“CONTENTIOUS CLAUSES”

Evening Star, Issue 19552, 10 May 1927, Page 4

“CONTENTIOUS CLAUSES”

PROBLEM OF 00ILDIKG PERMITS A great deal of time was spent by the Green Island Borough Council last night discussing- the engineer’s report. “ Two contentious clauses,” in the words of the town clerk, caused all ohe argument. The Mayor moved that the council go into committee to discuss the report, as his name figured in it, and he did not wish the newspapers to get details Cr Knight said that the mayor probably had good reasons for moving the motion, so he would second it. Cr P. 0. Smellie_ stated that he did not think it was fair for the council to go into committee without knowing what it was doing. Cr W. T. Smellie said he also thought the council should be informed of the report’s contents. The Mayor withdrew, his motion while the town clerk read the report. The Mayor then moved that > the council go into comnlittee to discuss the parts of the report - referring to building permits and Sir R. Herbison, Cr Knight again seconding. Cr P. 0. Smellie said that the matter of building 1 permits very vitally concerned the borough. He did not see anything in that particular clause which should not go to the Press. It was fairly important so far as the ratepayers were concerned, and he was not in favor of the question being discussed other than in open council. ,The second clause which the mayor had mentioned was a personal matter, and so cou.d bo taken in committee. _ Cr Passmore; I take it, your. Worship, there is nothing personal about these permits. : Cr Knight said he had seconded the motion because it had not been before the Works Committee. ' Cr P. 0. Smellie said that the report should have been referred to the Works Committee at first if the council wanted portions of .it to ■ The Town Clerk explained that the contentious building permit danse had been authorised by the new mayor,-and he (the clerk) had'issued a permit/ Cr Passmore: Then the engineer evidently objects to that? _ The motion was earned. Cr r. U. Smellie voted against it, and emphatically asked that his protest be recorded. The committee discussion lasted for about two hours, and its outcome was that Hie whole report was referred back to the Works Committee.