Clash ends term

Press, 26 September 1980, Page 4

Clash ends term

—' A Heathcote County councillor was suspended from a meeting last evening in a stormy end to a stormy council term. The County Chairman (Mr J. M. McKenzie) took the action against Cr J. Richardson in the first minutes of the council’s last meeting before the local body elections.

Cr Richardson had refused to withdraw a remark that the chairman was attempting to "bulld o z e the meeting through.” Mr McKenzie asked that the remark be withdrawn and then warned Cr Richardson that lie would be suspended under standing orders if he declined to follow the direction from the chair Cr Richardson said, he would not withdraw and was then directed to leave

the meeting, which he did. It was the first such event during a council term marked by frequent, sharp, disagreements over meeting conduct and coun-, cil business. 1 Cr Richardson made the remark during an exchange between Mr McKenzie and Cr B. K.

Roberts, concerning an invitation for council representatives to attend the annual meeting of the Beckenham Library. Mr McKenzie said after the meeting that he had made the suspension, which applied only to last evening’s meeting, in response to a type of allegation involving "unsustainable innuendos against the chair” which had been made through the history of the present council. Cr Richardson said after the meeting that he stood by his comment. He said the term had started the way it had finished — "with a yelling match.” It was the first time Mr McKenzie had ruled that ■ way on such • a simple matter, he said. Cr Richardson is standing again for election to the council; Mr McKenzie is retiring.