20-January-2006

Letter to the Editor

The Southern Courier

Right of Reply to letter by S. Struk (Southern Courier 17-1-06)

Please note that these comments are the personal observations of Cr Matson.

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As a Councillor I am constrained by the confidentiality restrictions that apply to discussing the recommendations that were put before us by the General Manager in the closed meetings at which this tender was debated.

I thus don't feel that I have the freedom to refute her disingenuous claim that her tender was the "preferred option" other than to repeat my observations that I believe that it would be in the public interest for the Department of Local Government to review and advise Councillors on the final decision.

Ms Struk's letter states some fairly vitriolic things about me even though we have to my knowledge only met once.

She paints me as a "public figure" who makes "outrageous suggestions, outbursts and comments". She is entitled to her opinion and there is even some truth in what she says. I am the first to admit that many of my problems may never have occurred if I had first thought before I spoke. I ask that people judge my mayorship on what I achieved and not on what I said.

But Ms Struk should remember that she too in the last Council elections sought (if unsuccessfully) elevation to public office - and who knows, may even do so again.

Perhaps she should also practice some forethought before she herself is tempted to make her own outrageous suggestions, outbursts and comments?

Councillor Murray Matson