SWEEPING CHANGE PROPOSED

Northern Advocate, 12 February 1936, Page 8

SWEEPING CHANGE PROPOSED

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS. RULED CUT ON TECHNICALITY

A move to reconstitute the machinery by which the Whangarei Borough Council functions was made by Cr. N. E. Crimp, at Monday night’s meeting, when he sponsored the following motion, of which notice had been given:—

“That, as the procedure adopted for council business was not, as was desirable, in accordance with the Standing Orders, except in such circumstances as were permitted by the council, it be resolved that the council in committee approve such correspon-dence-and reports as may be omitted from the council agenda paper. “Tnat to enforce such an arrangement the council, in committee, should meet on the Thursday evening prior to each council .meeting to deal with the perusal of correspondence, the fixing of such matters as might be omitted from the agenda of the next council meeting, and any other business.

“That the works committee meet immediately after the suggested committee of the council meeting, and that all members present at the meeting be eligible to discuss works committee questions.”

In bringing forward his proposition, Cr. Crimp said that it was' designed to avoid the tedium which strict adherence to the Standing Orders would represent, and at the same time give councillors greater knowledge of all phases of the work. Members should be acquainted with all matters transacted by and through the council, and there was no way of doing this unless they became conversant with the outward as well as inward correspondence which passed. Mr Crimp referred to the agenda for that night’s meeting, first circulated on Saturday, which itemised 24 letters which had been despatched from the office.

He pointed out that to carry things to extremes the ten councillors, in order to ascertain the contents of these letters, would require to pay, in all, 240 visits to the town clerk.

Cr. Brainsby said that if revision of Standing Orders was to be considered it should be done in a comprehensive manner, and he was about to .move an amendment, when the Mayor ruled Cr. Crimp’s motion out of order and applied the closure on further discussion. In order to Jaring forward a change as proposed, the Mayor said, it would first be necessary to rescind the resolution governing the times at which the works committee should meet, and this would require a preliminary notice of motion. Cr. Crimp asked for the reference ifi the by-laws supporting this ruling. .

The Mayor; “You doubt my ruling.” Cr Crimp: “I merely desire to include it in my next notice of motion.” The Mayor: “We know all about you, Cr. Crimp.”