PEACE CELEBRATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17689, 29 July 1919, Page 6

PEACE CELEBRATIONS

DISCUSSION BY SO?. KILJJA COUNCIL. An otherwise brief meeting of the St lvilda Councd last night was prolonged by a discussion over what occurred in connection with tho procession on Peace Day After tho reading of tho minutes Cr Campbell mowed—" That it bo an instruction to tho town olork to convey the best thanks ot the council to the oxecutivo of tho Peace Celebrations Committee and the chief officers under the supervision of Cr J. S. Douglas lor tho capable manner in which the proceedings wore carried out; and to thank tho tramway manager and his staff for the manner in wlu'eh they carried out their duties. Also to lament the fact that through no fault of tho council it was not fully represented, as members wero not notified that it was talking part in tho procession." Cr Campbell said it looked as if there was a hole-and-corner business going on. Ho claimed that as ono of the oldest councillors ho should have been invited to take part 'but ho was not.

Iho Mayor ruled the last part of the motion out of order, and stated that councillors were notified. He explained that Mr Douglas had spoken to him on the Wednesday over the telephone, pointing out that tho St. Kilda Council would bo the only local body not represented in the procession, and asking him if he could not seo his way to go in. In theso circumstances ho (tho Mayor) said that, although tho council had •passed a resolution not to take any part in the proceedings, ho would make an effort to bo present. He then telephoned to the assistant town clerk informing him of the facts, and asked him to arrange for a car, and also to ring up tho two chairman of committees (Crs Dove and Teller) to get them to accompany him. As both had made other arrangements he then told the clerk to try to get the senior councillor (Cr Campbell). The assistant clerk informed him that several attempts had been unsuccessful, so ho replied that he must have some of the senior councillors with him, and ultimatelv Crs Smoaton and Hall and the town clerk (Mr Dick) went with him in the procession to represent tho council. _ Cr 'Seddon said he thought it was only right and fair that a special meeting should havo been called. Ho was never asked, and apparently Cr Campbell was not either. Tile Mayor: I am prepared to take the assistant clerk's word. Cr Campbell: And I have my own convictions. Cr Densom moved that the council approve of the Mayor's action. Ho was sure that the Mayor done his best, and that it was not his fault if anyone had been overlooked. It was not very nice to go out in public after theso petty squabbles. In fact, the council was getting a name like schoolboys quarrelling over a game of marbles. Cr Dove seconded Or Donsem's motion. Cr Garbutt remarked that he had never heard anything about it, but that did not worry liim a bit. Cr Hall said there was something he might say, but he thought the matter was too trivial to waste timo over. Tho Mayor said he had ovcry reason to believe that the clerk tried several times to get Cr Campbell and failed. He had mado a personal explanation which Cr Campbell had accepted—(Cr Campbell: No!)—and he was very surprised that Cr Campbell was yet prepared to say that the assistant clork was not speaking the truth about the matter. Cr Campbell: I never said any such thing. I am quite satisfied with what 1 have heard, and I want only a fair deal. I. am asking only for fair play, and I am not going to tako mud—even if it is thrown by the Mayor. Finally tho council decided to send forward its congratulations to the Peace Executive, and also passed the motion upholding the action of the Mayor. Another discussion arose over Cr Seddon's complaintthat, as he was not present at the last meeting, his notice of motion lapsed. An exception had been mado on other occasions. Cr Dove, who was chairman on that occasion, said it was not for him to suspend standing orders as acting chairman, and ho thought it was not a wise thing to do at all. • The Mayor remarked that tho simplest way was to give fresh notice of motion.