A MAYOR TAKEN TO TASK.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20100, 2 December 1930, Page 10

A MAYOR TAKEN TO TASK.

HONORARIUM DRAWN IN ADVANCE. s TIMARU DISPUTE. i | MR ANGLAND AND COUNCILLOR lIUNT. iSPLCIiI, 'lO THE 1-r.ESS.i TIMARU, December J. An allegation by Councillor W. H. I Hunt tiiat the Mayor of Timaru (Mr W. Angland) had drawn £SOO of tho Council's money as honorarium before it became due, when the honorarium is £250 annually, provoked a lively argument at the Borough Council's meeting this evening. The Mayor ordered Cr. If tint to apologise for his remarks and to leave the meeting, but Cr. Hunt refused to do so. In accordance with notice, Cr, moved : That in future no Mayor of the Timaru Borough shall be permitted to draw his honorarium, or any part of it, in advance, without the unanimous consent of the Council. "This notice of motion is subject to tho Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, which stipulates the limit of tho allowance to be made to a Mayor," said Mr Angland. "My allowance is mado for my term of office, which allowance I have received; therefore, a motion of this sort is beyond our powers, and is not the business of this Council. It is out of our hands and is for a new Council to deal with. This being the position, I rule this motion out of order."

Moneys Becoived by the Mayor. A statement tabled by the town clerk (Mr K. A. Killick) showed that on May 22nd, 1929, tho Mayor had drawn ±il2f> (six months' honorarium), on October 9th, 1929, a further £125, and on April Ist, 1930, £250 (one year's honorarium). On the first two dates Cr. Hunt countersigned the cheques. In addition, the Mayor was paid £6 12s in March, 1930, for his expenses to the Municipal Association's annual conference. Cr. Hunt asked on what grounds his motion was not in order? The Mayor: I'll tell you again if you sit down. Cr. Hunt: Thank you. This is not the end of the chapter, I'll see to that. Tho Mayor: Take your seat. Cr. Hunt: I'll take my seat, but I will see about it. The Mayor: I won't allow you to use that class of language. Next business. Cr. Hunt: In twelve months you have drawn £SOO of the Council's money; and do you, as chief magistrate of this town, tell me that that is right? I have documentary evidence which shows that you have drawn £SOO in twelve months. The Mayor: Take your seat. Cr. Hunt: You'll take yours very Boon. The Mayor: It' you insult me any more I'll havo you removed. (To the Town Clerk: Killick come here one second). Mr Killick returned to his seat. No Apology. Tho Mayor (to Cr. Hunt): 1 order you to take your seat. Cr. Hunt: I will, but I'll rise again. With your permission I'll leave tho room. The Mayor: You'll apologise to nic before you leave. Cr. Hunt: Nover! That's the second time you've ruled me out of order over this matter. Tho Mayor: You apologise. Cr. Hunt: Never, Sir. Before I apologise I'll have you on your bended knees. The Mayor: You withdraw that word. Cr. Hunt: I will not, and I'm never going to. Tho Mayor: I'll have you removed. Cr. Hunt: There is no need for that. I know my duty as a gentleman. I'll just hear tho next business and will then withdraw. The Mayor: Next business please. Cr. Hunt remained till the end of the meeting.