THE CITIZENS' MEETING

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 8

THE CITIZENS' MEETING

WHY IT WASN'T CA__LED. MOTION RESCINDED. Cr. Sorensen, pursuant to notice, then moved :—-"That, in view of the events which happened in Lyttelton yesterday, the 18th instant, the resolution adopted by the Council on the 17th instaijt, to convene a meeting of representative citizens for the purpose of discussing the present industrial crisis with a view to making representations to the Government to pass legislation to settle the present trouble, be hereby revoked." Cr. Sorensen said that when the deputation approached the Council air* assurance was given that no violence would take place at Lyttelton. The same day acts of violence did take place, and he accordingly gave notice of motion to rescind the resolution.

The motion was seconded by O. Otley.

Cr. McCullough supported the motion. There "was no need for it now, he said, for the meeting was held last Saturday night, and the employers would not be represented. Thc motion adopted at the last meeting of the Council was carried unanimously and in the best of spirits. Cr. Otley said that he had voted -gainst it. Cr. McCullough said tho minutes did not show that. The action taken to rescind the motion was intended to stifle discussion on the matter. Until employers became sane , there would •never bo an end to tronblo with the men. CHARGE AGAINST THE "SPECIALS." Cr. McCullough then got on to the subject of special constables, and said that some of the constables had insulted Jthree girls who wero standing at a street corner at Addington. If those were the sort of people who were going to run the city for the next few weeks, then there would be trouble. It was going to be a fight to the finish, and ho hoped .the finish would be with the men. The Mayor said he was assured by the Commanding Officer at the camp that the men were never allowed outside the gate with their badges on. Cr. McCullough: I saw myself six mounted men, all wearing badges, leave the camp on Sunday evening. BACK TO QUESTION. Returning to the subject under discussion, Cr. Otley said ho was not in favour of the meeting at any time. Law and order had to be preserved, and recent events in Lyttelton showed the necessity for the special constables. The could not be closed for ever at the dictation of a few men. He could not see why there should be more trouble -with the specials than there was before. 3 Bur goyne said he agreed with Cr. 2fc W° ln S the keeping of law and __-*.?l nfc hT Mt€d to know th »t the special constables were men qualified to preserve law and order. As it was, anybody that came along was sworn in tfe? W:i l lc . ns _ nbles ' n <*Hv k_ew™nv" thing about them, and nobody took an l_ resppnsibuity for them. -,CT" Otley: They are a fine body of men, anyhow. „

Cr. Burgoyne (ironically): They are a fine body of men if all we are told is true. A STONEWALL. Cr. McCombs said the Employers' Association took up a wrong attitude in refusing to be represented at the meeting. Speakers from that side would nave got a fair hearing, and it was possible that some solution might have been arrived at. It was monstrous to think that anything the Council did could be made inettsctive by the sending in of a notice of motion. That was the effect of the Mayor's action. He desired to see law and order prevail, but how could that be done if one party were armed by direction of the secret Strike Committee, which seemed at the present time to be ruling the affairs of the city ? Cr. McCombs was proceeding to show what could have been dealt with at the meeting, when Cr. Sorensen rose to a point of order. The Mayor ruled that Cr. McCombs must confine himself to the matter under review. He could not discuss special constables. Cr. McCombs continued his speech, and reviewed strike affairs. He was pulled up again on a point of order, and be retorted that the Council desired to burk discussion on the strike affair.

Cr. Taylor said that all Cr. McCombs could do was to adduce reasons to show why the motion should be rescinded.

Cr. McCombs .said he wa.s there on a stonewall campaign, for he had heard that a certain motion was to be proposed, and he desired to block it by speaking till 10.30 p.m., when no new business could come un. If he wero given an assurance that no new business would be introduced, he would cease. Cr. Taylor moved: —"That the question be now nut,"' which he said had to be taken right away, without discussion. Cr. Hunter rose to a point of order. Cf. McCombs wa.s still on his feet, and Cr. Taylor's motion could not bo put.

Cr. Sorensen said he bad proposed to move a resolution that a reward of £20 should be offered for information leading to thc conviction of the taxidriver who was responsible for the assault on the snecial constable that day.

Cr. McCombs said he did not care twopence for a matter of that sort. That wasn't what he had in mind. Several Councillors at this stage left the chamber, and only a bare quorum remained.

Cr.' Loasby suggested that Cr. McCombs should leave. That would leave tlie meeting without a quorum, and would achievethe end Cr. McCombs had in view.

Cr. McCombs accdrdingly left tho chamber.

Tlie division bell was rung, and several members trooped back. As they entered. Cr. iiunter jumped up and held the,floor for a few minutes. Several other Councillors then rehired, and again the meeting was held up for tho want of a quorum. After a minute or two they returned, and Cr. Hunter, wno meanwhile remained on his feet, started off talking again.

Cr. Loasby rose to a point or order on the ground that Cr. Hunter was talking irrelevantly.

The Mayor said" they admitted that for they were only engaged on a stonewall.

Cr. Hunter hotly protested against that. He complained bitterly of the action of the Mayor in thwarting the desire of the Council.

Cr. Hunter continued to speak until half-past ten.

* Cr. Millar then took up the tale, and claimed that the Mayor was led by the nose by the Christchurch "Press." Cr. Millar then indulged in a lurid whirlwind of abuse, the Mayor / and the Christchurch 'Tress" coming in for the biggest share of his attentions. Cr. Taylor protested against the Mayor being treated in such fashion. The Mayor was perfectly within his rights in exercising discretion in the matter. MAYOR IN REPLY. Mr Holland said tl _tt a Mayor must be given a certain discretion in the matter of carrying out the wishes of the Council. He could only say that he had arranged that only ordinary constables should be sent down to Lyttelton, and that one wharf should be«worked, so as to give the men an opportunity of proving their professions that they would create no disturbance at the Port. The events of the Tuesday, however, had caused the collapse of the proposal. After the Council had framed the motion relating to the calling of thc citizens' meeting he had seen both sides and found it impossible to bring the parties together* - Consequently it would havo been quite useless to hold tho meeting. Cr. Sorensen, in reply, resented a statement made that he had been influenced to approach the Mayor as he did, and he denied emphatically that he had been approached or influenced by anybody in the matter.

The motiou for the rescission of the resolution was then put and carried.