ONSLOW COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1883, 17 October 1913, Page 8

ONSLOW COUNCIL.

ENGINEER'S RE-ENGAGEMENT. i A good deal of discussion took place at last evening's meeting of the Onslow Borough Council over a motion dealing with tho appointment of the council's engineer for a' further term of twelve months. The Mayor (Mr. F. Holdsworth) presided, and Councillors B. Lynneberg, J. C. Gardner, L. A. Browne, C. Mnnro, C. Bowden, R. A. Nicol, A. H. Hoby, and E. C. Alderson were also present. The council's order paper of business included the following: "Renewal of engineer's agreement terminating on October 20." When this business was arrived at, tho Mayor moved that the engineer's agreement bo renewed as indicated.

Councillor Bowden said that .a surprise had been sprung on the councillors. Councillors should ha've rccdived notico of tho fact that_ the engineer's agreement was terminating, and that a renewal' was asked.

A very mixed discussion ensued, and eventually an amendment was moved by Councillor Browne and seconded by Mr. Bowden. The amendment was to tho effect that the matter be held over until the next meeting of tho council. It was lost by soven votes t<f two., Councillor Browne moved another amendment to the effect that the matter ho held over for three months. This was seconded by Councillor Bowden, but, as its purport was not. quite clear, and the Mayor said that lie did not understand it, further mixed discussion followed, when Councillor Browne asked tho Mayor to put the amendment. The Mayor replied, that lie was not going to put the amendment until ne understood it. The second amendment was lost by 7 votes to 2, and the Mayor then a-k----ed for any further amondment. Councillor Br<jwne: Might I move now then The Mayor: No. You have already moved two amendments. Councillor Browne complained that the Mayor was not giving the councillors a fair Rearing. He assortod that tho Mayor had combated an amendment before it had been seconded. An amendment to the effect that the appointment bo for a term of three months was then moved by Councillor Bowden, and seconded by Councillor Browne. Councillor Lynneberg thought that a three-months' appointment would be of no u-.e to the council. It would, in fact, cause considerable inconvenience. If the engineer refused to accept the appointment, tho council would bo without an engineer, and it would bo some months before they would bo able to get one. He considered it a great pity that bad feeling should be created over tho appointment. There had not been any trouble on the council for nine years, and he was sorry to see it appear now. Councillor Bowden replied that he did not wish to. cause unpleasantness. He inly wanted to -see that proper procedure was taken. _ c On being put to idle meeting the amendment was lost by 7 votes to 2.

Ae there were no further amendments the Mayor put H3io original motion, which was carried By 7 votes to 2.

On proceeding to ordinary business it was decided to support the Foxton Council, in its endeavour to have the Municipal Corporations Act amended, in the direction of having' moving picture shows inoluded in tho words "Amusement and instruction." It was also decided to support the Thames Council in the direction of having the Slaughtering Bill so amended as to include tho compulsory slaughtering of pigs in a'registered abbatoir.