Bay of Plenty Times. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24th., 1937 THE COUNCIL RUMPUS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12259, 24 February 1937, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24th., 1937 THE COUNCIL RUMPUS

The unregrettable spectacle of a Mayor having to recede from an undignified and impossible position of his" own creation when he i found himself without a quorum was witnessed by those citizens who happened to be in attendance at the Council Chambers on Monday night. These continual disputes between Mayor and Councillors should cease and it is within the power of councillors to end them definitely and at once. Unfortunately the friction is having a disturbing effect on the whole of the staff as a result of which town and ratepayers' must ultimately suffer. But that is apart from the particular incident of the disputed minute on Monday night. Of late a custom has grown up among most local bodies to escape the tedium of having minutes read by circulating them to members and then taking them as read at the following meeting. This may be convenient, but it has its dangers, and out of the practice trouble will sooner or later arise. But this was not the cause of Monday night’s trouble. The cause there lies principally with the Mayor and secondly with every Councillor. At almost every meeting, here or anywhere else, officers entrusted with the task of recording minutes experience the greatest difficulty in endeavouring to correctly record loosely worded motions and amendments. Obviously the duty of every mover is to see that there is no ambiguity about his motion, and he should take the trouble at the time to see that it is correctly recorded, not perhaps as he uttered it, but as he intended. Still more obviously is it the Chairman’s duty to state motion and amendment clearly to the meeting, but too, often this simple duty is neglected by merelyasking for a vote, aye or no, when, after a lengthy and involved discussion, many suggestions have been accepted and motions amended until the most astute has been a hazy idea of the final wording desired or intended. If each of our Councillors in turn was compelled to take the minutes or report a Council meeting, the cause of Monday night’s unseemly display would quickly disappear. The Mayor’s position of course was untenable, a fact he fortunately discovered in time, but lie can keep himself out of similar trouble in future by the simple expedient of being more businesslike in handling motions and amhudments. Apart from the protection and help it will afford the recording officer, reporters will be grateful.