PUBLIC BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 22, 27 January 1931, Page 8

PUBLIC BUSINESS

(To the. Editor.) Sir,—ln your sub-leader last nighf, you comment adversely upon the action of the City Council at its last meeting in dealing with the question o£ eastern* and western access in committee, and not in open council. It is unfortunately a fact that the council as a whole is generally blamed for action that may be .decided upon by a mere majority. For myself, and I think also for some o£ my fellow councillors, I may say that we regard the criticism contained in your sub-leader as fully justified. I know of no good reason why the discussion at the last meeting should not have taken place in public, and why the full details of what transpired should not be handed to the Press. It.so happens that in my own case and that of certainly two other councillors the impression was that the meeting was being held in open council. The notice convening the meeting was for an ordinary council meeting, and no resolution in fact was put or carried to go into committee. I remarked to my fellow councillor, Councillor Meadowcroft, who sits next to me that as the Press table was vacant the Press apparently was not aware that the meeting was taking place, although doubtless a report would be given to them at the conclusion. It was not until the meeting concluded and the resolution was moved that the work done in committee be confirmed that one, became aware that the matter was being treated as though in committee. 1 certainly hope that the full details of the discussion will be made public without delay. May I for one moment depart from the more serious aspect of the matter. Many of us find one advantage in committee/ work which the public generally may not realise, and that is that any committee work; is done,very much more quickly. It is a notorious fact, that in open council many more speeches are made and what the debate lacks in profundity is 4 more than made up in loquacity and repetition. This, however, is a minor matter, and there can be no doubt that the principle that everything which can with due regard to the public interest be debated in open council, should be dealt with m open council. There should be no straining,at the interpretation of the meaning of public interest.—l am, etc., <w«. t T- C- A- HISLOP. 27th January.