STILL WRANGLING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 593, 26 July 1933, Page 5

STILL WRANGLING

, opotiki council CROSS-TALK AND PROTESTS ENLIVEN THE AGENDA STILL ANOTHER MEETING Opotiki, last night. Objections to practically evei-y item on the agenda together with chatty table talk, did not assist the pl'ogress of to-night-'s reg-ular meeting* of the Opotiki Borough Council aiic^ while quite a lot of bright dialogue was provided, there was not a great deal of progress made. However, the excellent average of special meetings will be kept up for a further meeting of the council is to be lield on Tuesday when certain accounts for commission, on which the Town Clerk (Mr. C. Fleming) is demanding payment, will he considered. Cr. S'. Shalfoon, who opposed these accounts being passed at this evening's meeting, intimated that the borough solicitor would be asked to attend and ineluded a proviso to this effect in the motion which was , carried. When the minutes of the meeting held at the end of June were read, Cr. Andei-son fired the first shot by objecting to their being confirmed. After Cr. Anderson had explained his objection, it was decided to add a paragraph to the effect that when approving the alteration of the wording "instruct the town clerk to resign" to "ask the town clerk to resign," a proviso should be added that this alteration should have. no effect upon the notice of motion. Argument then proceeded as to whether the solipitor's opinion read by the Mayor (Mr. G. S. Moody) at a previous meeting should not be included in the minutes. Crs. Shalfoon, j. J. Moody, Patterson and Webb contended that as part of the business of the meeting, it should be ihcluded while the mayor, and Crs. Short and Main were opposed to the suggestion. The mayor contended that the opinion .had been given to him privately while Cr. Short expressed the opinion that it was not the. property of the borough. Had to Withdfaw Cr. Anderson expressed the opinion that there was "something fishy" about the mayor's attitude and had to withdraw the remark. The debate became very strenuous and at one stage, Crs. J. J. Moody and Shalfoon both rose in their places and began to speak together. The mayor ruled that Cr. Shalfoon had the floor and asked Cr. Moody to sit down. Cr. Shalfoon said "all right". and sat down but Cr. Moody said he would not sit down ahd enquired whether the mayor or Cr. Short was running the meeting. After the mayor had assured him that he was in charge, Cr. Moody sat down. Cr. Patterson then asked for the account hook and v/ith Crs. Shalfoon and Anderson, went through the ac- . counts in detail. Cr. Shalfoon then objected to the payment of sums of £23 14s, £71 3s 5d, and £4 18s 3d claimed by the clerk on account of commission at 31 per cent as mentioned by Cr. Shalfoon at a previous meeting. Cr. Main asked Cr. Shalfoon to explain his objections in detail but Cr. Shalfoon said that this would take a lot of time and proposed that a special meeting be held to discuss the matter with the borough solicitor. This was carried and the meeting will be held on Tuesday next. Another Tussle There was a further verbal tussle when the outward coirrespondence was reached and a letter was considered advising employees who had received notice of dismissal that this had been canceiled. Once again it was decided on the motion of Cr. Shalfoon to approve this section with the exception of the letter in question. Cr. Shalfoon then made a strenuous effort to have applications for the new positions of foreman and

ranger considered but at this stage the debate developed So many side issues that it was impossible to arrive at any definite conclusion or decision. The mayor finally declared the meeting closed amid protests from the opposition faction that this action was out of order.