DISPUTE AMONG COUNCILLORS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23351, 10 June 1941, Page 8

DISPUTE AMONG COUNCILLORS

■ _♦ APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE “HITLER METHODS” ALLEGED “You've decided to adopt the Hitler attitude and you’re doing it now,” said Cr. G. Manning, complaining vigorously af a meeting of the City Council last evening of his exclusion from the electricity committee, of which he had been a member since his election to the council in 1927. Councillors on both sides of the table were heard in sharp exchanges over the inclusion ot only one Labour member on the committee. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) explained that at the first meeting of the 1 council he had brought forward proposals for the personnel of committees, The list of councillors put forward for the electricity committee had been referred back for consideration of the inclusion of two instead of only one Labour member. He did not wish now to make any alteration to the original list, and accordingly moved the appointment of Crs. F. S. Wilding (chairman), J. S. Barnett, J. N. Clarke, H. P. Donald, J. J. Hurley, M. E. Lyons and M. McLean. Cr. Manning said he was sorry to see that a principle adopted in the past could not be adopted by the new council When Labour councillors took control in 1938 the Citizens’ Association councillors were asked on what committees they would like to serve, and they were given representation, accordingly. This time there had been the same procedure, but there was only one Labour member on the electricity committee.

“A Little Courtesy” Cr. Manning said that he had been on the electricity committee since he first became a councillor in 1927. He thought there would have been a little courtesy shown to Labour councillors and that they would have been given seats on the committees on which they preferred to serve. He did not wish to be personal, but he had thought the new councillors would have extended this courtesy to one who had given long service. "After hearing the Mayor at the installation call down the blessing of God on three of our activities—l forget exactly which—l cannot help noticing, the contrast in what he' is doing now,” said Cr. Manning. “After I have served on that committee ‘all those years you have used your majority to put me off. On every other committee you have accepted the principle of two Labour members. You have decided to adopt the Hitler attitude and you’re doing it now. But democracy generally changes its mind. It goes with the swing of the pendulum. We may return again with a Labour council, but I hope we shall never descend to the methods adopted in the selection of the electricity committee by this council. If the two minutes’ silence and the calling of blessings from God results in this,'then it is a sorry state of dffdifs ** * Cr. H. E. Denton said he thought that with so many new councillors, on this occasion the services of Cr. Manning, who had- many years’ experience, would have been sought.. He only hoped that his side of the table, when It got control again, would not do what was being done now.

Precedent Claimed Cr. 'M. E. Lyons claimed that there .certainly was precedent for the action .taken,* rwhere were six Citizens’ Association councillors on the.last council, but ; only four Labour members on this one, and’the Labour members claimed the same representation for four as they had given for six. The Labour council had taken all three seats on the Fire Board for Labour, contrary to custom. If Cr. Manning was. so desirous of serving on this committee, if his heart burned with such a desire. . Cr. Manning: With disgust ,Cr. Lyons: If his heart bums with such a desire he can attend meetings of the committee as any councillor has the right to do. Cr* iftannjpg: With a qrqpd- like that present? p-;-v, , The Mayor said he was sorry to hear Cr: Manning speak as he had, but if ever he had; heard the devil rebuking sin then that was the case now.

, Gr. Manning; That’s the best reply you ■ can-make. ‘ ■ ■. Mr. .Ahdrews said he‘had definite recollection , of the Fire Board incident He had served on the board for 15 years when he was .ignominiously pushed ‘ out J>y the labour councils At tile ‘lnstallation, as Mayor, 1 he had called dh J the- blessing of God on the city, the nation, and the Empire, and now Cr. Manning had sneered at that. He was sorry that appointments for Labour members on the committees could not be fitted in just as they wished, but each Labour member was on four committees, There were difficulties to be dealt with in selecting committees. There was nothing personal in it, he could assure them. Cr. Manning: You can tell me that. The Mayor: Well,' I have said so, and v)herv I make a statement, I make it sincerely. What I do resent most is Cr. Manning’s cynical reference to my remarks in the inaugural address. ,Cr. C. D. W. L. Sheppard said he regretted that certain senior councillors who ought to be setting an example to new members had spoken as they had in this dispute. He sincerely hoped, that the new members could lift the level of the tone of this council above that which had just been displayed, . . The committee proposed by the Mayor was appointed.