A STORM-THEN AIR CLEARED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 31 January 1936, Page 4

A STORM-THEN AIR CLEARED

LIVELY MOMENTS IN CITY COUNCIL IMPUTATION OF IMPROPER MOTIVES COUNCIL’S REPRESENTATION ON FIRE BOARD A FALSE ALARM? The usual quiet procedure of the Nelson City Council meeting was broken lust evening when a wordy storm of considerable force caused some lively moments It arose out of a discussion on a letter from the Nelson Fire Board regarding an automatic fire alarm system for the city. The statements of one councillor resulted in the .Mayor (Mr G. L. Page) reading a section of the rules of procedure and requesting the withdrawal of remarks which imputed improper motives on the part of some councillors. The episode had a happy ending when late in the meeting apologies were offered and accepted, thus clearing the air and allowing the Mayor and councillors to return home leaving their differences in the Council Chamber.

There were present at the meeting the Mayor, and Councillors E. R-. Neale, J. Fitz-Gerald, J. Glasgow, L. C. Pettit, S. A. Gibbs, H. G. B. Hurst, S. H. Moynagh, S. McArthur, and G. P. Russell. MAYOR AND COUNCILLOR AT CROSS PURPOSES In a letter to the Council the Nelson Fire Board advised that it was considering tenders for the installation of street fire alarms and asked that the Council’s electrical engineer prepare an estimate of the cost of wiring. Councillor Moynagh moved that the matter be referred to the two Council representatives on the board with powei to act.

The Mayor explained that he had invited Mr Moffatt, who represented the Council, with himself on the board, to be present to hear the discussion. He did not see how the board members could act at present when they were at the stage only of asking the Council if the Electrical Engineer could give the estimate of the post. Councillor Moynagh’s motion could come later.

Councillor Moynagh said it was absolutely patent that the city should have the alarm system It was no use having a water reservoir without reticulation, nor gasworks without mains and in the same way the Fire Station required an alarm system. He wished the matter of the alarm system to be referred to the Council representatives on the hoard with authority to commit the Council to '£so per year in respect of the system. The Mayor expressed the opinion that Councillor Moynagh’s motion had noth, ing to do with the request in the letter which merely asked for the engineer tc give an estimate. At this stage Mr Moffatt attended the meeting. Councillor S. A. Gibbs said the Council should give the information asked for and he moved that the estimate be given. , Councillor Moynagh moved an amendment that the Whole matter be referred to the Council’s, representatives on the board to deal with. H> said further delays were dangerous in view of the fire risk. , “Surely we have sufficient confidence in Mr Moffatt and the Mayor to go into it. They should act immediately,” lie added. Councillor Neale said it appeared that Councillor Moynagh was barking up the wrong tree. It was first necessary to give the permission for the estimate to be made. Councillor Russell seconded the motion which was carried.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM The Mayor then said he wished to place the question of the fire alarm system before the Council. Previously the Council had instructed its representatives on the board to vote against the installation of the system and up to the present he and Mr Moffatt had carried out the instruction. However they now wished, to know if the Council was of similar opinion in view of the amended system, which provided for 25 automatic alarm boxes in the city block the cost to be 1 . £BOO, plus tlie cost of wiring. That was why the board wished to have the electrical engineer’s estimate. The Fire Board anticipated that the Council’s cost would be £4O per year until the loan for the amount of the installation was repaid.

Councillor Fitz-Gerald said that in view of the fact that the cost was not great and in prospect of a decreased cost of the board to the Council in the next year, and of the fire hazard in the city jumper, he moved the matter be referred to the Council’s representatives, with power to support the scheme. Councillor Gibbs said the Council would have to find £4O per year and the individual Insurance Companies in the city £1 per head. Before the Council went into the Fire Board it was said that when the Council’s cost of fire brigade maintenance was £7OO it would be advisable to form the board. The estimated cost of the board, to the Council was now £IOOO. An alarm system for the business area was important and worthy of consideration, but he was opposed to a system spreading to all the surrounding valleys and areas where telephones were available on all sides. The Fire Board meant lgd rate in the city, and the total expenditure should be kept as low as possible while yet maintaining efficiency.

COUNCIL REPRESENTATION ON BOARD Councillor Gibb? said he was pleased Mr Moffatt was present as lie would prefer him to hear the remarks he wished to make on Fire Board representation than for Mr Moffatt to think the speaker had said it in his absence. Continuing the Councillor pointed out that the Council found one half the cost of the board and was entitled to two representatives. When Mr Moffatt retired from the Mayoralty the speaker had had the pleasure of' moving that Mr Moffatt should continue to represent toe' Council on the board. Mr Moffatt had said he was willing to continue and wished to serve in his former capacity until the new station was completed and the Fire Board in operation. That had now been done, i Councillor Gibbs said he recognised I Mr Moffatt’s valuable services but he I thought it desirable as the Council was I providing a half share of the board’s i costs, that it should have two direct representatives on the board. He I thought Mr Moffatt would recognise the desirability of the Council having I direct representation. ' Councillor Gibbs then moved that before the Council representatives commit the Council to the installation of a street alarm system the cost of same • and the positions of the alarm boxes he i submitted to the Council for considera-1 tion. j

Councillor Moynagh said he wished to disassociate himself from the remarks of Councillor Gibbs regarding Council representation on the board. In the first place Mr Moffatt and Councillor Neale were the Council’s representatives and later Mr Page succeeded Councillor Neale. “Neither the Mayor or Councillor Neale should be on the board as both are representatives of Insurance Companies, and if the Council is going to have direct representation then no insurance agent should be appointed” said Councillor Moynagh. lfe asked councillors who saw eye to eye with him to range about him and ask for Mr Moffatt to remain a member of the board as all had complete confidence in him. If it was a question of Mr Moffatt being asked to retire then lie would demand that the Mayor do the same.

Councillor Neale seconded the motion. However, he said he did not see the necessity of the Council’s referring it back to the Council. He had been on the hoard since its inception-until Mr Page succeeded him and be had experienced two strenuous years which the board would not experience again. The ques-. tion of alarms had come up when he was a member. The original proposal was for 40 hopes spread over the whole of the city area, the estimated cost being £I6OO. He was strongly opposed to it at the time as lie considered that only 40 boxes so widely scattered would he inadequate. At present people knew the quickest alarm could he given over the telephony but with 40 boxes confusion would arise regarding the location of the nearest alarm. In regard to the inner area alarm system lie' would like to bo assured that it was not the thin edge of the wedge. If £IOOO was spent on the system now he would not want to see another £330 spent next year and £3OO the following year resulting eventually in a very heavy expenditure.

Councillor Neale said in reference to Councillor Moynagh’s remarks, that it was Councillor Moynagh himself who had assured the Council at the time that there was no reason why he (the speaker) should not be a member of the board. Councillor Moynagh: “No, sir.” - Councillor Neale: “I don’t mind whether he denies it or not, but he gave the assurance at the time.” The speaker said none had more kindly feelings towards Mr Moffatt than himself, and none knew better than he the work Mr Moffatt had done ori the Council's behalf while on the Fire Board. However, he considered the Council should have direct representation on the board. If the Council had not two members who were capable of doing that work then it should get out. The motion was then carried. ARISING OUT OF REMARKS Councillor Moynagh said that in view of Councillor Gibbs’s and Councillor Neale’s remarks he would move “That the Council affirms its complete confidence in its representative, Mr Moffatt and requests him in view of Councillor Gibbs’s remarks, to continue to represent the Council on the Fire Board.” He said the statements of Councillors Gibbs and Neale were unfair and an unprecedented attack had been made on Mr Moffatt with a view to his removal from the hoard. There had been a movement among some councilloi's for some time to have Mr Moffatt removed from the board. Councillor Moynagh added that he realised that it was “the dying wail of an old party.” Councillor Neale: “Ts the Councillor in order in making those remarks? I move that he he asked to withdraw those statements.” ' v r

Councillor Moynagh: “No.” Councillor Gibbs: “Councillor Moynagh’s remarks are beneath i contempt, are misleading and inaccurate.” He said he had made no attack on jMr Moffatt but had expressed the opinion that the time was opportune for the Council to resume with direct representation oil the board. To say he had made an attack was a distortion of the English language which was difficult to understand, and as for the. reference, to the “wail of an old party,” nothing could be more ridiculous or idiotic. Councillor Moynagh: “It’s true all the same.” Continuing, Councillor Gibbs said he considered it his duty to suggest that the Council resume direct representation now. He had moved Mr Moffatt s appointment on the understanding that he was to serve until the station was completed. The Council’s annual expenditure was now £IOOO and the board might go on and add to the system in an attempt to make it a model city for fire prevention, irrespective of the cost to the ratepayers.

MOTION NOT ACCEPTABLE The Mayor. “Councillor Moynagh has moved a motion which I am afraid I cannot accept. Mr Moffatf’s term of appointment was until March 1937 and until he retires I cannot see that the motion is in order. He was appointed for two years from last April.” In regard to Councillor Gibbs s reference to the cost of running the board the Mayor said the building of the station had cost more than was anticipated and other unavoidable costs had also run up. The city now had a good station, and first class equipment and all that was required 45r an up-to-date service was an alarm system. Councillor Glasgow: “I am sorry to have to say it, but whether Councillor Moynagh’s motion is accepted or not, he made an unprovoked statement that Councillor Gibbs had made an attack, and I do not think the remark should be allowed to stand.” Councillor Moynagh: “It must have been painful for the ex-Mayor to hear the discussion. I think the whole proceedings have been most unbecoming, firstly in Councillor Gibbs’s remarks regarding Mr Moffattt. If you want to get the ex-Mayor removed, come out in the open and say so.”

WITHDRAWAL ORDERED The Mayor: “Withdraw your remarks or sit down, Councillor Moynagh. Withdraw your remark that an attack had been made with the object of removing Mr Moffatt.” The Mayor., reading from the Council’s rules of procedure, said he could not allow a councillor to impute improper motives or make personal reflections on other councillors. Councillor Moynagh: “Why do you object to my. Statements? Tell me the words I used.” The Mayor: “It is my opinion that you imputed improper motives.” Councillor Moynagh: “If you>can’t give my words, I won’t withdraw. Tell me what I said.” The Mayor: “All the councillors have heard what you said.” j Councillor Moynagh: “Well, what have I said?” j At, the moment the Town Clerk was handing the Mayor the Council’s bylaws and rules of procedure. “Who is my accuser to be, you or the Town Clerk?” asked Councillor Moynagh of the Mayor. Councillor Neale: “If Councillor Moynagh has not the decency to with»J draw may I move that the Council procede with the next business?” j The Mayor: “Councillor Moynagh, you-imputed that there was a movement through or by Councillors Gibbs and Neale to remove Mr Moffatt from the Fire Board as the Council’s representalive.” Councillor Moynagh: “All I said was that there was a movement on foot in the Council that the ex-Mayor should re-

tire, and it is true, will not withdraw.” . .. Councillor Gibbs asked for an explanation of what movement was on foot. He then moved that the Council go into committee and ask Mr Moffatt to return and join the Council in a discussion on the matter. The motion was seconded by Councillor Fitz-Gerald. Councillor Moynagh moved an amendment that it be heard in open Council. The motion was then carried and the Council went into committee. On resuming in open Council the usual business was proceeded with.

COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL AND APOLOGY At the conclusion of the agenda Coun cillor Moynagh said he had been think ing matters over in the meantime. Ht realised he had said things which he fell were not* justified, and on thinking it over he now wished to apologise to those j concerned. He hoped the apology would I be taken in the spirit in which it had j been given. i. Councillor Neale said he appreciated i Councillor Moynagh’s' statement and ac- , cepted the apology. I Councillor Gibbs said he also thoroughly appreciated Councillor Moynagh’s very open acknowledgment of wrongful I imputation. All knew of Councillor Moynagh’s loyalty to the Council, and 1 he had not felt very miserable about the incident as he was sure Councillor Moynagh would think differently later on. I The Mayor said he was pleased that the episode had had such a happy ending. The manner in which the apology had been given and accepted was very fine indeed and it was comforting to feel that when councillors left the Council Chamber there was no ill feeling among Councillor Moynagh informs us that when he withdrevv certain remarks made auring the meeting he intended the w l lndr a wal to include his reference to toe Mayor and Councillor Neale and the .hire Board, winch remarks were made without justification during the warmth of debate.