FREE PASSES SHOULD COUNCILLORS RECEIVE THEM ? EASTBOURNE BOROUGH COUNCIL SAYS NO.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 93, 16 October 1913, Page 2

FREE PASSES SHOULD COUNCILLORS RECEIVE THEM ? EASTBOURNE BOROUGH COUNCIL SAYS NO.

A motion which was at first apparently a simple one and amply justified by precedent, but which is considered by some to involve a principle, has given rise to much argument among members of the Eastbourne Borough Council. The question is, whether councillors should be granted free passes on the ferry boats which have been recently acquired by the borough. At a previous meeting of the council a motion was passed granting this privilege to councillors. Councillor Button then gavo notice of motion to rescind the decision of the council, and the matter came up for discussion at last night's meeting. In speaking to his motion Councillor Button said that the council's action seemed to him rather like paying out a dividend before earning profits. He estimated that the concession would amount to about £85 per year — nine councillors at £9 ( 10s per yeai\ This was reducing the sources of income at once, and he thought it utterly indefensible until the council had the first year's balance-sheet. Councillor Preston favoured the rescission of the motion. This, he said, was no time to be generous : the council could nol afford that yet. If at a later date the service was found to be paying, then the passes might well be granted. He was in favour of granting the concession to the Ferry Board, which had devoted so much valuable time to the service. Councillor Kelly contended that it was not a question of generosity. The members of the council were at the beck and call of the service,' were travelling to and fro to meetings, etc., and they should not be put of pocket by it. There was ample precedent for the supplying of passes, and he could not see why '."the motion should be rescinded. Councillor Pilcher agreed with Councillor Kelly. He thought that a fairer estimate of the total concession would be £25, seeing that most councillors did not use the boats frequently. The next ; council, on finding the service paying, 'would possibly claim passes, and the present council, which had had .all the work, was denied that concession. "I wish it to be understood," said Councillor Ross, "that I am not Bitting on the rail in this matter. I am most decidedly against the free passes." Moreover, he added, he would refuse to accept the concession were it offered, notwithstanding that it would benefit him more than any other member of the council! He referred to the Bplendid work the council had put in in connection with the ferry service, and expressed the opinion that the credit of this would be nullified by the step it 'was now proposed to take. He was certain that were these concessions granted the ratepayers would hold indignation meetings in a very short time. The case of the city councillors' and the tramways was not at all parallel to that of the borough. He urged that the matter be left for twelve months, and then a public meeting might be called in connection with the question. Councillor Foley could see no reason why a public meeting should be called. They were there that night on the public vote, and when the next elections came on they would then find out that their actions, had been approved. He thought councillors should have free passes. Councillor Marsden supported Councillor Button's motion. He was not in favour of calling a- public meeting, and, personally, he did not desire that the council should have to ,aek the ratepayers for free rides. He was sure they would prefer to pay rather than that. The , council had had strenuous work, but he presumed it had been done for honour and glory and not for remuneration. On the motion being put to the council there were four ayes and three noes. The Mayor did not exercise his deliberative vote for the reason that Councillor Harcourt, who was in favour of the recission, was absent. The motion was therefore carried. Councillor Preston gave notice that he would rfove at next meeting of the council that free passes be granted to members of the Ferry Board. CRICKET CITY COUNCIL ANp ASSOCIATION. Notification was received from the Town Clerk by the Wellington Cricket Association at its meeting on Tuesday that "the wickets will be ready for next Saturday, but before this date you will he required to pay the sum of £24 18s, outstanding from last year, and also to pay the sum of £15, the amount due for the first month's preparation, i.e., five wickets yat £3 per wicket." The wickets referred to comprise: — Kelburna Park (2), Anderson Park (1), Newtown Park (1), and Wakefield Park (1). The letter was received. The association is not perturbed over the letter, as it will not, so a member informed a Post representative, be necessary to use Newtown,, Wakefield, and Anderson Parks next Saturday, and quite possibly the grounds on Kelburne Park will not be required. The council's ultimatum has been handed on to the association's treasurer. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. Senior championship cricket fixtures for Saturday will be the same as those drawn- for last week Following are the junior championship fixtures for 18th and 25th October: — North v. Petone, at Petone ; East v. Victoria College, at Basin Reserve No. 4; Old Boys v. Wellington College, at College ground ; Artillery v. Mental Hospital, at Porirua; Brooklyn v. Hutt, at Hutt; Central, a bye. The first round of third-class matches will be as follows: — Petone v. St. David's, at Petone ; Old Boys Ay. Wellington College A, at College ; Old Boys B v. Johnsonville, at Johnsonville ; East v. Karori, at Karori ; Institute Old Boys v. Central A, at Kelburne Park; North v. College B, at College; Central B, a bye. AUCTION AND PROPERTY SALES o Messrs. E. Johnston and Co. advertise a salo of furniture, 380 lots, including piano, to be hold in their rooms, 157, Lambton-quay, 'to-morrow, at 1.30. Messrs. C. W. Price and Co. are holding an auction sale of 1456 pairs ladies' and children's boots and shoes at 1.30 p.m., at their rooms to-morrow. Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co. advertise a sale of household linen, napery, and lace curtains at their rooms to-morrow, at 2 o'clock To-morrow, at 2 o'clock, and on Saturday, Mr. J. Spenco Nicol will soil by auction the balance of stock-in-trade of clocks, watches, jewellery, etc, at No. 129, Upper Willis-Btroet. A gentleman resident at Milton writes : — "We have tried your Emulsion and are very pleased. It is all that it is said to be, and more. The children are very fond of it, and are alwaye wanting to know if it is time to take their Tonking's. They are speedily .cured." Tonking'o Linseed Emulsion of chemist* and stores— lg fid, 2s. 6d, 4b 6d.— Aivt^