WAIHI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12524, 17 March 1904, Page 5

WAIHI BOROUGH COUNCIL.

.'.; . PROTESTING COUNCILLORS. [fit TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] < Wauh, Wednesday. The Waihi Borough Council met last night oyer the much-voted-on question of municipal buildings. Already several resolutions have been carried and rescinded again, and the last time the matter was before the Council several members got upland walked out so that there would not be a quorum. Last night Mr. Katz moved, " That the resolution standing in the books that the 'erection of abattoirs have precedence,' be rescinded." He stated that his motion, if carried, would remove from the books an absurdity, all minutes in reference to the municipal buildings having been rescinded. The minute about the abattoirs meant that the abattoirs were to have " preference," but the minute did not show what they had preference-over. It was to; clear away this anomaly that he moved the present resolution. Mr. Saunders contended that the minute , ; - '■ m the books gave the abattoirs precedence ever the erection of municipal buildings. Mr. Foster held the same opinion, but the chairman ruled otherwise. This ruling did not satisfy Mr. Saunders, who maintained that the Mayor would not have ruled thus, but the chairman called him to order, and informed him that he must abide bj the rules of debate and the ruling of the chairman. Mr. Saunders said he would speak two or three times if he liked. ■" ■ -J The chairman was firm, whereupon Mr. j Saunders got up and walked out of the j meeting, saying that he did so out of contempt for the chairman. . ■ The resolution was carried by four to • three, Messrs. . Sieviti, Newth,. and Foster voting against. ' ~--.• Mr. Katz then moved, " That the erection of the municipal buildings be proceeded with at once, whereupon Mr. Foster took exception, and he "considered thai the question should be submitted to a referendum. Such an important . matter should, he said, be determined by the ratepayers at the forthcoming election. / , Mr. Foster then also left the meeting as a ; protest. The motion, which was V seconded by Mr, Campbell, was carried by lour to two. On the motion of Mr. Campbell, it was then;resolved, "That the tender of Mr. Palmer be accepted," Messrs. Kat2 and Newth voting against, on the ground that the work should be done by day labour.