DROPS OF INK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 116, 5 August 1913, Page 2

DROPS OF INK.

By N. 1.8.

Sometimes Members of Parliament blow a bit about having been members of local bodies. An occurrence hst week lant truth to tne boast. Members of the "glorified Borough Council" (as our House of Reps, is sometimes disrespectfully called) got themselves so side-tracked during the talkee-talkee that eventually tney really didn't know what they were discussing, and Mr Speaker tad to tell them.

This nib presumes that the plight in which Parliament found itseif was a recrudescence of bad habits. Pukekohe Borough Council, although it get 3 through a famous amount of work, offers a striking example of how public businers should cot be conducted, Jt would add considerably to the dignity of the meetings if members ro:e to address the chair, if "across-the-table" were cut out, and if one amendment was disposed of before another was proposed. And, more important still, a greyer volume of business wo.ild be got through in less time.

When ths Borough Council, some months ago, decid.d to change the hour of meeting frr-m eight to seven it was anticipated that the Councillors would be able to s-:ek their homes ati nour earlier than in the past. The anticipations have not been realised; o.n the other hand, if anything the meetings ar? even more protiacted. On the last two occasions the deliberations of the Council have lasted over four hours. Whether the warmth and comfort of the new meeting room fcaa been responsible for the loquacity cf the Councillors cannot be said, but the fact remains that there wa3 a Rreat deal more discussion than the business warranted. Here is a suggestion: The Council should include in their standing orders a rule that no new business be taken after a certain hour, say 9.30. This in itself would go a long way to curtail the "freedom of speech," and it in conjunction the Mayor would be a little less lenient to offenders who speak more than once to a resolution, ths Council would adjourn considerably earlier without the business of the borough having been affected one whit.

When one comes to think ot if, there is no reason at all why Mayors, Chairmen of local todies, and members of County Councils, Borough Councils and Road Boards, should rot make their association with public life ot real benefit to themsslvt s. 'ilood chairmen are born; but many of them, if they tried, could make themselves a heap better than they ate. fc'orae local bodies in this district simply meatder through their business—make a "day out" ot it, as it were.

Of cur district chairmen Nib doea not know of any who stands out conspicuously—as ye*. But honest practice, my masters, makes perfect. Perbapj the three test that the writer knows are Mr Motion (Franklin Ccunty Council), Mr Allan (Pukekohe East Road Board), and Mi Glasson (Drury Road Board). Of course th?re are a number of chairmen with whose work this writer is not personally familiar, and other chairmen who have not had opportunites when the compiler of this paragaph was present to show their mettle. To the chairman who consistently gets his meetings through in the shortest time, without ostentation and without sacrificing efficiency, I unhesitatingly hand the palm for this year's work to Mr A. Willis (Papakura Town Board).

In this important business of "how to conduct a public meeting successfully" it occurs to me that a well-organised debating society should do gocd work locally. Of all the arts, the art of public speech is the most neglected Good public speaking does not consist merely of the ability to string sentence upon sentenca mellifljentlv. There are rot a few who have the "gift of the gab" who could never become effective public speakers; thare are many painfully halting phrasemakers who. if they understood a little of the science and art ot oratory, could compel any audience to listen. But besides the practice in speaking that a local society would give, members wouli be afforded an opportunity to learn the forms and graces of public discussion anrt the immutable p'incipbs which always should govern well-ordered debates, Pukekohe rather prides itself on its progressiveness, but in more ways thaa one it is sadly stick-in-the-mud. Tuakau and even Pokeno are brilliantly alive in comparison. ♦ * * Much pressure has been brought to bear on me to suggest the quickest way to raise money for the reconstruction and upkeep cf the main road to Mauku and Waiuku would be to erect toll-gates on the road at the borough boundary. Why raise your brows in hnlv horror, gentle reader? 1 know a person who during the past three months has paid in toll: Ooe broken shalt. One broken Epring. Broken harness. To say nothing of the additional horse that had to fce employed, the heavier wear and tear all round, and (he broktn language used. That was toll enough in all conscience. But if you don't like the idea don't get angry with me. Just write to the "Times" yourself about the matter and suggest a better way cut.