A STONEWALL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 7

A STONEWALL.

MANCEUVIUNG IN CITY COUNCIL.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTA-

TION QUESTION,

Recently a requisition was sent to tho Town Clerk, signed by six members of the City Council, asking him to call a special meeting of the Council, and if approved, pass a resolution to make a special order revoking the special order made on February 28th, IDiG, adopting the provisions of the Local Elect-ion's Proportional Representation Act, IUII. The meeting was called for 5.31) last evening, the ordinary meeting of the Council being held tho same night. it was anticipated that the moving of tile resolution would lead to a strenuous debate, but an oversight on tUe part of the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) and £ome manoeuvring on that of Tue proportional representation advocates, led to the special meeting lapsing and the motion nob being moved, .It 5.20 p.m. a deputation from tho Navy Leaguo War Fund Appeal Committee initl retired alter making an application for a donation from tho Council. A motion that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee was on the point of boing carried without dissent when Cr. Howard provoked a warm discussion by maintaining that a grant should be voted by the Council that evening. After tho discussion had ended, a deputation from the Canal League was admitted, and the first speaker of tho deputation had just concluded a quarter of an hour's address when tho Mayor, glancing at tho clock and noticing that it was four minutes to nine, interrupted the next speaker of the deputation by pointing out that the social meeting had been called for at 8.30 that evening, and he understood that under the standing orders it lapsed if not held within half an hour of the time it was called for. A stonewall resulted. Cr. Taylor said he took formal otception to the Mayor's ruling. The meeting, he submitted, should bo held at the it was called for. Cr. Sullivan asked the Mayor to produce his ruling. Tho Mayor referred to the ruling providing for the holding of a meeting half an hour after it was called when there was no quorum present at tho appointed hour.

Cr. Taylor said the position was different in the present case. Cr Howard looked at the clock, the hands of which were now pointing to nine. "In any case," said he, "yon are over the half-hour."

Cr. Flesher: Half an hour, no. I move—- «

Cr. Taylor (to the Mayor): I want your ruling on a point of order. I hold the meeting has lapsed. You were just about to put to tho Council a request that the standing orders be suspended for the purpose of allowing the meeting to tako place. The Mayor: It is quite in order to ask tho deputation to wait and for the Council to proceed with the special meeting.

Cr. Sullivan: I submit that the halfhour has now elapsed. It is now naif a minute past nine. Cr. Flesher: I move that we proceed with tho meeting and tost its legality afterwards. After wo pass the resolution, if it is found to be illegal, we can put in a fresh requisition to tho Town Clerk and hold a special meeting two days aftor. Tlu's is only a quibble oil the part of tho minority to stop the Council takino- action. 0

Cr. Sullivan (to tho Major): I wish to know whether the ruling given by you is to stand or not. Is the Mayor to control the Council or Cr Flesher 9 Tt is commonly believed that Or j-'Jesher has certain councillors in his pocket. I want to know whether he or the Mayor is to rule, sir. Cr. Howard considered it a most disgraceful attitude to take up before a public deputation. Ho moved that the deputation be heard to a finish. Cr. Nicliolls: I second that. Tho Mayor: I think in fairness to all to rule that the time has elapsed tor Holding a special meeting. Cr. Flesher: Very well, if y o n rule mu' S1 v i® °nd of it. The discussion then ended, and tho deputation continued to present it* case. Later in the evening the Mayor was conveying Christmas greetings to tho Council, stating that this would be the last meeting of tho Council held this year. • Cr. Flesher: We will have another: The Mnyor: Oh! (Laughter). Immediately after the conclusion of the meeting, Cr. Flesher put in a requisition for a meeting next Monday «rT.Mi was siened by Crs. Williams,' | MrKellar. CUmio. Peek. Loasbv Beinland, and himself. With the exception of Crs. Peek and Loasby. th e e ;, Wltfl t} ' e add ; tio n of Cr signed tho original requisi-