THE WORKS COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1916, Page 5

THE WORKS COMMITTEE.

A BOROUGH COUNCIL DEAM&IK.

A peculiar position arose last .sight at tho meeting of the Borough Council, when, for some considerable time, n*H ters were at a deadlock; but Snatiy, bjl the exercise of diplomacy, the difficult* was overcome.

Cr. Collis moved, in accordance with notice, that the ; resolution »p, pointing tho whole Council a Work* Committee be rescinded, and that a Works Committee of five be set up. Be con* sidered that large committees were Hot so workable as small ones. At present) tho Works Committee .passed resolutions, which there was no chance to review until a Council meeting, when the work was probably completed. He considered that a small committee would be of assisance in conferring with the enr gineer and seeing that the work author, ised is carried out without delay. ' The Mayor seconded, in order ta fcring the matter before the Council. Jettonally, he approved of the full Council being a Works Committee. The attends anees at meetings were very good indeed* If the committee, consisted of Ave ererythinj, would have to be discussed again at the Council meetings which > would then last until 1 or 2 a.m. At present every councillor took his share of the responsibility for the work. He fatored a sub-committee of three oeing get up to assist the engineer, because he dUE not believe that the engineer should* manage the whole borough. The Coun-i c'l should have a voice as to what streets were to be attended to, and when, «iiq\ how. He did not say that the committee should interfere with the engineer'* work. i

Crs. Griffiths and Monteatli supporiweV the resolution. , Cr. Medley saw no reason to otxage « system that had worked well.

Cr. Johnstone also saw no reason t<J change. The bulk of the work of the, Council fell on the Works Comjnittrtl and he considered that a difficulty would arise in deciding as to who were.to be] the five on whom they would shelve the responsibility. These five would be na . more accountable to the ratepayers t&itn would the whole Council. The proposal, i* adopted, would have a tendency toj make the other councillors slick. On being put the motion was declared lost, but on a division boing called tha voting resulted.—Aves: Crs. Montttth, Hayden, Wilson, Collis, Short, Hill, Orib fiths—7. Noes: Crs, Medley, Johnstone, Smith, Mannix, Watkins, and the ijayor —6. - The motion was declared carried. The Mayor expressed his regret at the, result, which, he said, took a lot of im terest out of the work for him, Cr. Griffiths asked wliether the M&yoa would nominate a committee, or did fed prefer the Council to do so. The Mayor said that he 'wae opposed to the motion, 'but the Council in ltfl wisdom had voted against him. He w*a not prepared to nominate a committee, Cr. Griffiths proposed that the Work* Committee should consist of the Mayor, Crs. Hayden, Wilson, Short, and tha mover. ' ' i' Cr. Collis seconded this.

The Mayor declined nomination. ffs was not prepared to undertake the r«. ■ sponsibility of running the committee '■■ with five men.

Cr. Monteath said that created 8 deadlock. It was imperative that the Mayor should be on the Committee, whioh would not be workable without him. Cr. Griffiths said that if the Mayor de-. clined, he would withdraw the nomina* tion of the whole committee.

Cr. Medley considered that if a fresh ' vote was now taken the result would be different. The Mayor: You can't take a vote on' it.

Cr. Wilson said that he was gorry 'the Mayor had declined nomination, though he recognised his reason. Councillor* had a right to their opinions, and though he did not speak to the motion he was strongly in favor of small committees. The resolution had been carried, and it was now necessary that the committee should be Bet up to carry out the work. H the Mayor would not accept, he moved the appointment of Cr. Monteath to the committee nominated by Cr. Griffith!, who, he considered, withdrew it out of * courtesy to the Mayor. Cr. Monteath declined nomination.' Cr. Watkins remarked that the May* was ex-officio a member of the ?ommlt« tee. . . - , The Mayor did not agree that the wnole Council made a cumbersome Work* Committee. He expected that it would soon be possible to do the work with fortnightly meetings. It was not fair to ask five members to do the work that thirteen had been doing. He would place himself in their hands.

Cr. Johnstone moved that Cr. Smltb'a name be added. He considered that it would be better if there was an elefltton. Cr. Smith declined, on the ground that be had no time to-devote to the dutio*. Cr. Monteath said that the Council did not wish to go against the Mayor. No one knew that he felt so strong on the matter. He was at a loss to know howthe harm could be undone.

Cr. Collis said that if the Council wa« unanimous the resolution could be r». scinded. He therefore moved that the resolution passed previously he rescinded. This was seconded by Cr. Griffiths, and carried unanimously.

The Mayor said lie was sorry that the ' discussion had arisen, but lie'would be .."'■ no use in the chair if he did not stick " ! to his opinion. He was instrumental in ': appointing the whole Council as a Works ' Committee, because lie was fully convinced that was the best course: He" "' favored the appointment of a sub. ■' committee of two 01 three to advise and ' ; confer with the engineer. 1 The Council then rose. 'i