BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1915, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

THE MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson), and Crs. L. M. Monteath, J. S. S. Medley, J. Harden, S. J. Smith, A. H. •lohnstone, W. A. Collis, W. F. Short, .T. R. Hill, C. H. Burgess, A. E. Sykes, .T. T, Mannix, and A. E. Watkins. The different reports, which have already been published, were received. A QUESTION OF PUBLICITY. Cr. Sykes, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that meetings of committees of the Council should be open to the Pre,-.s. Cr. Sykes said that he was prompted to move in this direction so that greater publicity should be given to matters which were of public concern. AH the principal work of the Council was dealt with by the Council and the public only received brief reports of what was done at committee meetings.

Cr. Collis seconded and a brief discission followed ui which the motion met with general approval. The Mayor opposed the motion. Personally. if lie were remaining on the Council he would not feel, that lie could not discuss matters so freely if the iPress attended committee meetings, and nothing should be done to curb a free discussion. There were discussions at the Tramways Committee and the Works Committee which could not go out to trie public, and when the censor's pencil was put through what, the representatives cf the Press wrote they would find they had little more left than they now got supplied to them. Cr. Smith said he would like to see the matter deferred for a time to see if the general public really did want to know more about the work of the Council. Cr. Sykes would not agree to the postponement of the motion, which was then put and carried by seven votes to six,