CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL BUSINESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8432, 2 May 1907, Page 5

CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL BUSINESS.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.

•'Withregard to'the future conduct of the business of the Council, I believe the business \ couldj be done by two committees," said the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) at the meeting of the Masterton Borough Council last evening. Continuing, the Mayor said that his reason for having only, two com- , ■nittees was because it was necessary !or every Councillor to follow the >usiness of. the Council in detail, and ;his could. be done by Councillors lerving on .the two, committees. The :ommitteesjhe suggested were Works md Finance. The Works Committee ' vould have every matter in connec;ion with works in tho borough before ,hem,. including the maintenance of ,he Park. These were his views, md he hoped that they would fall in with them. Certainly, he would not ike to see any more than three comnittees. In this way he thought the work of the Council and its staff vould be modified. Cr Pauling said he was of opinion ,hat at least three committees',were •equired for the carrying out of the york of the borough. Cr Ewington did not think that the Vlayor was right in suggesting two :ommittees. He [did riot agree with works- and finance being separated, ind thought that better work would je done if there was a Works ancl finance Committee: He thought a 3as Committee was necessary, as ;here was no doubt that the gas nains would have to be extended dur-r ng the'next two years., He did not ;hink the present Council could dejart from the policy, of the old Coun-, :il in connection with the if. the loan. ' |\ The Mayor moved that the business " the borough-'be carried on by two Tiittees, viz., a Works Committee to. / Finance Committee. He pro- *»- ' » have all the works of the mefl a deluding the government of Doseftjifa, administered by a Works s©roßjgfty. t He suggested the perH»' J?ai»kv t immittees as follows: Committee. ■ ' 'ttee: ; Crs Pauling, scmnei ef thff c v Prentice, Prague)] —Woylcs Cotsm. ice: The Mayor, Morris.- EwingUßSV. ; * lYarr. and'Haoghey. ■ Fftwn. 'demotion. Vrs Elliott, Temple* aau ■'. raendmenl

Cr Prentice second&h t»!' • • minted. I Cr Temple moved atf a» i. . 'tnendthat four- committees bff asp-pt that Cr Ewingion. seconded' tlte t. the ment. In doing so, "he satid .there-'was- too much- wo*k> m .. borough for only two comrnifcteet, • There was also too much under ife©-. heading of "works" to be done- fey one cqmmitteei..' ■-.... Cr Morris .supported the amendment*. He, .thought the Mayor had! made a mistake in. placing six members of ;the' Council' oh the' Works Committee. He considered that no< committee should comprise they majority of the Qouncil;' Cr Pauling spoke in favour of theamendment. ' ■ Cr Elliott considered that the work of the boroughjcould be easilyjarriedi on with three committees. . "Cr Yarr, favoured three committees. He was decidedly against the Works and Finance Committees* being amalgamated, as they & would then be able to do almost what they liked. Cr Pragnell said he was in favour of three committees. Cr Mbrfis then expressed 'himself in favour of three' committees. • Cr Elliott moved; arid CrHaughey ' seconded, that three committees be appointed. , ,

t The Mayor then; withdrew his ' motion. On a division, Cr Elliott's amendment was carried by six yotes to three, "' Cr Ewington moved that one of the committees to be appointed be a Works and Finance Committee. Cr Pragnell seconded the motion. Cr Temple opposed the motion.. He thought that pne of the mistakes the old Council had made last year "was the running of the works and finance of the burough together. A strong point of the present Coun- - , cil, he thought, should be finance; A Gas Committee was also essential. He moved as an -amendment that the following, joint committees be appointed:—(l) Works, Drainage, and Abattoir; (2), Gas and Finance; (3) Water, By-laws) Park, and Library. Cr Pauling seconded the amendment. He .considered that the combination of committees as outlined by Cr Temple was a suitable one for the working of the Council. . Cr Ewington withdrew his motion, and Cr Temple's amendment was carried unanimoubly. The Mayor then pointed out>that he had no idea of taking the chair at any committee, meeting. He wished to be entirely free to criticise the reports of committees,, but if he found that any . important business was to be. conducted by any committee, he would attend the meetings of that committee. The following Councillors were elected to committees;— Works, Drainage, and. Abattoir Committee: Crs Pauling, Prentice, Pragnell, Haughey, and Morris. Gas and Finance: Crs Temple, Elliott, Yarr and Ewington. Water, By-laws, Park and Library: Crs Ewington, Temple, Prentice and Morris.