"CATCH" VOTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22808, 18 February 1936, Page 15

"CATCH" VOTING

NOT FEARED BY COUNCIL STANDING ORDERS AMENDED Two alterations to the standing orders covering the introduction of business without notice were decided on by the City Council at last night's meeting. During the discussion reference was made by Cr Allen to the presence in the council of a definite party, and this led to an exchange of pointed comment between the Mayor and several councillors. The alterations were introduced by Cr Silverstone, who moved the following motion:—"That the standing orders Nos. 38 and 122, which read as follows:—(1) No. 38, 'A motion may be made without notice by consent of not less than threefourths of the members present,' be amended to read, 'A motion may be made without notice by consent of a majority of the members present; and (2) No. ]22, 'Any one of these rules, not otherwise binding upon the council, may be suspended at any sitting of the council without notice, with the consent of a majority of not less than three-fourths of the members present,' be amended by the deletion of the words 'not less than three-fourths of in the last line of the clause." Cr Silverstone said his reason for moving the amendment was that the by-laws dealing with the matter in hand were out of date. He believed the time had come when they should be amended. The motion was seconded by Cr Munro. ' ~ . Cr Begg said that the standing orders were drawn up on parliamentary procedure. He thought the council should view the position carefully before it accepted the proposed amendment. Cr Allen said the standing order was brought in to prevent a " catch" vote. The by-laws were framed by men, under good advice, who thoroughly understood the position. And it must be remembered that in those days there were no divisions. To-day there was a political party Cr Batchelor: Two parties, Tory and Labour. The Mayor (to Cr Allen): I understand you are referring to your own party. Cr Allen reiterated that there was a party in the council representing a political organisation. It was very necessary, he said, to avoid the chance of a " catch " vote being carried. The Mayor: My experience in the previous council was that there was a very strong party. I could never get anything through. "„•.'. . Cr Shepherd: Your ideas were too radical. - , Cr Scott: You've got our respect. Cr Begg: And sympathy. The Mayor: Yes, yes. I do not need it. I can get on without it. In reply Cr Silverstone said the amendments were not designed to prevent "catch" votes, because he did not fear such tactics. They were too ineffective to worry about. . . The motion was carried on a division. Cr Scott (as the count of the vote was being taken): And there's no party. It was settled in the Mayor's room.