reeve Litchfield maintained the chief should have taken his to the police committee. against the matter being request "I am Loam - Stone - Gravel SLADE'S HAULAGE ROCKERY STONE BY TON Stone Walls and Rockeries Built BOX 15 CLARKSON 9 AM. TO 9 P.M. NEW CAR BUYER - A 1951 PLYMOUTH Depending On Color CAN BE DELIVERED NOW ON A REASONABLE DELIVERY --- PROVIDED YOU ORDER SOON HEDLEIGH HOME LIMITED "The Home of Chrysler, Plymouth, Fargo Service" DUNDAS STREET NORTH OAKVILLE PHONE 1063