THE SPECIALS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 34, 17 March 1914, Page 3

THE SPECIALS.

SCENES IN THE COUNCIL. SET AGAINST THE MAYOR. THREATS OF VIOLENCE. One of the most remarkable discussions in the history of the City Council took place last evening. A letter was received stating that: — "At the last meeting of the District Council of the Social-Democratic Party the secretary -was instructed to write to the City Council asking for information as to who was responsible for the enrolment of the special constables, and. the appointment of Colonel Chaffey, during the recent industrial crisis; and that in view of the fact that the Christchurch City Empowering Bill was mutilated by Parliament last session, that the City Council take the necessary steps to have the Bill re-introduced in its original form during the coming ses-, sion, and request all the local members of Parliament to use their best endeavours j to have it passed, and thus give effect to the long-delayed wishes of the Christchurch citizens in this respect. THE FIBST MOVE. Cr Hunter opened the attack by moving:—" That the letter be received, and the town clerk instructed to reply that the Christchurch City Council was not responsible for the appointment- of Colonel Chaffey nor the enrolment of specials." * Cr Hunter continued that it was desirable that it should be placed on record that the City Council had nothing to do with these two matters. Colonel Chaffey had been reported as saying that he had been appointed by the civic authority, and naturally the people wished to know who the civic authority was.

Cr M'Combs said that if Cr Hunter would include "the Mayor," he would second the motion. They had the assurance of the Mayor that he was not responsible for the appointment of Colonel Chaffey. The Mayor: When did you get that assurance from the Mayor? Cr M'Combs: I don't know the exact date, but if it is not correct we had better stick to Cr Hunter's motion. THE COUNTER MOVE.

Cr Hay ward: I move as an amendment: —"That this letter be laid on the table." ~

Cr Cooper: I second that.

Cr Hunter: I do not wish to include Cr M'Combs's suggestion. Cr M'Combs: It is quite evident to me — Cr Sorensen rose to a point of order, and protested against Cr M'Combs making a second speech. THE CLOSURE. The Mayor said that Cr Hunter had spoken in reply, and the discussion was closed. "I asked if anyone wished to speak before Cr Hftoiier;spoke, and now I rule the discussion closed.'' Cr M'Cullough: Can* I ask a question. The Mayor: I will proceed to put the motion.' Cr M "Combs: There is no motion. Cr Burgoyne: Is the council going to burke this discussion? f The Mayor: You had every chance to; speak. Cr Burgoyne: You are trying to block councillors from speaking! Cr Hunter: I did not reply. I was only saying that I would not accept Cr M "Combs "s addition. Cr M'Combs: Unless you gave me permission to second it in the form it was in. The Mayor evidently knows his position better than I;do. Cr Otley: I am afraid we are bringing something into the council which has nothing to do with it. As far as the specials concerned they : did very good work. "^■"■'z. ....., v The Labour memlSerst Question! Cr Otley: Somr of belonged to them, and we reckon they did goodwork. We are wasting the time of the council with a thing that we have no right to discuss. CITIZENS AND CITIZENS. Cr Burgoyne: This letter is sent from citizens. Are we not to discuss letters from citizens? Cr M'Combs: It is not from the Citizens' Association. Cr Burgoyne: We want no discrimination between Liberal, Tory, or SocialDemocrat here. This letter came through the proper channel, and we are justified in discussing it just as we discussed the representations made by the deputation. Cr Sorensen said that Cr Burgoyne did not appreciate the obvious difference between the Citizens' Association and a political party. They did not know the Social-Democratic Party as citizens. Labour "laughter."

Cr Sorensen: I don't know them; Cr M'Combs may know them. If they come to us as citizens I am prepared to give them a hearing. As a political body the council should keep clear of the Social-Democratic Party and all the others. NO GAG. Cr M'Cullough said that he had a perfect right to speak, and he was not «going to be shut up. He had not known that the motion was coming up; The

civic authorities mentioned by Colonel Chaffey were understood to be the Mayor and councillors. No matter in relation to the special constables came before the council, and the council could not be blamed for the special constables."'

Cr Haywafd said that the Mayor had been badgered about this matter. He only objected to the motion when it was proposed to tack on something about the Mayor. With the permission of his seconder he would withdraw his amendment. ' There was no sign from Cr Cooper, the seconder. ' old Dossils. Cr Miller was the next speaker, but his opening rematks were not iquite audible at the Press table. They were sufficient, however, to bring Cr Taylor to his feet[with a spirited protest that some of the expressions heard round the council table were grossly improper. (It transpired later that.Cr Miller had referred to some councillor or councillors as old fossils.) Cr Miller: The statement was not in accordance with fact that the City Council gave Colonel Chaffey his appointment. It is a stigma against the council as a body that it should be accused of bringing in a lot of country bumpkins Uproarious dissent brought Cr Miller's speech to a close. AN INSULT. Cr Hayward heatedly remarked that he -considered Cr Miller's lemarks an insult to, the men who had stepped up at the proper time to support law and order in the city. He thought that Cr Miller should withdraw his statement. Cr Miller: EVery word I said is true, and I won't withdraw a word. There was no such thing as disorder in the city. This is what we get from some of those superior individuals, who are ashamed to give their names to the newspapers. Cr Otley, speaking amid some interruption, and with considerable heat, said that Cr Miller had gone cut of his way to accuse him of being afraid. '' I am not afraid of anyone," said Cr Otley, '' and that is more than some can say. Even my worst enemy would not charge me with being afraid to say what I thought. I don't know who appointed the specials, and I don't want to know, and it has nothing to do with the council. Cr Miller: You know all right. Cr Otley: I object to that statement. The Mayor: Cr Miller must accept the denial* of Cr Otley.

THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT. The Mayor said that he intended making a statement, but he was not going to reveal all he knew. He had received numbers of anonymous letters from persons who were too cowardly to sign their names, threatening to burn his house down, waylay him on "his way home, and also threatening dire calamities, before ever a special was appointed. "I am not going to reveal anything that will cause other people to receive such letters. You all know that I advertised in the papers publicly for citizens to present themselves for enrolment on the showgrounds. Before I would betray the confidence of the citizens I would resign my position as Mayor a thousand times over. This matter was discussed in the council before, and now it comes before the council again in this letter. They want me to implicate other citizens, but I am not going to do it. I hope the motion will be thrown

out by a strong majority. It is a shame that it should be brought before the council. I have had an embarrassing time enough, but I am not going to be drawn on a matter like this.''

Cr Hunter: When it was discussed in the council before you ruled it out of order, and absolutely burked discussion. I represent a section of the ratepayers of Christchurch

The Mayor: You ask as a member of the Strike Committee. THE BLACK HUNDRED.

Cr. Hunter: I am not speaking as'a member of the Strike Committee. I have to uphold -democratic government, and we should not uphold the idea that the city should be run and governed as under the Black Hundred in Eussia. The Citizens' Committee were afraid to reveal themselves.

Cr. Hayward rose to a point of order, that Cr. Hunter should only deal with criticisms of his motion.

Cr. Hunter: Yqu made. some alarming statements, Mr Mayor. Will you produce the letters you have mentioned here to-night? I have not heard of any prominent citizen \ receiving anything of a like nature, and I was surprised when you made the statement. I did not see any evidence of disorder in Christchurch—l did all I could to prevent it.

Derisive laughter and sounds of dissent.

Cr. Hunter. The special constables were brought along Worcester Street amongst a crowd of men who were naturally heated after a meeting, deliberately to create disorder, and it was by my action, and the action of others, that disorder was prevented. It was a deplorable incident to introduce these Bpecial constables. They were jeered at by wonlen and children, and it will be remembered with : hame by the majority of the people of Christchurch. Any councillor who votes against my motion is upholding an untruth. Speak the truth, and shame the devil, as the old saying goes. THE AMENDMENT. Cr. Hayward then pointed out that he had not received permission to withdraw his amendments. He thought it might go to the vote now. Cr. Hunter protested that it had been withdrawn. Cr. Hayward said that he got no reply from his seconder. '' Silence means consent,'' said Cr. M'Combs. However, the Mayor put the amendment that the letter be received, and it was carried by nine votes to six, the six being Crs. Scott, M'Combs, Hunter, M'Cullough, Miller, and Burgoyne. Cr. Burgoyne asked whether the resolution admitted that the City Council appointed the specials. The answer was given by Cr. Sorensen. "We say that the Social Democrats have no right to ask the question. '' And there that matter ended. With regard to the second part of the letter, Cr. Hunter commenced to make a speech. The Mayor said that he had instructed the Town Clerk to write to Wellington with regard to the matter, and suggested that it should be referred to one of the committees. It was decided that the question be left with the By-laws Committee.