CRISIS IN TOWN BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18460, 25 July 1923, Page 6

CRISIS IN TOWN BOARD.

TROUBLE AT NEW LYNN, WABM WORDS AT MEETING. RESIGNATIONS LIKELY. .

; The:; meetings of ; the New Lynn Town Board have not been :• harmonious for some time, and on 5 some occasions the air has been electric...V The climax : was reached at the ; meeting on Monday, when several heated; passages took place../ Soon after the ; meeting began Mr. B. Green: was called , to order by the chairman, Mr. A. J. Thorn. : A few minutes later, when correspondence from the Public Health Department relating, to the state of the public hall was read, members asked who had complained to the department without first communicating with the board. After a pause Mr. Green rose and admitted ha had done so. . ■ : : Thereupon Mr. A. Taylor asked Mr. Green why he ignored the Health Committee (of which Mr. Green is a member) and went to outsiders with complaints. Mr. Green (heatedly, and pounding the, table with his fist): I shall do as I like, arid I mean to show members a few mortf | points before I have done with them. j Mr. Taylor: Mr. Green, a couple of meetings ago you offered to resign and contest your seat again if I would do the same. My resignation goes in to-night if yours does, and we will let the ratepayers judge. .V , Mr. Green offered to resign if all the members would do : the same. The chairman again called upon Mr. Green to sit down and obey the rulings of the chair, which he did. v .'! At a later stage, however, trouble again arose, over a notice of motion by Mr. Green to rescind a previous resolution in reference to roads on the; Melwyn Estate. Mr. Green had .* introduced this motion at the preceding meeting of the board, but as he failed to find a seconder, it lapsed. On Mr. Green bringing up the matter again, Mr. G. Lawson raised a point of order, that it was against procedure to accept a notice of motion for the second time within six months unless other members signed the notice. The chairman, Mr. A. J. Thorn, ruled that Mr. Green was out of order Then followed a scene of disorder, Mr. Green warmly maintaining he was in order. The chairman informed Mr. Green that he was again out of order in questioning the ruling of the chair. Mr. Green (thumping the table): I'm a Britisher—you're not playing the ■ game! The Chairman; Will you Bit down, Mr. Green ? Mr. Green: I will not (again thumping the table)'; you're not conducting this meeting properly. A Member: That ends it.

After one or two remarks condemnatory of Sir. Green's attitude at this and previous meetings had been passed by various members of the board, the oaiairman declared the meeting closedMembers of the board subsequently stated that the best course would be for all the members to resign and let the ratepayers elect a new board. Provided Mr. Oreen will do likewise, Messrs. A. j. Thorn (acting-chairman), G. Lawson, A. Taylor, ;S. ; Wilding, and E. Stacey will tender their resignations be'ere the end of the week. The chairman of: the board, Mr. C. F. Gardner, hi at present in Eng. land. :;•■:,:' ':■ ■ ■..