NEW SYSTEM.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19400, 28 August 1928, Page 7

NEW SYSTEM.

SUMNER BOROUGH BUSINESS. A STANDING COMMITTEE. In future the Sumner Borough Council will conduct its business on a different system, the various committees baring been disbanded, while the whole Council will act as a Standing Committee to consider the committee business before each Council meeting. This decision is tho outcome of a motion by Crs. H, W. Harris and C. J. Denhain, notice of which was given at last month'B meeting, and which w.w carried last evening by live votes to four. Tho motion was as follows: "That the committees as at present constituted be disbanded and that u Standing Committeo comprised ot" the whole of tho Council be appointed to deal with all committee work and to meet on an evening to be decided prior to each Council meeting; the first meeting of the month to deal with works and by-laws, tho second with finance and gas, electric light and water matters," No Details. In opposing the motion, Cr. T. Newburgh said that during tho past eighteen mouths the committee system bad worked well. This measure would mean that all the business would be done in committee and the ratepayers would not have the full details as in the past. "I wish to voice my protest against it," he added. Cr. Henley ako opposed the motion, saying that the committees in the past had given excellent results. Or. Cooper championed tho motion, saying that he thought all matters should go before the members and each Councillor should know what was being done. A principle was involved and he held, no personal feeling. Cr. B. J. Ager said he considered that the working of individual or sectional committees was highly in the interests of the borough and the ratepayers as • whole. The only way the Oonnelllors could know fully what was being done was by means of sectional committees. The matter was gone into thoroughly that way and questions could be asked and answered. "We have an instance tonight," hq said. "We don't know what our finances are, and to-night wfl havo gone headlong into spending a hundred guineas of the ratepayers' money. (Cr. Ager was referring to the voto to the Sumner Lifeboat Association.) If Councillors have not been acquainted with matters of this Cpuncil it is not because of the committees, but because they have not been present." "I am In a position to let you know up to pine o'clock this evening the expenditure on your accounts," said the Town Clerk, who was granted permission by the Mayor to make a statement. Cr. Ager paid ho was not referring to the Town Clerk, bpt more particularly to the chairmen of committees.

Committee Procedure. Cr. A. Holden expressed the view that tlie Works Committee had not functioned properly. There was no doubt the neglect of the roads by {he "Work* Committee was not saving money. Up. saw no reason why this alteration should not take place, He referred to an occasion when, he alloged, the past chairman of the Finance Committee had taken the accounts home and O.K.'d them and had not pnt them before the committee. "We, are told that this motion is a reflection on the chairmen of committees," he added. "It is not that, but you can take it that way it ! yon like. This is for the benefit of the borough, and while I'm here I will work in the interests of the borough," <or. Newburgh (ironically): Hear, hear. Cr. Ager challenged Or. Holden'* statements about the accounts. "If that is not so 111 withdraw it," said Qr. Hojden. '■ Or. Newburgh: Man In the street again. Cr. Ager; What is yon* authority {or say% thatf* ?'lt was the Mayor and Cr, Denham," said Or. Ager. "Yes, I'll endorse that," said the Mayor (Mr W. H. Nicholson). Or. Holden maintained that ex-Cr. Hamilton had done certain work ho should not hava done owing to neglect of work by members of hip committee. Or, Harris explained that he had so intention of bringing this motion forward as a vote of no«confidence. With regard to the Councillors not knowing hqw the finances stoo4, that wa« » matter for the. Councillors themselves. He had no feelings at all. The Mayor declared that » system which permitted such thing*, to happen as had occurred in the past fifteen months was not in the interests of the borough. They had to remember that they were a corporate body and they lojt their identity as individuals when they came to the Council. < The motion was then put to the Goonoil, the voting being as followsjr— Mayor (Mr W. H. Niekolson), Ors. F. 0. Cooper, H. W. Harris, 0.1. Denham, and A. Holden. . Against-fOrj. 0. J. Wilson, W. Henley, T. Newburgh, and B. J. Ager.