MORE LIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8110, 15 May 1906, Page 3

MORE LIGHT.

STAR CHAMBER PROCEEDINGS. DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL TABLE. The right of ratepayers to know the whole of the business transacted by the New Plymouth Borough Council was again questioned last evening, when the Council considered the letter from the editor of the T.ve.waki Duly News, written in March last, and deferred for consideration till tho Council was arranging committee work for the year. The letter asked that, as the bulk of tho work of the Council was done by the. Works Committee, its meetings should be open to the Press. Cr. F. E. Wilson set the ball rolling by asking for the letter to bj read, and strongly supported the application, unless it was intended that the Works Committee should consider ouly the business referred to it by the Council, in order to lnve fuller and freer discussi in. But if the business of the Council was to be handled by the committee before it came before open Council, the reporters had every right to be present, The Mayor considered that a great deal of committee business could not be publicly reported. What was the good of half a report ? Cr Collis supported Cr Wilson. When letters wer# dealt with by the works committee, only, the recommendations were made public. If the ratepayers were not made fully cognisant of all the facts, distorted versions were circulated. , Far better to have the real facts reported. Cr Monteath considered that there were places for tho Press, and places not for the Press—and the works committee meeting came under the latter category.

Cr Brooking considered ratepayers ought to be satisfied with bare resolutions.

,Cr Wilson moTcd that no new business be dealt with by the works committee, but tliis ivas not put to the vote.

An amendment that the Press be admitted to works committee meetings was moved by Or Collis, but was lost, only the mover and tlio seconder (the Mayo r) voting for it. Further consideration was held over for a month.