At the Board Meeting.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 8 June 1906, Page 3

At the Board Meeting.

— # . At the last ordinary meeting of the Town Board, All the resolutions previously passed in reference to the lighting matter were rescinded, in order to leave the field clear for further proceedings in a different order. Com’r Williams asked the chairman’s ruling as to whether “ this (lighting) was ordinary business or extraordinary business ?” The chairman (Mr Chambers) said he would rule that it was extraordinary business. Com’r Williams then contended that they could not deal with the lighting, as a special meeting should be convened to deal with extraordinary business. Com’r Seymour asked how extraordinary business was defined from ordinary business? Com’r Williams said where borrowing money was concerned was extraordinary business, and of course the lighting business must be extraordinary. A special meeting would have to be held to consider lighting proposals. The chairman read a clause from the Town Districts Act, and said he was inclined to agree with Com’r Williams, though from the reading of the clause it seemed that a chairman had power to define what should be extraordinary business or otherwise.

Com’r Seymour expressed surprise that a member of the Board should keep information to himself when he migntbe able to put other members on the right track before any mistake had been made. Com’r Williams replied that the Board were against him, not only at the meeting, but in the streets, and under these circumstances he did not feel that his advice would be availed of if proffered. The chairman contended that Com’r Williams had always had fair play. Com’r Seymour thought that Com’r Williams should not sit there and keep to himself any information that might be of service to the Board. Com’r Williams was about to speak again, when the chairman said he had allowed him a great deal of latitude and must call him to order. He thought they should try and avoid these personal arguments.

As already reported, it was resolved to hold a special meeting on Thursday evening next to deal with lighting. [A similar question of procedure arose at the County meeting.]