BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Kumara Times, Issue 1404, 1 April 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Borough Council was held at the Town Hall last evening ; present—His Worship the Mayor (J. O’Hagan, Esq.) in the chair, and Councillors Campbell, Pearn, Pollock, Galland, Horne, Barnett, and Simmons. The debate on a motion tabled at the last meeting, by Cr. Simmons, “That the Town Clerk receive three months’ notice, in accordance with the terms of his engagement with the Council,” was resumed. Cr. Galland said : I think the motion is premature giving the Town Clerk three month’s notice, as I believe that a motion will be found on the minutes of the Council’s proceedings that a committee should be formed to carry out a system of retrenchment, and this was one of the questions that would be for their consideration. If we find that we cannot pay our Town Clerk, then it Will be time for us to give him notice. I shall not support the resolution, but move as an amendment “ That the Council as a whole form themselves into committee to consider the question of retrenchment.” I say, let us deal with the question as a body and not leave it to one or two to do. Cr. Simmons: I have not spoken to ray resolution, and suppose I Can speak to it now, as I only moved it at last meeting and then we adjourned. The Mayor: You cannot speak to the resolution again, Cr. Simmons, as you have already spoken to it in moving it. You have the right of reply, and I have been careful to read this question up before giving ray ruling. Cr. Campbell : I draw your Worship’s attention to clause 21 of the byelaws. The Mayor: I was deciding the question, and not speaking to it, and to give a ruling I must necessarily speak. Cr. Simmons : Your Worship— The Mayor ; You are out of orderCr. Simmons: I have been taken advantage of—[Cr. Campbell : Question !] Cr. Campbell: I second the amendment proposed by Cr. Galland, as I believe no objection can be taken to it, as it is the most advisable way of dealing with the matter fairly and impartially. The Mayor : You can now reply, Cr. Simmons. Cr, Simmons: I suppose on this occasion I can reply to the resolution and speak to the amendment, which I am quite satisfied to endorse so long as it does not interfere with my motion, which I say should not be over ridden. I have not received fair play as a representative of the people at this table, as every scheme has been adopted to thwart me, and I see it here now, first one and then another jumping up. I tabled the motion last meeting at the Mayor’s suggestion— The Mayor : Before yon go any further, Cr. Simmons, I want to set you right. You say you have not had fair play at this table. Now, I tell you, as Mayor I have endeavored to give every Councillor fair play so long as I have held that position.—[Hear, hear.] You say I suggested that you should table the motion : I did nothing of the kind ; and from this out you must understand that you must not cast reflections on the Council or me the way you are doing.—[Hear, hear.] Cr. Simmons’ : So long as I am the people’s representative, all I want is fair play. The very amendment Cr. Galland has jast proposed is the very resolution I brought up myself, and if you want a proof of that look at the ku-mara times — not that I believe in

the paper—[Laughter]. This amend l meut is simply to do me out of my motion for the dismissal of the Town Clerk, which will have to be done. I suppose I shall liot be allowed to speak again—[Laughter]. All I have to say is that the motion of Cr. Galland’s is, in fact, the substance of one tabled and carried some time before; and as it does not appear on the minutes, I do not know if it was left out wilfully or by the omission of the Town Clerk, I made a mistake on the previous occasion, not knowihg the rules—[Cr. Campbell: Hear, hear]. I say this amendment is entirely oat of order—[Laughter]. [Cr. Pollock: Hal ha! hal] The Mayor: Order! Cr. Campbell: Question. Cr. Barnett: Is the amendment made on Cr, Simmons’ motion last meeting 1 The Mayor : Yes ; and if the amend l ment is carried, Cr. Simmons’ motioti will be lost. Cr. Barnett: I am not in favor of the amendment, as, if carried, it Only means more delay. I should support the resolution of Cr. Simmons, as it is better to go on with the matter at once—[Applause in body of hall.] The Mayor : At the outset I may at once say I intend to support the amendment and vote against the for which I have very good reasons. A motion has been tabled to do away With the Town Clerk, and no charge has been made against that officer. If there was any offence he had committed, then I think it should have been brought forward in support of the resolution, and the Council put in pos l session of it. I see no legitimate reason for the step proposed in Cr. Simmons’ motion and I shall vote against it. Cr. Barnett: I rise to a point of order, there were no charges made against the Town Clerk becaiise no discussion took place. The Mayor : I have been here since the Council opened, and liave asked Councillors repeatedly if they intended speaking to the resolution. I do not want any question burked, nor do t want to take advantage of the inexperience of some councillors. Even novv any Councillor can speak to the amend l ment, it he pleases, My reasons for voting for the amendment are, I don* sider, sound and valid ones. If cir l cumstances had arisen for which the course proposed by Cr. Simmons’ reso l lution were nec-ssary, I should be the first to support it. Cr. Barnett: When I said— Cr. Campbell; I rise to a poirlt of order, Mr Mayor ; no councillor can speak twice to the same question. The Mayor : Councillor Simmons ! you have the chair. Cr. Simmons : I am very sorry, as a young member of this Board, to find it my duty to act in the manner I am doing, and bring up so many important questions, which should have been done by older members. I say that it is a disgrace ; and I say it without fear of contradiction that the older members have not done their duty. I feel al l most incapable—[Ci\ Campbell: Hear, hear] —to deal with the question as it affects the interests of the whole town [Applause in body of hall]. Cr. Campbell: I rise to a point of order, as I deprecate any show of ap l plause being made by the public when certain councillors are speaking. I am glad to see the great interest taken by the public in the proceedings, but 1 hope we shall have no more of this noise. The Mayor: Cr. Campbell, you are quite right, but I believe they do it instinctively; but now my attention has been called to the matter, I must tell those present that by the bye-laws such conduct is disorderly and not to be allowed.—[Applause repeated in the body of the hall.] Cr. Simmons : The Mayor has stated that no charges against the Town Clerk have been made j but I say it is simply because the opportunity has not been afforded, I will now commence to make the charges, which are—[Cr* Simmons then read a list of charges against the Town Clerk, amidst several interjections and some laughter in the body of the hall. The charges, however, with the law of libel in existence we must decline to publish.] Cr. Campbell: I rise to a point of order : can a councillor read his speech ? The Mayor : There is nothing in the Standing Orders against it, and I take it that Councillor Simmons may be speaking from notes. Cr. Simmons : These are facts that require no further comment from me ‘ and if my resolution is not carried, I shall call a public meeting and challenge every councillor to appear who votes against the resolution I have proposed. The Mayor: Would you hand me the list of charges, Councillor Simmons 1 Cr. Simmons : Ho, it is my own pro* perly; but I shall be prepared to sab* stamiate all the charges I have made,

rik! produce them on another occasion. Cr, Gal land’s amendment was then put and carried on the voices, there ceing only two dissentients. The Mayor: The amendment now becomes the original motion. Or. Barnett; I propose as a further amendment “ That the Council do now go into Committee to consider the charges made against the Town Clerk by Cr. Simmons.” The Mayor : I would suggest to Cr. Barnett that the amendment is inadvisible, as in justice to both parties we cannot hear the charges to-night, as they might require to bring ishutting evidence, and I think it will not give either party satisfaction if we go into the question now. I simply suggest this to Cr. Barnett; he can accept it if he thinks fit. After a pause— The Mayor : As Cr. Barnett’s amendment is not seconded, it lapses. Cr. Simmons : What about the Committee meeting ? The Mayor : By the “ Municipal Corporations Act” the Town Clerk will call the members of the Council together by circular for that purpose. By leave, Cr. Horne moved, the Mayor Seconded, and it was carried, “ That the name of Cr. Galland be added to the public works committee.” The Council then adjourned.