CRITICISM OF MAYOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20724, 18 November 1930, Page 11

CRITICISM OF MAYOR.

COMMITTEE VIEWS DIVULGED. ONEHUNCA COUNCIL PROTEST. Objection to committee proceedings being divulged in open council was made at a meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council last evening. Mr. G. A. McKendrick drew attention to tho action of the Mayor, Mr. E. Morton, in disclosing at the previous meeting what he had said in committee when the salaries of tho council's staff were under discussion. He contended that it was a breach of the standing orders.

The Mayor said he had only mentioned the matter because several councillors were not members of the Finance Committee, and they were entitled to have the information.

Mr. McKendrick declined to accept this explanation unless the Mayor apologised and gave an assurance that in future committee discussion would not be divulged. He moved a vote of censure on the Mayor for infringing the rules. Mr. S. Vella supported the motion. He suggested the Mayor had not realised the principle at stake. He and the mover of the motion would be prepared to accept the Mayor's apology. Mr. P. R. Lipscombe said lie. did not know what took place in committee unless it was brought up in open council. The Mayor said he was sorry if he had hurt members' feelings, but he thought it essential to explain the details of the committee's work. Mr. Vella contended that the Mayor should report the final decisions and not the individual opinions. Mr. J. Pilkington said an important principle was involved, for details should not be disclosed, and Mr. F. W. Mountjoy said it was wrong for the Mayor to disclose what was said in committee. Messrs. McKendrick and Vella insisted that they were entitled to an assurance that it would not happen again, and when this was given the motion was withdrawn.