ENTERTAINING A MINISTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1060, 6 February 1913, Page 3

ENTERTAINING A MINISTER.

Cr Hannah does not believe in the local governing authority entertaining Ministers of the Crown who should happen to be called our way. At Tuesday night’s special meeting of the Council, called for the purpose of ascertaining what steps the Council would take in the direction of co-operat-ing with the Harbour Board in respect to the Ministerial visit, the Councillor in question said there was too much of this running about at the public expense ; the money so wasted would be better spent on roads aud footpaths. Cr Coley immediately rose and wanted to know who was running about at the public expense. Any travelling he had doiu. —and he was the oldest member of the Council—on behalf of the Council had beeu paid for out of his own pocket. Cr Hannah said be was not referring to Cr Coley or this Council, but was referring to moWy wasted throughout the country on men who were already well paid for doing their duty. Mr Heunessy, Chairman of the Harbour Board, who was present at the meeting, said his Board would be only too pleased to foot the bill for any expense incurred in suitably entertaining the visiting Minister, but unfortunately there was no provision in the Act which gave the Board rower to incur such liability. In _ this respect the Board was on a different footing to the Council. Cr Whibley said he did not agree with Cr Hanubh. The latter interjected that he didn’t expect him to. Cr Whibley, continuing, said the Minister was a representative of the Crown, and his visit was of vital importance to the borough, and it was nothing but right that he should be suitably entertained. Crs Stewart and Richmond expressed similar views. The Mayor said the Council should rise to the occasion and do all in its power to assist the Harbour Board in its efforts to suitably entertain the Minister. Motions were passed that the Council as a body wait on the Minister together with the Harbour Board and other local body representatives, aud that the Minister and visiting delegates be suitably entertained at the Council’s expense. Cr Hannah voted agaiust both proposals. A subcommittee was appointed to carry out the details.