ROWDY COUNCIL SCENE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 13

ROWDY COUNCIL SCENE.

TWO ANGRY ALDERMEN. TRADE PREFERENCE QUESTION. INVITATION TO COME OUTSIDE. A fight between Alderman Lawes and [ Alderman Courtenay was threatened at a special meeting of the Sydney City Council recently.. The dispute arose out of the s assertion by Mr. Courtenay that Mr. < Lawes consistently favoured the purchase I of foreign goods, for the couhcil, as against £ British. I The matter before the council was the • purchase of motor-cycles and side-cars for use in the electricity department. Over a , month ago the City Council unanimously j decided that the lowest British tender, which was also the lowest tender, should be accepted, if the general manager considered the make of cycle suitable for the requirements of the department. Mr. Mackay, general manager, informed ( the electricity committee that the lowest tender was for a machine too light for the , department's requirements. The second , lowest, which was also a British machine, ( was suitable for the department's requirements, but, in his opinion, the best machine for the department was an American make. The council later carried, by a Labour majority vote, the purchase of American machines at a total cost of £llsO. The Reform aldermen now sought to have that resolution rescinded, and the order placed for certain British machines, which Mr. Mackay stated were suitable. "Boot into the British." Mr. Courtenay, moving the rescission .motion, stated that the Labour Government was now telling the electors that its policy was to support British goods next to Australian, and the Labour aldermen every time they had the opportunity, were "putting the boot into the British." In this case, the preference was only £22 on a £1172 order, which was less than 2£ per cent. It surprised him why there should be this preference for American goods on the part of the Labour aldermen. England was Australia's best customer, while America bought very little from Australia, and dumped her manufactured goods here. Alderman Walder said in this instance there was no justification for the City Council buying other than the British cycles. Alderman Holdsworth replied that the Labour aldermen were following the advice of the general manager, but it seemed that the Reform aldermen were advocating the case for the agent of these machines. Alderman Stephen said that he deliberately charged the Labour aldermen with gross inconsistency in regard to the deciding of tenders. They gave lip service to the cause of British preference, but whenever they had an opportunity they bought foreign goods. The utterly inconsistent manner in which the Labour aldermen dealt with tenders was costing the city many unnecessary thousands, and was absolutely unfair to tenderers. In fact, many firms were so disgusted with the manner in which the council dealt with tenders that they were refusing to tender. Mr. Lawes, vice-chairman of tha electricity committee, in replying, repeated that the Reform aldermen were merely advocating the claims of the agents. A Disorderly Scene. Mr. Courtenay: That is quite untrue. That is only what we might expect from you. This is not the first time since you became vice-chairman of the committee that preference has been given to foreign goods as against the British. Mr. Lawes (angrily): You are a liar and a mongrel. Come on outside and I will give you the finest time you have had in your life. Alderman Walder: Don't miiid his bluff. Mr. Lawes: Come outside, both of you, and I'll fix you both. The Lord Mayor: Order! Order! Mr. Lawes: Let them both come outside , and I'll show them. i The Lord Mayor: Do, please, keep ' order. ; Alderman Thompson: This is more like ; the Stadium that the City Council. 5 Mr. Lawes: I'll meet them anywhere. The Lord Mayor repeatedly called for | order. Failing to secure it, he ordered the division bells to be rung. The cross-firing between the aldermen concerned conf tinued while the division was being taken. On the casting vote of the Lord Mayor, ' it was decided, on a party division, that J the American machines be purchased. Mr. Lawes, after the division, again ° asked Messrs. Courtenay and Walder outt side, but he was taken away by some of his colleagues to the aldermen's room.