APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21734, 17 March 1936, Page 6

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

ARGUMENT AT CITY COUNCIL CR. BARNETT AND THE MAYOR' The appointment of the chairman of the water supply and works committee caused some adverse cominent at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening. The Mayor, Mr J. W. Beanland, and Cr; J. S. Barnett were nominated and the former was appointed. During the filling of the vacancies on committees caused by the retirement of councillors, Cr. E. H. Andrews moved that the Mayor retain the chairmanship of the water supply and works committee, Cr. G. Manning moved as an amendment the appointment of Cr. Barnett to the position, on the grounds of the latter’s previous experience and the burden of the Mayor’s duties. “As you earlier said that you wanted to abolish the party spirit,” said Cr, Barnett to the Mayor,, “you can scarcely now accept this. When we on this side of the table were in a more powerful position we treated those on the other side more generously. We had on this side men with the capacity but we said we would not be selfish and we gave a chairmanship to the others. We are doing something different to-night, hj . ~ \ “You want to .do awav, the party spirit.” continued Cr.-Bamett. “If this is not in the party spirit, you are offering an insult ,to side. You dfep saying that you are going to keep to’ yourselves the chairmanships or you are saying that ho one hero is capable, and that wp resent as a gratuitous insult. • . “I do say emphatically that it is an insult to this side of the table to say to us that no one on this side of the table is capable of doing the work of the chairman of the works committee.” Cr. Andrews: This is the first time I have ever heard a councillor putting forward his own claims for a position. Cr. Barnett: You definitely misrepresent me. It is your practice. “I hope.Cr. Barnett will keep cool,” said Cr. Andrews. “This Is not in any party spirit We are saying there is no one else in the whole council who can do the work as well as it has been done by Cr. Beanland.” Cr. Barnett’s nomination was defeated by 12 votes to five. The vacancies on the committees were filled as follows: Baths and entertainment committee: Cr.. R; M, Macfarlane. Electricity committee: Crs. H. Acland and G. Manning. Traffic committee: Cr. Macfarlane. Art gallery committee: Crs. Acland and Manning. By-laws committee: Crs Acland and Manning. Water supply and works committee; Cr. Macfarlane and the Mayor, as chairman. Library and museum special committee; Crs. Sargent, Manning, and Acland.