A BREEZE IN THE COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 23 October 1925, Page 2

A BREEZE IN THE COUNCIL.

CHANGED BUILDING PLANS. At the conclusion of the routine •business at the (Shannon Borough L-J-uncu meeting on Tuesday evening, His Worship the Mayor, as usual, asued ii any councillor had any business to bring before the Council. The invitation brought Cr. Curran to his ieet, who had something to say aibout the resolution, which had been rescinded, in respect to placing before, the ratepayers a proposal for the inclusion of a municipal hall or theatre in the municipal building scheme. The discussion which followed was one of the breeziest that, has taken place, at a Council meeting in Shannon, for some -time, some Oif the speakers being most emphatic in their remarks and at one time it took some of the Councillors all their time to control themselves. Cr. Curran, addressing the Mayor, said that during the latter's absence, through illness, from, the Council meetings, a motion that was'on the minutes to include a new municipal hall in the loan proposal, had been rescinded and it had been decided to place only one issue before the ratepayers, viz.,-to repair and renovate the present building. He asked \he Mayor if he had been present Avouid he have been in favour of this. The Mayor said' he was in favour of a new r municipal hall.

Cr. Thwaites said the decision had been come to on the principle of majority rules and it came with very bad grace when Cr. Curran would not abide by the decision. It was the duty of'every' councillor to lend his akfiu furthering the interests <of the ratepayers. This course tended to harmony in the Council and then the ratepayers got results, but if councillors kicked up a fuss when they were defeated, this gave the ratepayers a nad impression. Cr. Curran to Cr. Thwaites: Are you entitled to a vote? The Mayor: 1. will not allow such a question "to be asked at the. Council table. Cr. Curran then moved a motion, "That in future in any building work to be carried out by'the Council, no councillor be allowed to take any part in preparing .plans or specifications." The mutton failed to find a seconder. , The Mayor said that Shannon was only a small community and had to work accordingly. Cr. Curran's principle was alright, but they had often got to neglect, it for expediency. He agreed it was always better to have this Work done by experts. Cr. Richardson, said Cr. Curran's reason for objecting was only petty personal spite. This Cr. Curran denied. Cr. Spencer said Cr. Curran was objecting to councillors working in the interests of the ratepayers. "What' are we here for," he asked. "We want to get to work or resign and if this sort of thing was allowed to go on I would sooner resign." Cr. Roberts said it seemed to him that it was a matter of "Because I can't do it, I don't want other councillors to do it-" Cr. Butt said the Council should pass a vote of thanks to Cr. Spencer for die work lie had done gratis, and he moved in this direction, Cr. Roberts seconding. On being put to the meeting the motion was carried, Cr. Curran being the only dissentient, and thus ended a very lively discussion.