EIGHT AT COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1921, Page 3

EIGHT AT COUNCIL.

alderman knocks another DOWN. SCENES OF DISORDER. SYDNEY, October 19. Not for almost a quarter of a century have there been such scones of disorder and confusion within the City Council us wore enacted last evening. There were evidences of a nasty tempo,- amongst the members right from tlio beginning. The exchanges between aldermen became more hitter and at 9 o’clock culminated in Aiderman Holdsworth assaulting Alderman Meagher and knocking mint down on the floor of the council chamber. This is believed to lie the third actual assault between aldermen within t,l,e Council ohamboir. and the first whirl, actually took place in the present chamber. The town clerk said last evening that this was the first time during his term of office of almost 21 years, when aldermen assaulted each other during the meeting of tlio C'itv Council. THE ASSAULT. Alderman Meagher took exception to a proposal to grant a contract to the Tankerslcy Colliery Company, Limited for 5000 tons of coal at 24s 9d a ton. an d said this was an unknown colliery from which they had never had coal and knew nothing about its quality.

“The ratepayers.” he said, “will want to know why this payment of £OOOO should he made to ail unknown colliery on the eve of an election. I will move that the matter lie referred hack to the committee for further information. T may he defeated but my aversion to this proposal is nothing to what the ratepayers will show oil Deociiilkt Ist. Alderman Holdsworth. chairman of tlx- electricity supply committee, said if Alderman Meagher attended to his duties oil the committee he would know the reasons for this emergency contract. Alderman Meagher: I am not in the ring and don't know the stable secrets. Alderman Tfoldswortli submitted an analysis of the ooab Alderman Meagher retorted that the wholo tiling was a huge joke at the expense of the ratepayers. Tlio chairman said that that was an accusation o| dishonesty or dishonourable conduct against certain -aldermen, and the charge should be proved or withdrawn. Alderman Meagher: I say the payment of 24s Od a ton f»r nOM t-“Us ,lf .coal io a colliery this council has no ’experience of is ill the naturij, of a huge joke at the expense of the rate-pay,-s,' and neither you nor the Lord Mayor will make me withdraw that. The first of Dei-embe,- wHI decide tlio joke. , Aid. Holdsworth: Saving the ratepayers’ money, as libs contract is doing is no joke. - Aid. Meagher i sarcastically) : Mill someone wipe the tear* I roll! his eyes. He is weeping for the ratepayers. Aid Holdsworth: I am not weeping for you. it... 1.,... t ivnnt n infill

Alll. Meagher:.T would want a man to weep for me: not a crawler. Aid. Holdsworth: You are the v-orst . c-awler there is. And. saving this, Aid. Holdsworth stepped back from the chair at the tabic to Aid. Meagher, who was sitting immediately behind him. and gate him a severe and vicious blow on the right eve. saving. “T will show you v-ho the crawler is.” Aid. Meagher s glasses were knocked to one side, and lie was felled heavily io the floor, where Ahl. Holdsworth grabbed him by the throat and commenced to beat him about* the taco. S”vernl aldermen intervened and tne combatants were separated. Ahl. Meaglier was temporarily stunned and had a severe bruise over the right Later lie said: “Despite this little exercise. T repeat what I said and the ratepayers will show where the joke

The division was a non-nnVv one. and (he contract-, was carried hv 17 votes to •i Mderinan 'Walker alone snpnortod vldernuin Meaglier. At a late,- stage Alderman AUa-.tier referred to Alderman's blows as nni belli * able tol break a oie mist

Alderman Unld-vm-th said lie would V,e ('ey .l v for Mderinan Afea'dier then oi- anv time and started to go in bis d;,-c,tion. )mt several aldermen again intervened. cu.nrtlv after lUrrllinll Mon'dier left i l>e i iiiioeil i bomber.