"STEADY, YOUR WORSHIP."

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 August 1926, Page 6

"STEADY, YOUR WORSHIP."

SPEEDING AT MOUNT EDEN. BOROUGH COUNCIL INTERLUDE. A report of 31 items, numbered consecutively, relating .to sump holes, tranches, spreading of scoria, tarring of footpaths, carting of stones and other momentous matters provided a bright interlude at a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last rvening.

"One, two, three, four!" said the Mayor with commendable promptitude, as he started to lead the council through .the figural maze.

"Steady, your Worship," said one councillor, who could not keep up with the count. "We can't take it in shorthand."

"I move that we take it as read," said Councillor R. McM. Morrison. "It seems to be a waste of time to go through it."

. "If that is going to be put to the meeting, I am going to strongly object," said Councillor J. Smith. "It is trying to close the mouths of the councillors, and I am not going to have my mouth closed." The Mayor: What do you refer to? Councillor Smith: I have just had the report before mc. It is all right to say, "One, two, three," but give us a chance to read it. If that is going to be put I will move an amendment. The Mayor: If there is anything that you would like to refer to, it is quite open for you to do so. Councillor Smith: I more as an amendment that it not be taken as read. A Councillor: That is a direct negative. Councillor ..Smith: Well, I move that we follow the usual course to have it read, or the items taken consecutively. That is the usual way of doing things.

Councillor W. Woolley: We have wasted more time now than if we had read it.

The Mayor: I will put the amendment. The "ayes" have it." Now we will go on. One, two, three, four, five six

A Councillor: Steady, steady! The Mayor slowed down the count and proceeded.

"What about No. 9—a soak-hole?" queried a councillor.

"Too late," replied another councillor. "He's up to No. 20 now."

"And 31," said the Mayor, in conclusion. "I move that the report be adopted." '

"Aye," replied the councillors in unison.