The Borough and the Parawai Ward.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4951, 21 November 1884, Page 2

The Borough and the Parawai Ward.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council should have been held last night. At the time appointed there were present His Worship the Mayor (Wm. Fraser), in the Chair, Crs. Renshaw. McGowan, Bawden and Kilgour. Messrs McAndrew and Chappell, late representatives of Parawai Ward, were also in attendance.

As soon as a quorum was present the Mayor rose and remarked that, as Councillors were doubtless aware, the membership of the Council had been reduced to ten, five forming a quorum ; he therefore had to request the Clerk to proceed to business by reading the minutes. Mr McAndrew then rose and asked the Mayor to explain the meaning of the circular (published last night), which he had only received about 5 o'clock. He would like to see the Act which deposed him as representative of Parawai Ward, as the circular was the first intimation he received further than a report in the Stak an evening or two ago. He thought more time should have been given to himself and colleagues to consider the matter. The Mayor read the clause in the Act, but this did not satisfy Mr McAndrew, who contended that he was still a member of the Council till the Ward was merged, and thought Mr Miller's opinion of the clause should be obtained. Ti.e Mayor rejoined tbat neither himself nor the Attorney-General (a higher authority than Mr Miller) read the Act thus, but after the minutes were read he would, to settle the matter, more tbat Parawai Ward be merged into South Ward. The Town Clerk was about to read the minutes when Cr Kiigour expressed the opinion that the business could not be gone on with till the point was settled. The Mayor railed that the Act had already distinctly settled the question, and the Town Clerk commenced reading the minutes, when he was interrupted by Mr McAndrew, who considered that the Mayor was not dealing honestly or justly with himself and colleagues. Ho did not want to stay in office longer than he was entitled to, but he objected to being pitchforked out at a moment's notice. The Council should get a legal opinion on the point.

The Mayor replied that the best thing Mr McAodrew could do was lo allow the business to proceed. He did not wish to proceed to extremities. Mi; McAndrew retorted that he had already done so, and on being again asked to sit down, reiterated the statement that he was being unfairly dealt with. Cr Bawden : If Mr McAndrew still thinks he is a Councillor, he should behave himself and allow the business to be gone on with. Mr McAndrew said he would at once retire if he could be satisfied that the Mayor's ruling was correct. The Mayor rejoined that he was not going to discuss the question with Mr McAndrew, whom he declared oa the authority of Act of Parliament to be no longer a Councillor. 1 Mr McAndrew contended this was only the Mayor's reading, and he would like to have that of a man versed in the law. His Worship said the clause was drawn by the Attorney-General, in order to meet this identical case, as Government felt they had done an injustice. He went on to read from the House of .Representatives order paper showing that he himself had moved the insertion of the clause. Mr McAndrew thought it would be only fair and open to give a fortnight's time to consider the position. He did not want to be killed and buried all in a minute; they might give him a decent funeral, at any rate. The Mayor replied that as Mayor he must do his duty, however disagreeable it might be, and it was his duty to declare them no longer Councillors. If asked as a favor, he would have no objection for the Council to adjourn for a fortnight. Mr McAndrew : I will ask it as a favor then.

Mr Hume hero entered the chamber, and asked the Mayor—(l), whether a resolution had been passed annexing Parawai to another Ward, and (2) whether the Mayor objected to his remaining as a Councillor ? The Mayor replied that he could not recognise him as a Councillor ; but as one of the public he was welcome to stay. | Wo resolution annexing Parawai Ward had been passed. Mr Hume then withdrew from the J table. Cr McGowan would move a resolution for the adjournment of the Council, in order to treat Messrs McAndrew, Chappel, and Hume with every fairness. It seemed to him, however, that Mr 1 McAndrew must have some purpose in view in wanting so much to keep his position as a Councillor. Mr McAndrew (excitedly): I deny that. I have no wish to keep my seat. I repeat that I do not care the toss of a i penny for the position, and wish it had been me who retired instead of Mr Murdoch. Don't say that again, Cr McGowan.

Cr McGowan maintained that it still appeared to him as if Mr McAndrew wished to retain his seat for some purpose, and' he had already accused the Mayor of giving a reading of the Act with an object in view. Mr McAndrew admitted that he had, and was of the same opinion still. Cr MeGovran then moved the adjournment of the Council for a iWtui^ht, in

order to give the three gentlemen every opportunity of getting a correct interpretation of the clause, as he would bo sorry to think any of them considered themselves unfairly treated. The Council could do nothing in regard to the coming into force of the Act, but by adjourning their business they could gire the time asked for.

Cr Benshaw asked whether there was any pressing business, the Town Clerk replying that the only matter requiring urgent attention was the passing of the men's wages.

Mr Chappell thought there must be something in this evening's business to cause the circulars to be issued at so late an hour. As far as he could understand Parawai Ward remained a Ward till it was merged, and it seemed to him the Council was trying to unseat the Councillors before this was done.

The Mayor said the intention of the clause was certainly to unseat the three gentlemen elected for Parawai Ward, in order that that portion of the Borough might be represented, not misrepresented, as at present (" Hear, hear," from Mr McAndrew). The mistake had arisen through an Undersecretary, who declared the section a Ward in the anticipation that the rest of Parawai would be included before the proclamation became law. Mr McAndrew thought the proceedings in connection with Parawai Ward had been a farce from beginning to end. What reason was there that everything had been conducted in such a dark and mysterious manner, especially in connection with the clause inserted in the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act? He believed it had been done for a purpose, and gave it as his opinion that if other persons had been elected, Parawai Ward would have remained. He hoped, however, that someone would second Cr McGowan's resolution, as it was but fair and honest. The Mayor intimated his willingness to second the motion, when

Cr Eilgour rose for the purpose of do- ! ing so, and proceeded to give his reading of the clause, saying that he felt sure the view he took of it would commend itself to all present as the right course to adopt. The Mayor had no power to decide the question. His Worship : That hag already been decided by Act of Parliament. Cr Kilgour agreed to this, but contended that the Mayor's reading was not the correct one, and was about to give his reading, when Cr McGowan raised the point of order that the motion was for the adjournment of the Connoii, and not relative to the in» tcrpretation of the clause of the Act. ' The Mayor upheld this, and ruled that the latter question was not open for discussion ; if Cr Kilgour would simply second the motion, it would expedite business. Cr Kiigour regretted that his mouth had been stopped by the Mayor, as he felt sure what he was about to say would have commended itself to those present. He, therefore, seconded the motion. Cr McGowan remarked that it was not the Mayor, but the point of order raised, which had silenced Cr Eilgour. This roused Cr Eatgour'& ire, and he rather angrily retorted that Cr McGowau tbould not talk to him like that; he was not a fool. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously, and the Council rose.