IN CAMERA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2107, 5 February 1908, Page 2

IN CAMERA.

It is hard to understand the action of the Borough Council in deciding -to consider tin* drainage schemes formulated by Air. Ales--taycr, behind closed doors. The only assumption one can come lo is that tho Council has acquired a habit of going into committee for all sorts of reasons, or none at all, and scarcely realises the position. In the present ease, it would seem that there is an absolute necessity for a full discussion in open council. There is no question at present of greater moment- to the Gisborne public than that of drainage, and it is of the utmost importance t-liat the fullest information should be available of the attitude of Councillors towards it. The ratepayers will have to find the money for any scheme that may be sanctioned, and the general public will suffer from any neglect on the Council’s part; lienee it is eminently a subject for discussion in open Council. In tho ordinary course of things, the Council, which met- as a Committee last night, will present a report; at next- Tuesday’s general meeting. Tho report will then be considered in open Council, but it- is not at- all likely that Councillors will discuss so fully and freely the reasons which actuated them in drawing up the -report, as they did in the first instance, and to that extent -the public will suffer. A body -whose bona lidos were less obvious than those of our City Fathers would stand a chance of arousing a good deal of suspicion by an attitude of secrecy on matters of public concern.