CIVIC RECEPTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 March 1936, Page 3

CIVIC RECEPTIONS

MR W. LOCK’S VIEWS CONDUCT OF SUCH FUNCTIONS In conversation with a representative of “The Mail” Mr Lock said that lie had been- asked to give an opinion as to who should be specially invited to civic receptions, and also to give some information regarding the conduct of such functions. lie said that whilst not claiming to bo an authority on the .object of civic receptions, and the manner of their conduct, he was willing to give his views regarding the same. It was needless for him to say that such receptions are given with the object of the city doing honour to distinguished visitors, teams, and those deemed to be deserving of such special honour. But they should not be accorded indiscriminately. In some cases a public welcome by the Mayor would be more fitting than a civic reception. Mr Lock Said that in his opinion the correct procedure was for the Mayor to intimate to the council at say an ordinary meeting if convenient, that lie proposed to tender a civic reception on a certain date and hour, and if this met with no objection, from councillors, then tile Town Clerk should call a special meeting of the Council, and if possible each councillor should have three days notice (as a minimum), and under the heading of “Business” should be insert-

ed “Civic Reception.” The reception should be fairly -well advertised in the press, andv “the public invited to attend.” He further stated that the Mayor and councillors take precedence, but as a rule in Nelson only one or two councillors speak. Though not obligatory, but as a matter of courtesy, lie thought the chairmen or heads of public bodies, and of course the members of the Legislature should be invited to be present. This would prac tically infer the right to speak, if they so desired, and if time and circumstances permitted. If .councillors did not avail themselves of' the' opportunity of taking part, then he thought that the. Mayor should extend an. open invitation, and practically at the same time suggest that the member for Nelson, or some other prominent public man present, should address the. audi dice, but no individual should-be called upon bv nanie,: but when’ a speaker rose to address The meeting the Mayor should announce his name, so . that .the audience would'know who was addressing it.

Mr Lock then referred to what mightlie considered a very small matter: that was, he had noticed in the last report of the Council, that a resolution was carried by “acclamation.” No resolution of any public body could be carried .in that manner,: a resolution must be duly seconded, and put to the meeting, .and, fur-' tlier, the names of both the mover and seconder of a resolution should be recorded in the minutes. He added, that lie had noticed in reports of church gatherings, and others of a’ somewhat informal character, that resolutions were; sometimes carried by ' what is termed