THE PUBLIC MEETING.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 7

THE PUBLIC MEETING.

THE MAYOR'S AOTIQK.

HOTJ.Y CRITICISIjD.

At a later stage of the meeting a pi* discqssion took place relating to the ; recent open air meeting apd the failure of the Mayor to call a citi*on_* meeting. • ,'.'". Cr. Burgoyne asked why the Mayor had not carried out the decision of the Council adopted at the last meeting, that a public meeting should be calledto consider the strike question. Cr. Burgoyne said the Mayor had no right - . ti> act on telephonic instructiona from _ councillors, but should have called ».. - special meeting of the Council. That would have been the proper course to havo followed. . The Mayor said he took all responsibility for not calling the meeting, and he held he had acted properly. Cr, McCombs: According to what Standing Order? The Mayor: I did it> on my own authority. Cr. Sorensen: Very sad. Cr. McCombs: Very sad indeed when tho Mayor disposes of tho Standing Orders of tho Council in that way. The Mayor: The Council fixed no time, and I have not refused to call. :- the meeting. Cr. Hunter: Didn't you ftive roe and v others to understand that you would convene the meeting by Thursday. The Mayor: Yes, if it were possible.. Cr. Hunter: We were not communicated with over tlie. telephone, and we had to get our information from the daily papers. Cr. Burgoyne: Seeing our worthy" Chief Magistrate disclaims any responsibility for these people who have been brought in as •"specials"—he declares he will accept no responsibility —I want >to ask him who h going to assume tho responsibility as to the qualifications, character, and desirability of these men for being sworn in. as special constables. There were men forced into the position against their wills, and certainly someone should shoulder the responsibility. The Mayor, as . Chief Magistrate of the city, should know who was responsible. ; According to tho Magistrate who swore in the coiistablis. the rospoir-iblity was on the Citizens' Committee, which was not re[oognieed and not known, and would not disclose its own identity. * I The Mayor: All I know; is that Mr

H.W. Bishop, S.M., is exercising great rare Cr. Burgoyne: -He says he is exercising none. , Thc Mayor: A number of men have been rejected. , Cr. Burgoyne: Mr Bishop says he will havo to accept anyone the Citizens Committee brings * along. Who is going to accept the responsibility <" The Mayor: There is nothing in the Justices J the Peace Act requiring mo to accept the responsibility, and 1 do not accept it. Cr. Burgoyne: Then am I to understand that no one accepts it? The Mayor: I suppose the Justice Department will. Cr. Burgoyne: The Magistrate disclaims any responsibility. This is a question to which I want a satisfactory answer. It is a serious matter, and concerns the whole of the city.

The Mayor: The Justice Department will be responsible for whatever is done. Cr. Hunter: On what authority, then, did yon advertise for the enrolment of special constables? The Mayor: Under Section 32 of the Ju.sticc,s of the Peace Act. THI-. MAYOR AND THE MEETING. Referring to the meeting held on vSaturday night and the resolution adopted thereat, Cr. McCombs asked the Mayor if the editor of tho Christchurch "'Press" was warranted in making the statements be had regarding the ailegation that th? motion as submitted to tho meeting was not the one previously drawn and approved of by him.

The Mayor: T may say at once I am not answerable for the editor of the Christchurch "Press." He can draw what conclusions ho thinks proper. I will not answer the question.

Cr. McCombs: I am not holding you rr»pcn>ilile for words expressed in "The Press." I hope that no Mayor of the city will so lower himself as to take tin* responsibility for statements in "The Press." Rut that is by the way. 'The Press was allegedly basing their remarks on an interview with you.

Cr. Sorensen rose to a point of order. The Mayor said that Cr. McCombs was quite out of order but as tho matter referred to himself ho had not stopped him.

Cr. McCombs: Are you of opinion that the editor of "The Press" was justified—

Tlie Mayor: You are not going to get my opinion on that. It does not matter to anyono what my opinion is. Cr. McCombs: I believe "The Press" has placed an unwarrantable construction on tho Mayor's statement, and I want him to say so. The Mayor: You will have to go to the editor of "The Press."

Cr. McCombs: You accept no responsibility for word, in "The Press."

The Mayor: No. Cr. McCombs: Thanks very much. * Cr. McCombs: Didn't Professor Mills draft the motion at your request on tho lines suggested and with your approval?

The Mayor: The first part of it was, but tho other was never drafted in my presence, and I never saw it. Cr. McCombs: t None of it? The Mayor: Yes, you wrote part of it.

Cr. McCombs: No, it was written by Professor Mills along the lines you yourself suggested to him, and it is a mere subterfuge not to take tho responsibility for it. Cr. Hunter: Didn't you leave it in tho bands of those responsible for the meeting to draft the resolution? Cr. Otley: That's nothing to do with tho Council. - - Cr. Hunter: Did tho Mayor leave tho drafting of the resolution in the hands of those who convened the meeting? The Mayor: Yes, I said I would leave it to their sense of honour. I never saw the resolution until it appeared. Cr. Hunter: You heard mc read the resolution? Tho Mayor :_Tes, at the meeting. THE "SPECIALS" AND THEIR WORK. Cr. Burgoyne: I am given to understand that the military officers are instructing those in camp as "specials" not to strike the public on the head with their bludgeons, but on the shoulder, for a blow on the head, would only incapacitate the man'struck for a little while, whereas a broken shoulder would incapacitate him for several weeks. .We are living,'in a century when we boast of our Christianity, continued Cr. Burgoyne, and I want to ask if a.thing; like that is to be committed in a civilised country by those who are so degraded that they kribw no hotter.

. The Mayor: I don't know what instructions the men get nor what their drill consists of.