“YOU ARE TOO LATE!”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 731, 2 August 1929, Page 6

“YOU ARE TOO LATE!”

CR. J. R. LUNDON NEARLY MISSES MUNICIPAL BUS PUNCTUALITY AND BUSINESS Arriving eight minutes late for an adjourned meeting of the City Council last evening, Cr. J. R. Lundon found he had missed the municipal bus in not being permitted by the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, to move certain notices of motion which had been ruled out because of the councillor’s absence. It was only after a plea by Cr. T. Bloodworth, and through the expert application of an unsuspected Standing Order by Cr. A. J. Entrican that Cr. Lundon was allowed to proceed. r J’HB councillor arrived at 7.03 and just iu time to Rear Mr. Baildon remark that the notices of motion automatically lapsed because of the would-be mover’s non-attendance. The Mayor then declared the adjourned meeting closed. A fraction of a second later Cr. Lundon was heard in a loud protest that he should be heard because he was on his feet before the meeting terminated. Mr. Baildon: You must sit down. Cr. Lundon. Cr. Lundon: I am asking the council to grant me an ordinary courtesy. Will some councillor move that my notices of motion be reconsidered? Cr. Bloodworth: Would I be in order in making this motion? The Mayor: No. Cr. Lundon can move his notices of motion in the ordinary way—ln time for next meeting. Cr. M. J. Bennett (drily): Punctuality is the soul of business. Given leave to make a personal explanation, the late arriving councillor explained that his lateness "was due to his having to wait for a tram on reaching the city from Devonport. Thus the Transport Board was to blame. He had got out of a sick bed and had come straight to the council chamber. He merely asked the courtesy extended to any other councillor. The Mayor, however, was adamant and the councillor was forced to take his seat. He was then seen in earnest conversation with his neighbours, Crs. Bloodworth and Burton. A few moments later Cr. Bloodworth made another plea on Cr. Lundon’s behalf, urging that the circumstances warranted recommittal of the rejected business. Cr. Lundon was a new member and was probably not fully conversant with the rules. Cr. Bloodworth moved the suspension of Standing Orders and Cr. J. Donald seconded. The Mayor: If it is the wish of the council I will put the motion. The motion was carried with three dissentients, but the Mayor having been prompted by the Town Clerk, sprang a surprise by stating that Standing Orders could not be suspended unless by a unanimous vote. Cr. Lundon: I took careful note that several councillors did not vote. Cr. A. J. Entrican: I move under another Standing Order that Cr. Lundon’s request be granted. One can move a motion without notice if there is a threequarters majority. On this being put two councillors reversed their previous votes, but Cr. Bennett stuck to his guns—a lone dissentient. Cr. Lundon then moved his motions and in doing so thanked councillors for their courtesy, “with the exception of the representative of a certain business society.” Cr. Bennett (sarcastically): Hear, hear.

COUNCIL ORDER PAPERS

CR. J. R. LUNDON WANTS AGENDA CIRCULATED ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY With, a view to having order papers of business to be dealt with by the City Council at its ordinary meetings circulated in time for councillors’ perusal some time before such meetings, Cr. J. R. Lundon, after the above skirmish, moved, that in future the agenda be posted to councillors not later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the meeting on the following Thursday. At present only minutes of the previous meeting are circulated and all correspondence, reports of committees, etc., are presented on the evening of the tri-weekly meetings. Cr. Lundon suggested that all business materialising between the Tuesday and Thursday should be submitted in the form of a supplementary order paper. Cr. A. J. Entrican objected, saying that the items would bo town talk in Queen Street before they came before the council. He suggested that it would be a dangerous thing for the business to be known. “I have heard that committee business of this council has even been talked about openly,” Cr. Entrican said. “It is the first time in my experience that a councillor wants to know the business days before the meeting. Cr. Lundon is asking too much.” Cr. T. Bloodworth: I think that if Cr. Lundon had been on the council a little longer he would realise that there is not such a need as he thinks. Cr. Entrican, however, has no right to suggest that I or any councillor would bandy the items about the street. In the absence of proof, it is not just.” In answer to a question, the town clerk said that order papers in cities such as Sydney were closed earlier than in Auckland. “If Cr. Entrican knows of the bandying of council business in the streets, he should give specific instances,” Cr. Lundon commented. The motion was defeated.