LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 145, 13 March 1908, Page 5

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

, -.Sir;—Some;time ago attention■ w;as.,called, to the number of-mprabors ,of local . bodies Nvho, obtain Icavo of4bscnco,.for periods varying 'from six to. nine months, and yet the samo continues. ■ Surely, -;if/a: porson. puts himself ' forward*, as a; candidate' andis 'elected for. the time,; which is'.usually one to two'yearT, he should bo prepared to give his full attention to tho duties ho proposes-to .undertake when, ho stands, for election, ', unless laid"aside by accident"or illness. ' , ' In sorno rccent' cases councillors blccted for • two'; years 'have been absent • from-.- the .for• •'periods':. varying from isix • to; nine • months, and during times whon : .very-' important measures-.wore being discussed. If ithey can' 'be absent; under 'tlioso" circumstances-. for v such periods arid no harm fis apparently done,'why bavq so many councillors, or,:wMteyer;: they',may be called?' It is a curious fact that - should l a member bo '.absent" without'leave for. four cOnsccutive meetings his' seat becomes ; ipso facto vacant. Does ■that not. appear-that a member, is tb'bo/in attendance for theso meetings,'arid, therefore if lie does'not obtain' leave ( ho forfeits Miis;seatj why.; should he, retain liis seat if .leave is given? Did' the' Act really' contemplate such a thing ?., . ' - >'.v..- '■ Ithink; it is'tho : duty of. Alio member to; his constituents] if he intends,being!absent, for any poriod . ovei: ■ three months, particur larly when, ho intends on; his own private business, to resign his position, and 1 not' to disfranchise his constitubnts.' There may be. most important matters to consider, and his vote either for. or against might turn the scale. . Should ;thS member resign, and at^tho next election offer himself, no doubthis .constituents -would again elect him. Is it the fear of non-re-election that prevents tho resignation?, .... _ Orio councillor, has obtained leave of absenco for six months, and rumour has it that another js about to ; depart for'nine months, so" no'doubt he will', apply; for leave. ;. Suppose another six or eignt did the' same, what would' happen? It's all V very well; to say that it;,is an extreme 'case; but one' never knows' what may turn up; but one thing would be certain, if - the councillor "turned up;"/, , '' '":-v : '• ■ Let tlie councillors and others who intend taking holiday be manly and resign, or, ' if not .plucky enough to take that course, depart without applying, for leave, so that the seat would be forfeited.—l am, etc., / ' NO LENGTHY LEAVE. .'March'lo. ■ '. ' . . '