CITY COUNCIL DELAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20637, 8 August 1930, Page 14

CITY COUNCIL DELAYS.

FACILITATING BUSINESS. THE STANDING ORDERS. AMENDMENT PROPOSED. A ftirfhcr passage-at-arms between Mr. J. R. Lundon an:i some of hi 3 fellow members of the City Council last evening ended in the council adopting a motion by the deputy-mayor, Mr. A. J. Eritrican, directing the Finance Committee to consider the revision JA the standing orders for the purpose of facilitating the council's business. Last evening Mr. Lundon had reinstated four notices of motion, which had lapsed at the last meeting, and had also written six letters, or memoranda, which were reproduced in full upon the order paf.er.

When tho first letter came up, Mr. W. L. Casey moved that it and the other five be taken as read and deferred for six months. This was seconded by Mr. M. J. Coyle.

Much discussion then ensued between Mr. Lundon and tho deputy-mayor " I understood Councillor Lundon to say something about conducting council meetings with due decorum and in accordance with common sense," said Mr. T. Bloodworth. "To my mind it is quits timo that the council started to conduct its business in that s way and that Councillor Lundon started to allow tho council to do so. The only possible object of these letters is to delay tho council's business." Ho appealed to Mr. Lundon to withdraw tho letters.

At tho deputy-mayor's request, Mr. Casey withdrew his motion. Mr. Lundon said ho was not looking for difficulties or internecine warfare. He would agree to let tho six letters stand over sine die, it being understood that ho couid bring them up at seven days' notice. Ho would also withdraw bis four motions.

Tho Jeputy-mayor moved " that tho offer bo accepted." Mr. Lundon wa3 allowed to hold tho letters over.

When question-time arrived, Mr. Lundon began to read a long series of questions" containing a great many affirmative statements. This occupied moro than 10 minutes

Tho deputy-mayor then asked for and obtained leave to move without notice: "That the question of amending tho standing orders so as to facilitate the business of the council be referred to tho Finance Committee for a report." "It simply means this, that if we tried to answer Councillor Lundon's questions we should have to increaso our staff," said Mr. Entrican "Tho answers would bo of no valuo to him or tho council or the public. It is simply wasting the time of tho council. You are all awaro that because of these delays tho council cannot attend to many really important • items' of business. We cannot allow this to go on. At tho last mpefing Councillor Lundon spoko for 113 minutes—rather mora than half tho .time of the meeting. It is only fair that wo should get tho standing orders amended so that we may have some control of the business of tho council."

Mr. Lundon rose and seconded the motion, amid laughter from some of his supporters in tho gallery. "The timo has come when Wo should amend the standing orders so that those of us' who know our job shall be permitted to do it," ho said. The motion was carried unanimously.