MUNICIPAL AMENITIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 34, 8 February 1913, Page 5

MUNICIPAL AMENITIES.

MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR

HEATED WORDS

The Council Chamber was the scone of a heated passage-at-arms last night. Tii© question under discussion was tile issuing of a permanent license for His Majesty's Theatre, the proprietor of which iis Councillor Parker.

A report with a detailed description of the theatre was -eceived from Mr John Brown, who was engaged by the Council to make an mspectirn. Mr Brown reported that in his opinion the building complied in every respect with the requirements of the Municipal Corporations Act. Telegrams of reply received from (several towns contained information as to the theatre licensing fees charged elsewhere. In all but the case of Gisborne the annual fees for buildings of this description were fixed at £5 or less. In. several cases £2 was charged. The Gisborne fee was £10.

Councillor Birch moved that Mr Brown's report be adopted-, with a view to the issue of a permanent license.—This motion was carried without opposition. Councillor Griffiths moved that a license be granted for a fee of £5. The Mayor ruled that the motion was out of order. It was open to the Councillor to move for a recissiors of the re-solution passed at the previous meeting-—that if Mr Brown's report proved favorable, a permanent license be granted for a foe of £20. Councillor Griffiths said that the Mayor promised at the previous meeting that the matter of the fee would be reopened after receiving information from other towns.

The Mayor: Quiite so can move as I suggest. Councillors Griffiths and Cookc represented that the by-laws already provided for a license* fee of £5. The Mayor said he agreed with his predecessor in his view "of the by-laws as obsolete. They were not applicable to present conditions.

But you

The viow was challenged. The Mayor said that If his opinion ]) Wailed the fee, would h^ more than

. Counc'lloi-.'Gifliiig .ga-^e .notice of intention to mote that the;resolution of last meeting be rescinded, and the fee be fixed at .£5. ■ •'

Councillor Carr, having expressed the opinion that perhaps £20 Mould be too much, said that he could hardly understand how Mr Brown's report entirely overlooked the nature of the front entrance. ' He was understood to say that it looked as if anything would be passed by Mr Brown.

CoTincillor Parker then took a vigorous Par* in the discussion. With warm resentment, he asked Councillor Carr to say exactly what he meant. T

The Mayor intervened, and asked Councillor Parker' to sit down.

Councillor Carr ; It's all right. Let him go on.

Councillor Parker persisted with his protestations.

The Mayor: Will yon resume your seat?

Councillor Parker (to Councillor Can-): You have made a false statement ; and I want satisfaction.

The Mayor: Will you resume your seat?

Councillor Parker: No; I won't. The Mayor: You refuse to sit

down ?

Councillor Parker: Yes, I do. Tlie "discussion" became torrential

Councillor Parker said that lie had been on the Council twelve months, andi he had been suppressed too often. He thought it was time that lie asserted himself. He was not going to be always "sat upon." The Mayor had had a "shot" at him to the tune of :filo for personal spite, and lit' he thought he was going to make a continual target of him he was mistaken. The present position was ridiculous. The Council had its own by-laws, and should abide by them.

The Mayor vainly attempted to silence Councillor Parker. 'Finally he quoted- the Municipal Corporations Act. and salid that Councillor Parker had laid himself open to a very serious charge in. disobeying the chair and in taking part in a discussion concerning his own interests. Councillor Parker: Yes: that's all right. I have had serious charges made against me before. I have had one Court case, and' evidently you want another.

The Mayor referred to the Act. Councillor Parker: Well, prove the offence if you can.

The Mayor: Will you resume your seat.

Councillor Parker: If you think you arc going to make "lamb" of me for all time, you are mistaken.

The "breeze." continued. Councillor Parker returned to Councillor Carr's remarks.

The Mayor said he would appeal to the Council.

Councillor Parker said that Councillor Carr made a statement as to Mr John Brown passing anything. He wanted to know what justification he had.

Councillor Parker then resumed Bis seat.

Councillor Carr rose, and, referring to a letter he held, mentioned Councillor Parker's name.

The Mayor asked Councillor Carr to resume his scat.

Councillor Carr said that he would not niako further reference to the letter. He wanted to speak on a Council business matter.

The Mayor insisted that nothing further should be .eaid.

Councillor Cart- desisted

After an interval. Councillor Parker wanted to know whether his permanent license wn>s goling to be issued. Of course-, the Supreme

Court sitting \va,s coining ro\ind and he had his remedy. Councillor Carr: But you have a temporary license!

Councillor Parker said that he was not satisfied.

Councillor Griffiths said that in iustice to Councillor Parker, he would like to inquire how long he would have to waiit for his permanent license.

The Mayor: 1 refuse to answer the question.

At a later stage of the meeting, Councillor Carr made reference to a letter to the chairman of the Gasworks, winch, he said, was of course from Mr Parker.

The Mayor declined to allow Councillor Carr to proceed.

Councillor Carr said that that was all he was going to say about Councillor Parker.

The Mayor insisted. He went on to say that the Council table was not the place at which personalities should be indulged in. (JHear, hear.) He would also like to say tfhat the chairman was only human, and might; make mistakes; but it was his duty to preserve decorum, and it was the duty of Councillors to obey the chair. Councillors had every opportunity of righting what they regarded as a wrong, without resorting to unseemly methods. He very much regretted that night's incident, and he had no doubt that on reflection no one would 'regret tit more than the Councillor particularly concerned. v'Councillor Parker: I won't regret it.) He did not propose to take any f.teps now in connection, with tho incidents He would consider the matter, and next meeting night, he hoped, ho would be able to approach it without heat or warmth.

The incident then closed, it being understood that Councillor Girling Mould move at mxt meeting a.s ho fcad indicated. '