MAYOR WALKS OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 90, 18 April 1939, Page 5

MAYOR WALKS OUT.

COUNCIL DISPUTE.

DEPUT.Y CARRIES ON MEETING

A wide difference of opinion was shown between members of the Onehunga Borough Council last night when the Mayor, Mr. A. Garskie, and two members of the council left the meeting rather than go into committee.

The Mayor, who presided, said they were called to coneider a report of the borough engineer on a proposed waterworks loan, whereupon Mr. L. F. Catt, chairman of the waterworks committee, moved that the council go into committee. This was seconded by Mr. J. E. D. McGuire, deputy-Mayor.

Mr. W. J. Moore, chairman of the housing committee, opposed the motion. He considered that the people had a perfect right to know what was being discussed. He protested strongly againet the debate being taken behind closed doors.

The Mayor said he also took exception to proing into committee, because the council owed a duty to the public, who had every right to know what was being done. Mr. McGuire, who seconded the motion, considered- that it was fit and proper that the council should go into committee to deal with the importance of the engineer's report. Mre. H. Young remarked that the council had previously affirmed its decision against taking business in committee. In reply, Mr. Catt admitted that there had been an understanding to avoid doing important work in committee. He added that there w£s no attempt or desire to hide anything, but until some decision had been reached the question should not be discussed in open meeting. On the motion being put, it wae carried by five votes to three. The Mayor called for a show of hands, the ayes being Messrs. J. E. D. McGuire, L. F. Catt, T. H. Geraghty, F. Gilehrist and L. C. McClintock.

The noes were the Mayor, Mr. W. J. Moore and Mrs. H. Young. Mr. Moore thereupon announced his intention to retire from the meeting. He was followed by the Mayor and Mrs. Young. The town clerk said that as there were five members left in the chamber, and five formed a quorum, they could etill carry on with the business.

The deputy-Mayor, Mr. McGuire, was voted to the vacant Mayoral chair, , and the public left the room. Mr. S. Brown and Mrs. M. Newton were not present at the meeting.