RESOLUTIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 331, 27 March 1930, Page 1

RESOLUTIONS.

LOCAL BODY PROCEDURE. “ Leave It To The Clerk.” Recently the editorial representatives of the Bay of Plenty Times were up in arms over being accused of not reporting a resolution correctly, and the resultant comments of this journal on the above subject were certainly very timely and have our sympathy, for we have been similarly called to task when the blame was entirely with those responsible for the particular resolution. Any reporter will tell you that local body clerks and minute recorders need to have their wits about them at meetings, and they at times need an intellect a little-, above the ordinary; also more than the average powers of interpretation. Judging from the few errors that do occur in the wording of their minutes and the many resolutions usually passed at meetings, the majority of local body clerks do possess the intelligence and capacity to interpret correctly these resolutions and mould them into reasonable sentences conveying the true position of any subject before meetings. Notwithstanding this efficiency, it is, as the Bay of Plenty Times says, marvellous that local bodies are so seldom caught in serious complications through the loose way in which many of their representatives bring their motions before meetings. Some of these gentlemen will, no doubt, say that it is the clerk’s job to mould and construct resolutions; but certainly they get very little assistance from the bodies with which they are associated. Too often we hear something like this . after half an hour’s discussion: —A member : “ Yes, I will move in that direction.” Memberg murmur assent as the chairman gabbles: “ Well, gentleman, you’ve all heard the resolution.” (It is really only a motion still!) “All in favour say ‘Aye’; against ‘No ’; the ayes have it Carried! Next business please!” And so they pass on to further business with the clerk endeavouring to bring order out of this verbal chaos and fill in as seconder the name of someone who won’t complain at the next meeting that he never did second such a motion.

In certain districts it is the universal custom for all local bodies to refuse to accept any motion unless in writing, motion forms being supplied at all meetings. All written motions must be signed by mover and seconder before being put to the meeting. This wise provision saves a lot of trouble, and the introduction of such a custom would be welcomed by the great majority of clerks. The greatest bugbear of reporters whose means of livelihood compel them to attend local body meetings is perhaps in dealing with matters that, for various reasons known best to the chairman and members of local bodies, should be taken “ in committee.” In endeavouring to maintain and preserve .the high ideals of the press of the Dominion for fair play and reasonable consideration, many times matters under discussion are allowed to pass when the public is entitled to know the facts. Torn between duty to his paper, loyalty to his profession, and fairness to the local body concerned, he too often lays down his pen or pencil when someone or other representative of a local body says: “ We must remember that the press is here ”; “I hope they won’t report this ”; “ Isn’t this a matter for committee ? ” and last but not least the expression: “ We’ll i leave it to the discretion of the press.”