CITY COUNCILLOR SUSPENDED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21147, 24 April 1934, Page 10

CITY COUNCILLOR SUSPENDED

Mayor's Authority Disregarded

HEATED ARGUMENT

CR. ARMSTRONG ORDERED TO LEAVE j Cr. V E. Armstrong: was ordered from the chamber and suspended for the remainder of the meeting after a heated argument with the Mayor, Mr D. G. Sullivan, 1N1.P., at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last night. The suspension was made by a vote of the council. Reference was made in the Mayor's statement to correspondence received from an organisation named "The Press Exposing Agency." Cr. Armstrong said that lie felt indignant that he had received correspondence from the agency. He wondered if other councillors had received similar communications. lie resented the action. He asked if he could read some of the correspondence. The Mayor: There is a great volume of it, and I cannot agree I hat it should all be read. 1 sent some part of the correspondence on to Cr. Armstrong at the request of the head of the agency. Cr. Armstrong rose again and claimed that the he received concerned anonymous correspondence published in the newspapers dealing with council matters. It eulogised the qualities of the Mayor and Messrs E. Parlane and E. J. Howard, M.P., and each of these men was a professed opponent of anonymous correspondence. Cr. Armstrong referred to a publication released by the Labour party before last municipal elections in which he claimed he nad been attacked by anonymous correspondents.

Beginning of Trouble The Mayor rang his bell and asked what that had to do with the question. Cr. Armstrong: 1 believe you know something about those and other attacks. This agency is comprised of a few local Labour duds —these dirty, scurrilous - • •

Incessant Ringing of Bell The incessant ringing of the Mayor's bell and his command that Cr. Armstrong sit down made the remainder of Cr. Armstrong's remarks indistinguishable, but Cr. Armstrong remained standing and talking. Cr. Armstrong held the correspondence at arm's length and again suggested that the Mayor was wrong in his suppression of remarks he wanted to make on it. The Mayor: I have a lot of sympathy with the promoter of this agency. He is exposing these vermin, and the character o£ assassins who attack other people. That is my personal feeling in this matter. Personally, also, I state that I have never written anonymous correspondence. Cr. Armstrong: You were editor of the Labour party's paper befoi'e last election to which I referred. Cr. Armstrong Leaves Seat The Mayor rang the bell again and kept his hand on the operating button, causing the bell to ring continuously and loudly. Cr. Armstrong continued unheeding and left his seat to walk to the press table near the Mayor's chair. "This is you.v usual custom of filth," Cr. Armstrong shouted at the I Mayor from immediately below the I dais. "I want to give this correspondence to the reporters here," he added. Having carried out his announced intention Cr. Armstrong turned to walk down the chamber. Cr. Armstrong Defiant | "You must either resume your seat or leave the chamber," the Mayor said. "You are net fit to occupy a chair in this council." Cr. Armstrong halted and turned and continued a fierce verbal attack on the Mayor. When he had done he returned to his chair. The Mayor asked what action the council desired to take concerning Cr. Armstrong's conduct. He sought direction in upholding his conduct of the council. On the motion of Cr. J. K. Archer, seconded by Cr. T. Milliken, it was decided to suspend Cr. Armstrong for the remainder of the council's meeting. "I have much pleasure in leaving," said Cr. Armstrong, when he heard the decision. "I have an executive committee of real workers to attend and I am glad to be leaving you pack of Labour and Citizen autocrats to proceed with the business of the meeting." He left the chamber. Business proceeded without further comment on the correspondence about which the disturbance had arisen.