RULING THEM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 671, 23 November 1909, Page 5

RULING THEM.

; ; AvMATOB AND-HIS; COTOCILLOES.v ■ Things became-electrical at last nighfs meeti ing-'of tho Potono''Borough Council,'- and: the Mayor's -method: of : , dealing,' with councillors'was interesting.', '.: ■':.'-•'' ' •:'■..■■•'-..■■.• , The trouble, 'bogan as'.' soon,.'as ■;the;■;■ meeting opened. Before: the minutes <were read,, the Mayor (Mr. J. ,W. : M'Ewan) rose' and said: " I desire to ■ say,' in regard' to 1 what occurred at last meeting, that 1 hopo' the' counoil as: a whole' will realise that no councillor possesses any :rightVto refer,;iri,'offensive."terras to''the action of' other councillors, notwithstanding his own,'private 'opinions,, .and ;no one'-ought; toabuse his position to address, the, officers in a way unbecoming a gentleman.,' Councillors should'remember that the ratepayers reposed 'a trust in' .thorn, .and to behaVe: 6b''as. v: to ,bring credit upon themselves and/those whom they represent.' I would .like to know; what:Coun-* : cillors List and Jones propose' dbihg in regard tomy ruling at;thelast meeting of.the council." ; '.■ ■ ■>. ■■'■.-•■■' •/■.'''.■'■,''' .-•-,,■' "■.'.•■''.:;■, ,'■',''.; '' Councillor List regretted differing from-the ruling''of tho Mayor,.-but, it had'struck him forcibly"-, since 1 he: had,' taken his-seat'on tho' council "that a.certain;.councillpr; was allowed concessions, while he ; (the' '■■ speaker) "was cut .down. This was why:he objected to the ruling. , ."• The Mayor repeated that Councillor.' .List hadno 1 right to : impute; motives to other councillors.', He then asked Councillor.Jones if ho had anything tosuy. /,'. -\' ' : . .'■'■. Councillor Jones-replied that his opinion was I still the same. When the engineer withdrew his inaccurate remark,'.ho (Councillor'•' Jones) would'withdraw; his. acenrato, one,'.;,; i :,;,

The Mayors I'adjudge Councillors; Jones and List to be guilty of tho grossest form"; of contempt of the ruling of the chair,.inasmuch' as ■you have refused to your use of certain words. ; : : The words,' used ,by Councillor List wore: "Some, councillors vote agiiinst everything moved'by a';certain coun-. cilor." ; As to Councillor Jones;!he'lilade 6er= tain remarks (quoted) about tho engini.'er." The statements .are absolutely untr,uo:,66,'far.as the engineer i 6 'concerned. • I; therefore censure the two;ofvou and. order that- theVcensurebe recorded on the minutes; I trust'both-of you will;see that you havo taken a step that no councillor ought to take,; bearing in ; mind his responsibilities to those who, sent.him hero. What further steps I may take;'in; tho matter of dealing,with this question,.time will decide; ■■ '"■'.' '■'.' ' ; ■' ■•- .'. ..'. Councillor List: ' Were the words,.taken from a shorthand.note?<;!.. ■■/■..' .•'... Tho Mayor: It is the clerrs •own, record of'what, was; : said; v',;i; I, v'.V ..- '■■'.;■