Over-riding the Council

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 8

Over-riding the Council

RECOMMENDATION BY LIGHTING COMMITTEE. A RESOLUTION THAT HAD BEEN FORGOTTEN. It transpired at a meeting of the Palmerston North City Council last night that a decision by it in connection with the efforts to reach a settlement in tho long-standing dispute over bulk power supply to Palmerston North, had been lost sight of, and that, in the meantime, tho council’s lighting committee had formulated a recommendation to the council that was at variance with tho council’s decision. This recommendation carno before the council last night in the minutes of the committee’s last meeting. Clause 8 read: “The electrical engineer reported regarding bulk power supply and tho council’s interview with the chief electrical engineer, Public Works Department, and it was decided that tho department be advised tlL*fc Mr Kissel’s proposal is not acceptable, and that the council adheres to tho previous offer made to the ManawatuOroua Eloctric Power Board.” On the Mayor moving tho adoption of this clause, Cr. J. ilodgens, M.P., suggested that it was out of order. He pointed out that a special meeting of the council on December 10 had do cided that its special committee should meet the Power Board and further discuss the matter. This had been moved by Cr. Cameron and seconded by Cr. Tremaine. “How can this clause be in order?” asked Cr. Uodgens. “Tho council can’t be over-ridden by a committee of the council.” Tho Mayor; If what you say is correct, it can’t. Cr. Ilodgens added that, at a meeting of the Power Board a few days following the meeting of the City Council on December 10, ho had asked if any advice had come to hand from the council, and on being informed that it had not, he had told the members what tho council had decided. With the new jiroposal that was before the council, he felt that, if it were forwarded to the board, the members would get into such a state of mind that would make it difficult for the council to deal with the board and make relations between the two bodies as strained as ever. It might be said that the speaker was out of order in telling the board what he did, but it was a decision of the council that could not be vetoed except by notice of motion. At its last meeting the Power Board had expressed concern that it had i.ITQ no indication from the city, and it wanted to know something before the end ot the financial year. The board had written to Mr Ivissell saying that it had no intention of standing between the possibility of an agreement between the City Council and the Public Works Department. “I think tho Power Board would consider an offer made to it on the question of taking the whole of our load from it,” stated Cr. Hodgens. Board members, ho added, had been ready to listen to comment that ho had to make recently, as they could see he was earnest in wanting to bring the matter to a finish. “I put it to you that the recommendation of the lighting committee can’t stand,” Cr. Hodgens concluded. “I or other members of the committee never had any desire of trying to over-ride the decision of the council,” stated the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford). “I had overlooked the fact that a resolution had been carried; otherwise we would not have allowed this recommendation to go through. 1 had clean forgotten about that resolution, and the only thing now to do is to withdraw tho recommendation and meet the Power Board as early as pda sible. ” The Mayor thereupon moved that clause 8 of the lighting committee’s report be withdrawn. This was seconded by Cr. J. T. J. Heatley and carried. On the motion of Cr. Hodgens, seconded by Cr. R. L. C. Aitchison, it was decided that the decision of the council on December 10 be proceeded with. Tho council then proceeded to its next business.