ABRUPTLY TERMINATED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 20 December 1933, Page 4

ABRUPTLY TERMINATED

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL ACTION OF MAYOR RESENTED (Bj Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, This Day. For the second time in succession the meeting of tlie Takapuna Borough Council was abruptly terminated last night by the Mayor, Mr J. Guiniven, who declared it "closed and left tlie room. Last night’s meeting was held to clear up the business which was left undone at the previous meeting, hut after one or two items had been disposed of the Mayor announced that as this was a special meeting according to the order paper general business could not be dealt with. He rang his bell, closed the meeting and left the room. A storm of protest followed as the councillors realised that no business could be done until the next meeting, late in January. ’Tin* deputy-Mayor explained that he had aranged for a temporary loan of £2,000 for tlie council until March but the council could not officially accept it. Strong objection was voicecl by one councillor to the Mayor's action in telephoning the borough solicitor and obtaining advice that general business' could not .be dealt with. He declared that the Mayor had done it so that lie could trip the council up. Legal advice obtained by tlie Mayor was repeatedly used to the council's detriment. At an informal meeting councillors voted acceptance of the £2060 loan, and after several of them had deseeiibed the important nature of the business they had intended to bring up they dispersed.