LIVELY DEBATE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1924, Page 4

LIVELY DEBATE.

COMMITTEE SECRETS REVEALED. BLENHEIM, March 28. As a sequel to the recent interview with a reporter in which he gave details of his lone-handed fight to try to prevent the Borough Council reinstating the engineer on the old terms, the Mayor, Mr E. S. Parker, found himself in very “hot water” at last night’s meeting of the council, being warniiy priticised on all sides for his indiscretion in revealing to the reporter what had taken place during a recent discussion in committee. Councillor Noble Adams expressed indignation at the Mayor’s breach of standing orders. “You yourself,” he said, “asked the meeting to go into committee because you said you had things to say that you didn’t want made public, and, in the face of that, we all unburdened ourselves, never dreaming that it would go further. You admit that you took the reporter into your confidence and divulged, not what you said—not by a long, long way—but what wo said. I may say that if anyone again suggested that we go into committee I shall laugh heartily, because it’s a howling farce if you can go to a reporter and tell him what happened. You have placed us in nil invidious position, and I don’t sec how you can explain it, hut I shall move that you bo asked to explain.” The Mayor: I will give an explanation first and you can move afterwards. I won’t give an explanation at all if you move first. Councillor Noble Adams said he did not want to cause trouble. Ho was a man i f peace, and if the Mayor had an explanation he would like to hear it. The Mayor claimed that the only part of the commit-ttec’s discussion which he had revealed concerned himself. Perhaps it might have been m committee that Councillor M’Kenzie assorted that the ratepayers would vote three to one in favour of the committee’s recommendations. Ho had offered to resign and contest the Mayoralty on the issue with any councillor. Councillor W. T. Churchward: You only offered to contest it with Councillor M’Kcnzie. Cuneillor M’Kenzie: That is so. The Mayor insisted that he gave all the councillors the opportunity, but said he would not stress the point. He wanted to point out that it was the only thing he had revealed which happened in committee . The Mayor: You say so now. I think you said what I «aicl you said. Councillor M’Kenzie: I deny it tintly. Any member of the council will vouch for it. Councillor Churchward said that he and l ot Councillor M’Kenzie had used the expression referred to. The Mayor then apalogised for making this mistake. The lady member of the council. Mrs F. Redwood, then took a hand. She strongly objected to the Mayor s statement in the interview that three ot the councillors had not the courage ol their convictions and that Mrs Redwood was one of them, but, being a woman, she was allowed to change her mind. “I strongly object to being held tip to ridicule,” she said, “but if it lias given colour to your case you are welcome to it.” Councillor Churchward rebuked the Mayor for his breach of privilege, and the incident appeared to be closed, but fresh fuel was added to the blaze by Councillor C. T. Smith, who asked his Worship whether ho considered that it was in accordance with the dignity of the council that the Mayor’s version ol the private conversation with councillors should be made public. He said that the Mayor in his interview had given what lie alleged to he the text of a private conversation and had then asked how, in view of this conversation, He (Councillor Smith) had voted as he had. The Mayor: Can you deny that you told me that you wanted whole time work by the engineer for whuletime pay, and that you would vote that way? Councillor Smith: I do deny it, but I won’t labour the point. The Mayor: You’d fall in if you did. Councillor A. .1. Curry, after referring to the Mayor’s remarks r.bout him in the interview, said he objected to divulging committee work as a matter of principle. “That sort of thing, he said, “undermines the whole council. and we all look at our neighbour and say: ‘Who lias blown the gaff’ ?” The Mayor (grimly): There’s no question about who’s ‘blown the gaff this time. (Laughter). Councillor Noble Adams got up again to make it clear that there was nothing personal in his criticism of the Mayor’s conduct. He thought the Mayor had come into the borough picture at. the right time and had cleaned up a big mess. He bad always been a warm supporter of Hie Mayor, and the Mayor had had the support of the wliolo council in helping to clean op the mess bequeathed to it, but he thought the -Mayor had made a mistake this time. Councillor Carr moved: “That the Mayor’s explanation is satisfactory.” Councillor Churchward said he would support a motion that the explanation he accepted, but ft was not satisfactory. The Mayor had made a mistake, though perhaps unthinkingly. The Mayor: Well, pass a vote of censure on me. I’ll take it. Councillor Smith moved that the Council adjourn and the subject was dropped. Previously it had been discovered that the Mayor's notice of motion to rescind the committee’s recommendations regarding the engineer was not in order and lie annoueed his intention of giving fresh notice for next meeting.