Police Called To Stormy County Council Meeting

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 23

Police Called To Stormy County Council Meeting

(From Out Own Reporter)

WESTPORT, April 26, After a very stormy session at the monthly meeting of the Buller County Council this morning, a police officer was called by the chairman (Mr R. Philp) when Cr. I. L Tyler refused his order to leave the meeting. When Senior-Sergeant A. Hunt arrived, the councillor left after a further request to do so had been made by the chairman.

After Cr. Tyler’s departure. Cr. F. H. Skilton also left the meeting as a mark of protest against the chairman's action.

Cr. W. H. Martin also opposed the chairman's attitude claiming that it was too drastic.

The remaining members of the council eventually carried a motion of confidence in Mr Philp as chairman. Cr. Tyler had clashed with the chairman on the submtsion of monthly reports, and when Cr. Skilton questioned the wisdom of spending a large sum of money on the Okari road extension work, Cr. Tyler referred to a better case for works in the Granity area.

The chairman said the council was discussing the Okari road works and not those at Granity. When Cr. Tyler continued to press his argument, he was ordered by the chairman to leave the meeting for “persistent defiance of the chair, ai;d upsetting the order and dedorum of the meeting.” Cr. Tyler asked why he was being removed, and Cr. Skilton said he was in order in making that request. The chairman: He has shown no respeet for the chair at almost every meeting, and has consistently defied me.

Cr. W. H. Martin: I don’t think you have the support of the meeting in your attitude. Pitching For A Long Time Mr Philp: He has been pitching at me for a long time. Cr. Tyler asked if it was the wish of the meeting that he leave. The chairman: It is not up

to th* meeting. The matter is in my hands. When Senior-Sergeant Runt arrived at the meeting he was told by the chairman that Cr. Tyler had been ordered to leave the meeting because of his consistent interruptions. The senior-sergeant: Is he a member of the council? The chairman: Yes.

Senior-Sergeant Hunt: And you have ordered him out? The chairman: I have done

Cr. Tyler then left the meeting, to be followed by Cr. Skilton, who said he did not support what had happened and it was the only way to register his protest. Cr. Martin said he would record his vote against the chairman’s attitude. Mr Philp said there was a certain amount of dignity to maintain at meetings.

“Too Drastic” Ct. Martin: I don’t approve Tyler’s attitude, but still I feel that you were too drastic.

. Cr. J- Adam said he was disgusted by the occurrence, but he felt that Cr. Tyler should show more respect for the chair. Cr. N. Christiansen said that while he agreed that some disciplinary action had been necessary, he would have preferred less direct action.

r motion of confidence m the chairman, moved bv Cr. N. Lines and Cr. j Mouat, was carried with ne dissentient.