The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, April 13, 1915. A REGRETTABLE COUNCIL INCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1385, 13 April 1915, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, April 13, 1915. A REGRETTABLE COUNCIL INCIDENT.

I'mc final meeting of the local Borough Council, as at present constituted. was held last night, and, as is usual, the customary valedictory speeches were made. It is usual at such a time for Councillors and Mayor, no matter what differences ot opinion may have swayed them in the discharge of their duties in the past, to part on the best terras of fellowship. We regret to state that in one instance last night, a Councillor allowed personal animus to creep in and mnr the- pleasant relation ship which had previously existed in the Council. There was absolutely no ground for such a violent and personal attack by one Councillor towards another and the Mayor’s plain duly was to have demanded a letraction ot the insulting words used and thus uphold the dignity of the Council instead of temporarily adjourning the meeting. Public men, in the heat of debate, sometimes get out of control and say things which in a calmer mood they sincerely regret and hasten to make the amend? honour,tide. But in this instance there was no sign of a “breeze” in the Council’s proceedings and the offending Councillor was not given the shadow oi provocation. If this sort of thing is allowed, is it any wonder that self-respecting and useful men prefer to remain outside public life. Such a scene in the dying houis of the otherwise clean record of the present Council, is to say the least, shameful and deplorable.