CR. ADAMS’ RESIGNATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1093, 7 September 1912, Page 3

CR. ADAMS’ RESIGNATION.

“Interested” writes as follows: “Can you inform me of the facts concerning the Mayor’s treatment of Cr Adams’ resignation at a recent Council meeting and the Standing Orders dealing with the same, as a good deal is being made out of the matter, and things are being said about the Mayor applying the ‘gag act’ which I feel certain are not in accordance with the case as read in the light of the report which appeared in your paper.” The facts briefly are as follow ; —A special meeting of the Council was called to deal with a request from the Horticultural Society and to discuss gas works. No other business was included on the order paper. Standing order No. 4 provides :

At special meetings of the Council no business shall be transacted except that for which the meeting is called, and the order of the business at a special meeting shall be the order in which such business stands in the notice thereof.

The Mayor could not take “other business” without the unanimous consent of the Council, and for this purpose a resolution would have been required to suspend the “Standing Orders,” Had Cr Adams’ resignation required explanation in order to refute an alleged charge against him by a colleague, then he could have done so under Standing Order 32 : Every charge made by one Councillor against another shall be made by notice of motion given, in which all evidence the Councillor bringing the charge may require shall be stated ; and the chairman shall, when such motion is brought before the

Council, second such notice, pro forma , iu order that an opportunity be afforded of refuting or confirming the charge laid. And any Councillor giving such notice, and failing either to move it at the proper lime, unless prevented by sickness or other adequate cause, or, it iu the opinion of the Council such charge will be a frivolous one, shall be guilty of an offence against this by-law. Under the circumstances, the Mayor’s action was strictly in conformity with the rules laid down by the Council, but any other Councillor, or , the retiring Councillor could have moved the suspension of the Standing Orders and given Councillor Adams an opportunity of explanation. Had the resignation been tendered at an ordinary meeting the matter would have been possible under the heading of other business. ,