The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily. Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1885. BOROUGH COUNCIL DEBATES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1572, 3 December 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily. Newspaper on the West Coast. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1885. BOROUGH COUNCIL DEBATES.

We feel it incumbent upon us to enter ovir protest against the unwarrantable insinuations made by Cr West at the Borough Council meeting last night. He altogether exceeded the bounds of propriety, and the ordinary courtesies of debate, m his remarks with reference to Cr Grace's action m connection with work m Lombard-street. We consider his remarks on the action of the latter Councillor were most unjustifiable and offensive, and such as were calculated to stir up bad feeling m the Council. Cr W est should have known better than to commit himself to the remarks and opinions he did, which were not snared m or endorsed by any other member of the Council. We do not wish to write harshly of Cr West's action, because we are aware how sensitive he is to newspaper criticism, and because, knowing that we opposed his candidature for the Mayoralty, he would naturally be inclined on that account to feel still more aggrieved at any expression of disapproval on our part with his conduct as a Councillor. He could not have helped noticing how distasteful were his remarks, and how devoid of sympathetic accord his brother Councillors were with the stand he took up last night and the views to which he gave expression. Cr West will not secure favour, popularity or support by indiscriminate and groundless charges of a personal character levelled at one and another Councillor, or by angrily denouncing this or that action of his colleagues to which he may take exception. In consideratson of his recent defeat a little irritation might be looked for, and would no doubt have been overlooked by the Mayor and Crs, who would make considerate allowance for his disappointment which, we hear, he feels acutely. But no temporary chagrin co*ild justify his conduct last evening, a repetition of which we trust uot to see again. The Mayor and other Crs found it necessary to admonish and reprove him for the license he gave himself m speaking on various matters, and we trust the timely and moderate verbal chastisement administered will not be without good effect. He showed an amount of irritability of temperament, and lack of self-control which did not elevate him m the opinion of those who are advocates of harmony m debate and moderation of language and courteous bearing as the indispensable elements of unanimity. We hope and trust that m future neither Cr West nor any other member of the Council will through any indiscretion iv debate or any offeusive personal allusion, jeopardise the existing concord and unison which it is so essential to the interest of the community should continue and increase.