The City Council and the C.D. Act.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 206, 2 September 1886, Page 4

The City Council and the C.D. Act.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Will you allow me space for a few words about the proceeding of the City Council in relation to the CD. Act. A motion was proposed by Mr Crowther to refer tho matter to the ratepayers. This waa negatived, and replaced by a resolution to con mlt the medical men of the city. An amendment which would coamrit the Council to a definite policy opposed to the Act is now being debated. Mr Councillor Cooper has, however, givon notice of a motion substantially the same as Mr Crowther'e.

Mr Cooper may fairly be asked, t* explain why, being present at the Co.viueil meeting at which Mr Crowther's. juotion was discussed, ha failed to support it by his vote; if, as it is reasonable from hie present notice to assume, ha ia in favour of consulting the ratepayers, the public have a right to demand from their representatives seriousneea and gravity in tho treatment of important questions, even if they do not fee! capable of forming an independent opinion upon them.

The responsibility of adopting the Act was assumed by the Council without giving the ratepayers any opportunity of expressing their opinion, if the Council is now convinced that the ratepayers ought to be consulted, the proper course would be to revert to tha status quo ante, Buspend the Act, and then ask the ratepayers whether it should again be brought into operation.

My own opinion is, however, that no body of ratopayera, however willing they may be to pay the expense, have a moral right to briny such an Act into exercise. Legal right they may have ; but, gathering hope from the example of England, I truat that even that legal right will disappear before long, under the influence of awakened and enlightened Christian opinion.

In this evening's Stab Mr Devoreia menHoned as a probable candidate for the Mayoralty. To the best of my knowledge this gentleman has not publicly expressed a definite opinion for or against the Act. Ratepayers interested in the matter should insist on knowing distinctly the viewsheldon this point by all candidates for the Mayoralty before entrusting any one of them with the power and prestige which that office carries with it. Any man who is unwilling or unable to make up his mind, and to declare it plainly on such an important subject, is not tit for the responsibility of the post of chief magistrate. — I am, &c, M. Steadman Aldis. Mount Eden, Sept. 1, 1886.