BED-SIDE MEETING OF AVONDALE COUNCIL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 132, 25 August 1927, Page 11

BED-SIDE MEETING OF AVONDALE COUNCIL

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS SANCTION to appoint a new Mayor of Avondale and three councillors immediately, is being asked for by the five remaining members of the council. Application has been made to the Minister Internal Affairs and the permission, it is hoped, will appear in the “Gazette’’ issued at Wellington to-day. The five members met at a bed-side conference in a private hospital last night, a course made necessary by the Illness of Cr. W. Manning:. Having been elected “chairman,” though there was no chair to sit on. Cr. J. B. Clarke stood near the head of the bed and explained the situation which had arisen through the resignation of the Mayor and three councillors, and through the borough’s decision to join the city. On the advice of the Minister of Internal Affairs four persons had been nominated for the council as a temporary measure. The nominations were: Mr. E. E. Copsey, Mayor; Mr. P. Turner and Mr. P. Adams, South Ward, and Mr. G. R. Desmond, North Ward. The general feeling in Avondale was that the borough should amalgamate as soon as possible. The Finance Committee of the City Council would meet next Monday morning delegates from the borough council. A definite date for amalgamation would no doubt then be decided upon. In the 20-minute meeting the council heard the formal petition to the Gover-nor-General praying for sanction to amalgamate with the city and affixed its seal to the paper. The action of the four councillors in paying wages to the council staff and in authorising the bank to accept cheques signed by two members and the borough treasurer were approved. Accounts submitted at emergency meetings on August 17 and 18 were passed for payment. The appointment of the new Mayor and councillors and other business, it was decided, would be considered at a meeting of the council on Monday evening.