CHRISTCHURCH CIVIL COMEDY

NZ Truth, Issue 818, 16 July 1921, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH CIVIL COMEDY

The May»r Breaks Silence

A Lame and Impotent Explanation.

.(From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.) There was a crowded house at the Christchurch Civic Chambers on the night .of the Council's last meeting, m anticipation of a continuance of tho municipal" comedy which was begun last month and is not • yet concluded. A long queue of citizens filled the thoroughfare m front Qf-the municipal buildings an hour m advance of the beginning of the performance. The demand for seats was greater , tty'an the supply, and none of the political economists of the council w*ere , able to suggest ways and means of satisfying the public curiosity. So that many good people who have come to look upon. the Mayor of Christchurch as a public entertainer, who gives free " performances for the li>ve of the thing and the^ame it brings him, did riot find either sitting or Standing room, and had to reluctantly retrace their -' steps from the congenial warmth of , the Council Chambers into the f INIGHT'S. f PLUTONIAN SHORE. , There was' a full attendance of the : '~ council, except, for 1 , the absence of Cr, ''■'Agar (resigned), and Cf-. Hiram HUnter. The Mayor occupied the chair. When; the , minutes had been read, Cr. Manhire objected to their confirmation. He said that the resolution, de.^clared to have been carried at the last >..•»♦ meeting-- of the council, was not put to the meeting. This was the motion deal- . ing with the deficit due to the,.. Electricity Committee. . f^r ,■ illuminations . during the visit of "the Prince.. .' The, 'Mayoiv. said Cr. Marihire's objection would be noted, and the minutes were, carried on a division by 9 votes to' 6, the dissentients being Crs. . Williams, McKellar, Manhire,' Andrews, Winspr and Herbert '■'••;■. »• This little formality . disposed of, Cr. Sullivan made a suggestion to the effect that the Mayor might meet the wishes of/ 1 the council and the citizens by giving some explanation of the rulings he gave at the last counoil meet- - ing, which had occasioned so much m•- • terest and discussion. He thought the matter could be handled without any : heat. The' Mayor -'had given rulings which many of the councillors could •not understand. It was possible that the Mayor could justify those rulings. The -Mayor then broke his fortnight's silence on this knotty subject, and gave a_long explanation of his Pickwickian conduct. He -said the question of the balance-sheet relating to-'the visit of the. Prince of Wales, brought Up by Cr. Agar, was riot -council business , at all, save for the item showing the; amount ./due' to the Electricity Pept. •The business before the council at that stage was a question asked by Cr. Agar, who immediately- became out' 'of order by '. making a-. heated and cynical ■ ■... •;..'-■,. .speech./ ; Had the eager councillor confined himself to the question, he (the .Mayor) was going to recommend that the matter be referred to the Electricity Dept.f . to give *tlie conricil their balance-sheet. \ When Cr. Agar sat Vdown, Cr. Cooke moved that the matter be referred to • the Citizenls Committee, that was the EOyal Reception Committee, and he told Cr. Cooke that he would not taka the motion, as it was not city business. Or. Cooke then offered his motion, referring; the matter to the Electripity Department; -and Cr.- Armstrong —seconded. This was put and carried, no objection being made. Then Cr. Agar brought forward his amendment, but having- spoken ialready, he had no right to propose any amendment. Not 'content with that he defied the Mayor and .- . • ■'. ''.■'■

treated him with contempt. Had he (the Mayor) exercised his powers he should have moved A VOTE" OF CENSURE on the erring councillor, but he did not do so. Cr. McCombs had seconded Cr. Agar's amendment, but the amendment was too' late and was not m order. It was not- council business that was being; considered then, and Cr. Agar had spoken already. Then came the motion that the council disagree with the Mayor. This could not be accepted without notice of motion. The next motion put by Cr, Agar, that the council adjourn, the Mayor refused to put. Cr. Agar had no power to move his amendment, as he had spoken already, and. the motion was carried. In fact the motion had been put and carried before any amendment was moved. He thought that was all there was to explain. After repeating himself to some extent, the Mayor concluded, "THAT IS MY EXPLANATION." Cr. Manhire said the explanation was not correct, but the Mayor said . he could not allow any debate on his s statement. If Cr. Manhire wanted to move anything he must give notice of motion. Cr. Manhire thereupon gave notice to move at the next meeting of the council that the" council disagree with the Mayor's ruling on Cr. Agar's amendment at the meeting of the council. ' ■■' Another and very appropriate notice of motion was given by Cr. (Mrs:) McCombs as follows:. That a special committee be appointed to prepare a set of up-to-date standing orders for the Christchurch City Council. The Electricity Committee presented its report on its claim for £651 for services rendered during the Royal visit. / The .■-report stated : T&b comnut'tee is of opinion that,' being a trading concern, the electrical scheme should, not be called upon to carry the deficit. The committee, m view of the unsatisfactory , financial position of the Entertainment Committee, is willing to forego the estimated profit of £75, and rebate the current account of £126, ■ making a, total of £200. On the motion -that the report be adopted, Cr: Flesher made the statement following: "I. feel it is only right that I should make a public statement. All sorts of -..--.' CRUEL RUMORS HAVE BEEN SPREAD around the 1 city concerning yourself (the Mayqir) m the matter of certain funds connected with the Prince of Wales's celebrations a year ago. I have beeji asked as 7 to whether any part of-: the expenditure of the Royal Reception Committee <had relation to the Children's; Ball, which' you so generously gave the children of the city, and also whether the presentation of thp gold ■watch you gave to Cr. BBearn r land came out of the funds of the committee? Cr. Sullivan said 'he had not heard the suggestion. • ' The Mayor : It is all over the city. Cr. Flesher said not a penny that was not properly chargeable to the committee had been included m the accounts, and the whole cost of the Children's Ball and the gold watch given to Cn Beanlarid came out of the pockets of the Mayor. The Mayor thanked Cr. Flesher for his statement, and the report was adopted. , The. proceedings of the council throughout were of the usual dull and decorous Vkind;, but the Mayoral explanation seems a lame and ■ impotent conclusion to the municipal comedy of a fortnigjht before.. However, the matter is not yet ended, and perhaps the next meeting of the City Prodigal Fathers will be more entertaining than th'atdhow reported.