ROAD BOARD QUARREL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15307, 21 May 1913, Page 8

ROAD BOARD QUARREL.

MEETING ENDS ABRUPTLY. : EDEN TERRACE INCIDENT. Considerable heat was "manifested by members attending the meeting of the Eden Terrace Road Board last evening. As a result the meeting came to a sudden conclusion before any business was transacted. The chairman was unable to be preseßt, and feeling ran high as the result of two nominations being made for the temporary occupation of the chair. The deadlock was brought to a. climax by the departure of two members, so that there was not a quorum present. Twenty ■minutes'after the time for which the meeting was fixed to start, three members joined the trio who were waiting for a quorum, and there were then present:— Messrs. C. H. Olive, Percy McElwain, H. A. Good, W. H. Butler, J. U. Browne, and D. F. Taylor. Tho clerk opened the proceedings by reading a letter from the chairman (Mr. T. W. McLaughlin) expressing his regret that he was unable to attend the meeting- ■'}>■ In order that the meeting might pro- . eeed, Messrs. McElwain and Olive moved that Mr. Good, be voted to the chair, but. an ; amendment was proposed by Messrs. Taylor/and Butler that Mr. Browne, should act as chairman. Three votes were given for.the amendment, and three against it. '■* ,'"lt is absolutely"unconstitutional," Mr. McElwain declared, in drawing attention to the fact that Mr. Browne had himself voted in favour' of the proposition that* he should assume temporarily the presidency, of the board. .:■'■,:" Will the other side pledge that their man will not do tho same?" asked Mr. Taylor. i "You know it's unconstitutional. Don't talk rot!" responded Mr. McElwain. " Then I shall leave the room, and you won't have a . quorum," interposed Mr. Browne. Thereupon he rose, and followed by Mr. Butler left the room. Mr. Taylor also withdrew, remarking that "he was. the best judge as to whether he was behaving foolishly or not." This exodus left Messrs. McElwain, Olive,.' and Good in possession of the " quorumless" meeting, and having advised the clerk to fix next Monday for a meeting of the' board, they also departed for their homes. .