COUNTY COUNCILLOR and ENGINEER.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 December 1917, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCILLOR and ENGINEER.

Meetings of the County Council usually go on calmly and uneventfully, the business being tranacted, largely owing to the chairman's [firmness, wStliout undue discursiveness on the part of the Councillors. H'he placid atmospheix> of the Council Oha.mber distiM'bod at to-diay's iinecting, however, by a sharp conflict between the County .Engineer and one of the new Councillors. After the accounts bad been read Cr. Law enquired as to the custom in regard to crushing metal for contracts and the prices per yard. The Engineer referred the Cr. to the contracts for the. riding and an animated discussion took place between them, Cr. Law contending that some of the prices were higher than was warranted in the interests of his riding. The argument was waxing warm when it was abruptly terminated by the chairman. "1 cannot ail low this bo go on, " said Cr. Monk, "V on can djscuss it after the mectl.'ng, and tl must a,sic you to address the chair."

Cr Law: .Mr Chairman, I came into this Con net 1 ! to do my host, forthe ratepavers and I do object to the eer's interference and contradictions when the chairman or any Councillor is speaking. I was rather surprised to hear him at laist meeting. I asked a very reasonable question regarding roading in onr riding and I don't th'.nk [ should have been chastised the way 1 have been.

The chairman : T am rather sorry Or. Law should, have taken tip the attitude he has done. While lam conducting the business of these meetings I cannot allow these arguments to go on. 1 don't- intend to allow it, anyway. We will go on with the next business.

The chairman having thus uiuikstakeably exerted his authority the Council resumed the even ten our of its way and was soon deep in the intricacies of water rights and the drainage of the Horowlienua Lake.