CITY COUNCIL PERSONALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14681, 12 May 1908, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL PERSONALITIES.

MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR AT LOGGERHEADS.

The serenity of the City Council’s deliberations was disturbed for some moments at last evening’s meeting. In the course of a speech, in which ho opposed a proposal made by the Mayor, Air C. Allison, to submit to a poll the question of absorbing the Drainage Board’s functions, Councillor J. Forrester said that he was surprised at tho Mayor’s audacity in bringing forward such a motion, and he hoped that he would get such a knock that evening that he would never make another attempt in that direction. In the course of his reply the Mayor said that Councillor Forrester professed to ho astonished at his audacity. Councillor Forrester had probably a greater interest in the Drainage Board than lie had. He himself had no relations in the employ of the Drainage Board, and he had never at any time held a position on any public body while any relation of his was employed by such body. AY hen his daughter became a pupil-teacher at a certain school he resigned his seat on the School Committee.

Councillor Forrester rose and said that his son had only fast month been appointed first engineer at the Drainage Board’s pumping station, over tho heads of nineteen other applicants, purely on his own merits. Councillor Forrester quoted a. full and complete list of his son’s qualifications for the post. The Mayor, ho concluded, was sitting in the chair and telling a deliberate untruth. One of his children was employed by the Sydenham Borough Council as polling clerk while he was town clerk. Tim Mayor said, that Councillor Forrester’s remarks wore quite uncalled for. Councillor Forrester (excitedly): You’re no gentleman! The Mayor: T will ask Councillor Forrester to apologise. Councillor Forrester: I will not. The Alayor: I wpl leave it to the good sense of councillors if the exnression is one which should be used in this Council. The incident then terminated.