AN IRASCIBLE COUNCILLOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 10 December 1907, Page 2

AN IRASCIBLE COUNCILLOR.

It is our painful duty to publicly reprimand Cr Coley for his reprehensible conduct at last night’s Council meeting. A more generous citizen it would be difficult to find in the borough, but, whatever our private feelings towards Cr Coley, we should be lacking in our duty to the public, were we to allow his bare-faced audacity to the Mayor and Councillors last night, pass without entering our protest. We have, on several previous occasions, stifled happenings at Council meetings in order that our Council should not be held up

to ridicule by the press ot the colony. But we can do so no longer. The dignity of the Council and ruling of the chair must be upheld at any cost, and it Cr Coley cannot control his feelings in debate, it were better that he should resign his seat at once, otherwise, more serious consequences will follow. Eliminate the cause of his indiscretions, and there is not a more practical or enthusiastic representative at the Council table. We hope we shall never again be called upon to criticise the conduct of any councillor for a similar offence. The Mayor did his utmost to conciliate the councillor, who was not smarting under provocation. Knowing Cr Coley as we do, we feel sure no one now regrets last night’s “scene ” more than he does.