CITY COUNCIL AND DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1443, 18 May 1912, Page 13

CITY COUNCIL AND DEFENCE.

A STAND FOR THE ACT.

The Financo Committee of the Wellington City Council made tho following recomniendationito tho council, which met on Thursday night: "That tho council endorse tho resolution forwarded by tho • Pair morston North Chamber of Commerce, expressing appreciation of the attitude shown by the Hon. the Minister for Defeats in connection with his expressed intention of enforcing the law -relating to tho compulsory provisions of tho Defence Act."

Tho Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) eaid that he wished to stato that when this matter iiEjl cropped up in tho committee ho had objected to it because it had appeared to him to be trespassing on matters of genoral politics. He did not feel called upon to support the recommendation, but as chairman of the committee which made tho recommendation ho formally moved the proposal. Councillor Hindmarsh said that he thought it was unnecessary for the committee to have introduced this matter. He did not wish to express an opinion for or against the Hon. Mr. Myers's attitude, but hitherto tho council had avoided political matters, and he thought this might lead to political debates at the council table. Ho did not think the recommendation could do auv good. A councillor: It certainly won't do any good.

Mr. Hindmarsh went on to say that the Minister evidently was going to enforco tho Act. If the Minister had been in a wobbly state the recommendation might do good. Councillor Godber was in accord with Councillor Hindmarsh, bccause he would liko jealously to guard tho council against tho introduction of political matter. Ho did not think the recommendation would do any harm, but he did not seo what good it would do. Councillor Atkinson said that the previ-. ous speakers were wrong. The recommendation did not raiso a question of tho policy of tho Defence Act. He reminded tho council that tho council had on occasions protested against administration. Ho thought it was a ftno thing to see a man in rather spineless times making the stand Mr. Myers had made, and he thought that, regardless of polities, the Minister's action should bo approved. Councillor Fitzgerald srapportod the view; of Councillor Atkinson.

Ihe Mayor said that it would ill-benefit him in his position to oppose the upholding of law, but he was not doing so. If it was a matter of upholding a principle of low he would say that all public bodies should approve. The recommendation was adopted.

WESTLAND COUNCIL DIVIDED. IBy Telesrapli.—Bpcolol Correspondent.) Hokitika, May 15. Tho Westland County Council yesterday passed motion congiahilnting the Minister for Defence on his decision to see tiiat the penal clauses relative to compulsory military training were enforced. Councillor Murdoch considered that the council had no right to move in tho manner indicated. Although ho would not oppose tho motion, ho pointed out that was no reason why a Minister of tho Crown should b& congratulated because lie (tho Minister) was going to enforce an Act which was placed upon the statute book. If a Minister did not uphold tho law. continued Councillor Murdoch, ha would not be doing his duty. ..the motion seemed to infer that iflie Government had to be encouraged in order that_ the laws of the country should bo administered properly. Councillor Word supported this view, but Councillor Ferguson and the chairman upheld .tho motion, which was eventually carricd. !