"I DEFY YOU!"

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 902, 23 August 1910, Page 5

"I DEFY YOU!"

SCENE AT PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL. "YOU CAN'T FRIGHTEN ME." MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR AT LOGGERHEADS. . Very warm indeed ivas the atmosphere in the lactone Council Chamber last evening when the resignation of Councillor Colquhoun was received. After the Mayor had formally referred, to the matter and a motion had been proposed that tho resignation be accepted, Councillor Southgate rose to his feet and was proceeding to criticise the Town Clerk in connection with certain remarks ho. was alleged to have made when the letter of resignation came into the borough office, when he was pulled up by a fusillade of protests. "Order! Order!" vociferated several councillors.

The Mayor: I cannot allow any reference to a past debate in connection with this matter, nor will I allow any officer of the council to be attacked.

Councillor Southgate was not satisfied to let the matter rest' at that, and said so with emphasis. Ho desired to know why he could not speak to the motion for tho acceptance of Councillor Colquhoun's resignation. The Mayor replied that he could do so, but he (the speaker) was not going to allow the Town Clerk to be pilloried.

Tho Storm Bursts. Then the temperature went up with a jump. Councillor Southgate remained on his feet and stolidly regarded the Mayor, while his Worship, also on his feet, glared at Councillor Southgate, who continued to assert his right to refer to the particular matter which evidently lay heavily on his mind. His Worship: I rale that you cannot do so'. Will you resume your seat? Councillor • Southgate remained on his feet. "I'll bring it up later on," he said.

Jlis Worship's voice lost its customary calm, increasing in volume and intensity —he shouted. "I will not"—here he gave, point to the interdict by fetching the Mayoral desk a , resounding thump with his fist—"allow you to 1 criticise the Town Clerk." Anxious to Clear the Air., "You can't frighten me," intimated Councillor Southgate. "This- is a matter that ought to be brought before the council."

' "Give notico of motion," suggested Councillor Piper; anxious to clear the air. "Then I'll have to wait till the next meeting," objected Councillor Southgate, who then sat down with the observation that he would bring up the matter later

Calm prevailed while the council went on with the agenda paper. But towards 10 p.m. Councillor. Southgate returned to tho charge, and the air became sultrier than ever. "I want (o know," he inquired of his Worship, "if I can bring up that matter now?"

His Worship pleaded for the spirit of sweet reasonableness. Councillors ought to know, ho said, that officers of the council should not bo publicly criticised. If ( Councillor Southgate had any complaint to make against one of the officers it should be dealt with in committee. Councillor Southgate declared for publicity. "A remark was passed about nie in public. I was publicly degraded by. tho Town Clerk. I want to reply to that remark in public, and I'm going to do it." Hero he thumped his fist on the table. His Worship, with heat: "And I'm not going to allow you to do it." So saying, he thumped tho Mayoral desk with equal emphasis. . Councillor Southgate: "I don't oare what you say—l will do it." - "Do you defy me?" exclaimed the Mayor.. ... , "I defy you—and I .'don't care if I do." "Worse Than the Tsar,". Tho Mayor ventured to remind Councillor Southgate that he had onco previously been censured for defying tho Chair. "You can censure me again if you like," was the rejoinder. "You're worse than the Tsar of Ruksia," he added. . "Now, Councillor Southgate," said tho Ma}'or, with an air of 'determination, "I'm going to put it. to the council whether my ruling is to be supported." A councillor: I think we ought to respect , the Chair. Councillor Short at tliis stage'most providentially recollected that there was a minute on record to the effect that all questions dealing vit!' the officers should bo discussed in committee. The Mayor: That is so. , Councillor Southgate did not believe in hushing the matter up. "I'm not afraid of publicity," ho said; Nobody contradicted him. ■ . The Mayor then proceeded to tho next business. Councillor Southgate, the fires of battle still smouldering in his eyes, sat down with manifest reluctance, and the storm blew over. ■ ;