A WELLINGTON BREEZE

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 61, 11 March 1916, Page 9

A WELLINGTON BREEZE

AT THE CITY COTOCIL.

VIATOR OX HIS RIGHTS. -MEETING ABRUPTLY ADJOURNED. Quite an unusual scene occurred during the meeting of the Wellington City D , Cl i ♦? Thursda ? evening, whichjerininated the proceedings wita unexpected abruptness. The report of the- Public iieann Committee was before the Council, when Cγ. Fuller asked if it were not opportune to make a statement about lniantile paralysis.

Cγ. Goaber (chairman of the Public I Health Committee) said that the matter nad not received their consideration, as !it had not been referred to them, and i they knew nothing about what was being ;aoue until they nad seen in the papers that the Mayor had done this and tnat. I The Mayor had not even shown the ! chairman of the committee that courtesy j which was due to him, though he (the : speaker) and the committee would gladly I have co-operated with him in doing any- ; thing that was necessary, knowing that he had the interests of tiie city at heart. When Cγ. Godber sat down the Mayor made a statement setting out what he had done, mentioning the conference with the Chief Health Officer, the inspection of the theatres, and the spraying of the streets with a '"composition" which he ■ smelt as he came along the street. The I City Engineer had been instructed to do ' the right thing and not to spare any expense. Cr. Fuller: That's the point—l'm clad of that. b J Whilst on the subject, the Mayor coni tinued. he wished to say that for some I time past the practice had grown up of i the committee taking on the powers of J the Council, but whilst he was Mayor he I would do what he thought was right and proper in the best interests of the health jof the city. The city was vested in the I Mayor a≤ apart from the Council. A voice: Under what Act? The Municipal Corporations Act. responded the Mayor. He went on to say I that the matter was one of urgency to j the health of the people, and there had ; not been time to summon a meeting of the Council or the Public Health Com- ; mittee. and he had exercised the powers j vested in him to do what he thought was , right and proper. He was not going to allow any discussion on the matter— i councillors had been given an opportun- ! ity to speak, and they must get on with I the business. I Amidst a babel af voices the Mayor put ■ the motion to adopt the Public Health Commit-ee's report, and declared it car- '■ ried. 1 BABEL OF INTERRUPTION. i Councillor Godber meanwhile was on his feet, calling for an opportunity to i speak. ' " Sir, I wish to call your attention—" Ihe begani "You will pleaee resume your seat, Councillor Godber.' , " But. sir, 1 wish to call the attention of the Council—you have said things that are absolutely erroneous " [ " Resume your seat/ interjected the I Mayor. " You must have a proper rei spect for the chair.' , [ ~ You've been most unfair and ungenI erous," continued Councillor Godber. ~ You've never found mc wanting in rsspect for the chair. Cow can you say you could not consult us when every member of the committee is on the telephone. You could have got U3 together in an hour" " Sit down! I will not allow the Council to discuss it." ! " I will not sit down," retorted Counj cillor Godber. I ~ Then we will not go on with the i business until you do," replied the Mayor. ! '• I can't help that," replied Councillor J Godber. I Then Councillor Fuller intervened, ! saying: " You will not allow councillors j to" speak. I won't allow you to chastise I a councillor. You have chastised Counj cillor Godber, and I say " I What he said could not be caught in I the babel that arose. Councillor Godber by this time had resumed his seat Lα indignation. Then Councillor F.tzgerald rose. "Sir," ;he said several times, i * Resume your seat. Councillor Fitz- ', frerald. I will not allo,w any discussion. You must have regard for decorum in the Council." " Sir," , repeated Councillor Fitzgerald. " Sir, I rose in a most respectful way—l appeal to you.'' "" Sit down—l will not allow you to speak." said the Mayor. '" But you don't know what T was goin;* to say." " I don't care what you were going to say," said his Worship. "There is only one guide to the Council. I ask th<» councillor to resume his seat. You are violating the chair!" "I am not violating the chair!" retorted Councillor Fitzgerald. " I've a j right to speak. New matter has been introduced, and I think every councillor in the room has a right to speak on it." *" I will no* alln-.v any discussion!" repeated the Mayor. "■'Then I move as a protest that this mpetins , do now adjourn!" said Councillnr Fitzgerald. Councillor Bennett: T second it! The Mayor put the motion to the meeting, which was carried on the voices, and the Mayor left the chair.